LabTech Plugin: Operators Dashboard
Posted on December 22, 2014
This dashboard (available from the View menu within LT), will allow you to see the statistics that are important. Additionally, you can add custom SQL queries to get additional statistics, and they are available dynamically without making any changes to the plug-in. Clicking any of the values will allow you to see the agents/tickets/alerts that make up the list so that you can take appropriate action. The blocks refresh every 5 minutes.
The zip file contains the DLL plugin as well as an SQL file. The SQL file includes 15 pre-configured blocks. They are optional, but we believe they are a good starting point. If you come up with new blocks, feel free to share them here!
Download and install using our plugin installer!
Version 2.2 Changes:
-Fixed an issue with automatic update attempting to update daily, even if no new version is available
Version 2.2 Changes:
-Bug fixes
Version 2.1 Changes:
-Bug fixes
Version 2.0 Changes:
-Ability to use \n within titles to separate words to the next line (this was already available but not mentioned)
-Multiple dashboards – 10 to be exact – that can be automatically rotated (30 seconds-2 minutes) or manually selected
-Option to assign shapes to widgets: square (default), circle, triangle, hexagon and octagon
-Automatic updates
-Improved script menu (it now lists all scripts properly)
-Renamed the database table to be more in line with LT developer best practices
Version 1.8 Changes:
-Export to Excel no longer requires Excel. It will also export to a file rather than simply opening Excel.
Version 1.7 Changes:
-Officially skipped v1.6
-Updated config screen to allow simpler management of widgets
-Enabled importing/exporting widgets from/to a file
-Corrected an issue with widgets not showing up for LT10 users
-Fixed enabling/disabling widgets
Version 1.5 Changes:
-Corrected an issue with saving changes in configuration
-Corrected an issue with the refresh menu item on the dashboard
Version 1.4 Changes:
-Fixed issue with enabling/disabling blocks in cofigurationt not working (for real this time)
-Changed the way blocks are refreshed, so it’s more fluid with less delay
Version 1.3 Changes
-Bug fix that caused queries not to save properly when disabling one or more queries under the config tab
-Added right-click menu refresh to dashboard main screen
Version 1.2 Changes
-Improved performance/reliability of block queries.
-Configuration tab: Switching from one row to another will cause the row ValueQuery to be tested. If it’s good, it’s green, otherwise it’s red.
-Configuration tab: Double-clicking a color cell will bring up a dialog to allow you to choose a color.
-Configuration tab: Save function is significantly improved/faster.
-Configuration tab: When editing a cell, you will receive an error if there is a double quote used. Only single quotes (as well as escaped single quotes) should be used.
-Removed default permissions allowing anyone access update/create/delete from the plugin table for anyone that uses the plugin. I would recommend revoking permissions for users you don’t want to have access. revoke update,create,delete on plugin_operators_dashboard from Case_Sensitive_Username
Version 1.1 changes:
-Button to check for updates under config
-Prompt to refresh the blocks when saving changes under config
-Right-click to run a script with a prompt for parameters to include
-Remembers window size when you close it and re-opens to the same size
-Export list of results to Excel
-Moved the config column descriptions to tool tip text for cleanliness
Tim,
FYI – v1.5 has a different GUID so you can’t update the existing without uninstalling the existing and then installing the new.
-jeff
Hello Tim,
First of all, I would like to say, this plugin is awesome and is really helpful for my NOC team. This saves a ton of time for us. Just wondering if there a way to make this screen refreshes it self every 5 mins or so and also when it refreshes, it runs the queries in the backed and updates the values on the Dashboard? Could you please let me know if it’s possible or not?
Once again, Thank you so much !
Ravi,
This plugin actually does update every 5 minutes. It will reuse the existing queries but get fresh values for them. You’ll see that last updated time in the title of the window. Note that if you change the queries themselves, you’ll need to do a full refresh (as prompted after making changes in the config tab) or close and re-open the window.
Thanks!
Tim,
I didn’t realize that. That is WONDERFUL ! We are using this plug in as a major tool for our NOC. A TV is assigned for this plugin 🙂 It is just so informative ! Another quick question. Do we have the capability to modify the shapes on the Dashboard? I was thinking, may be if I change the shapes, that catches the attention for my team when they look at the TV. If yes, may I know where the code for the shapes is? I can work on the modifications. Once again, Thank you in advance !
