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Dell™ OptiPlex™ XE —
Watchdog Timer
Dell OptiPlex Watchdog Timer allows you to:
• monitor your computer’s status.
• track programs listed in the Microsoft
• define the actions to be taken when a tracked program stops within a defined
interval of time.
You can download and install Watchdog Timer from the Dell support website at
support.dell.com/support/downloads.
Enabling Watchdog Timer on System Setup
You can enable Watchdog Timer from System Setup (BIOS).
Watchdog Timer’s hardware counter starts when you enable it in the
System Setup.
CAUTION: Enabling Watchdog Timer in System Setup without installing it first,
can cause your computer to reboot continuously.
NOTE: If you access Watchdog Timer without enabling it in the System Setup, a
message appears indicating that Watchdog Timer is disabled and you must enable it in
the System Setup.
NOTE: You must install Watchdog Timer before enabling it in the System Setup.
1
Turn on the computer and press the <F2> key when you see the Dell logo.
The System Setup screen appears.
2
Click
3
Select the
4
Click
Maintenance
Enable Watchdog Timer
Apply
and
Watchdog Timer Support
Exit
. The computer restarts.
®
Windows® Task Manager.
.
check box.
NOTE: Ensure that Watchdog Timer is disabled before performing an Operating System
reinstallation or if you pause your computer during the Power-on Self Test (POST).
March 2010
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Accessing Watchdog Timer
To access Watchdog Timer:
•Click the
Dell OptiPlex