Ravi,
That’s exactly how I was hoping it would get used. 🙂 Shapes can not get modified and I actually hadn’t thought about it in the past. I’m getting ready to give OD an overhaul and I’ll see if that’s something that can be done. Thanks for your feedback.
We added a few more blocks to the Dashboard and everyone at our work place love it ! Can’t wait for the GUI code to be out 🙂 We would like to change the shapes if possible.
Hi There – this looks fantastic – however- I am unable to see anything in the dashboard.
It doesn’t give me an option to import the .sql file so I am assuming that is what I am doing wrong.
Where does this get imported from so I can see the full dashboard?
Thanks
Joe
Joe,
Within LabTech, go to Tools->import->SQL file. You can then import the SQL file to create the default blocks to get you started.
Thanks!
Tim
Hey Tim !
Happy to hear that you made a lot of changes to the plugin ! Can’t wait to update it on our end. One thing I would like to ask you is about the permissions and the source code.
Currently, every use whoever has access to LT will have full access to view the Operators Dashboard, the data behind, and the SQL queries behind it. I think it will be better if we control the permission level or at least lock it down to Super Admin and that’s it.
If we want to go granular like LT permissions, if we give permission for client A to login to LT, he / she should only see Client A servers / site / location and nothing else. The same kind of permissions should go to the Operators Dashboard as well. If Client A opens the Dashboard, he should see the boxes filled with info that is related to Client A only but right now, everyone can see everything. If I am logging into LT with Client A’s login, i can see Client B’s information as well.
Just my 2 cents here 🙂 But we love the plugin ! It’s been helping the NOC team 24/7. Also, would you be willing to post the source code for the GUI?
Again, Thanks so much for the plugin !
Ravi,
I certainly see the point and I’ve now got that added to the road map. I’m going to be working on a few other projects over the short term, but will return to this one soon and work on getting that implemented.
I do not have any interest in releasing the source code for this project right now, but if I ever do, this’ll be the place to find it. 🙂
Thanks,
Tim
This is brilliant. I am looking at defining the queries to exclude non contract users. Can someone help with this please?
Claire,
Because the contract is set at the location level, you’d need to have the location id and compare the ‘Workstation Service Plan’ and ‘Server Service Plan’ on the v_extradatalocations table to see if a contract is available. Hope that helps!
Tim
Great Thank you Tim,
I have a sql Statement i am trying to show on this.
I have the Value / Count Query: SELECT `name`,`Monday Backup Status`,`Tuesday Backup Status`,`Wednesday Backup Status`,`Thursday Backup Status`,`Friday Backup Status`,`Saturday Backup Status`,`Sunday Backup Status` FROM `v_extradatacomputers`
I have the Drill Down Query:
SELECT `name`,`Monday Backup Status`,`Tuesday Backup Status`,`Wednesday Backup Status`,`Thursday Backup Status`,`Friday Backup Status`,`Saturday Backup Status`,`Sunday Backup Status` FROM `v_extradatacomputers` WHERE `Monday Backup Status`=’BACKUP FAILURE’
OR `Tuesday Backup Status`=’BACKUP FAILURE’OR`Wednesday Backup Status`=’BACKUP FAILURE’ OR `Thursday Backup Status`=’BACKUP FAILURE’ OR `Friday Backup Status`=’BACKUP FAILURE’ OR `Saturday Backup Status`=’BACKUP FAILURE’ OR`Sunday Backup Status`=’BACKUP FAILURE
However i can not get this to display anything. Can someone help.
Claire,
Have you used those queries within SQLYog on the database to ensure they work as expected? I would also suggest making sure the value query works to display a value, then move on to the drill down query.
Please let me know if I can help further: support@squattingdog.net.
Thanks!
Tim
Hello Tim,
Thanks for the plugin, I have a quick question, I have created a dashboard and gave permissions to all the users but only Admins can see all the tiles and others can see only two tiles, do you have any suggestion for this?
Regards
Ram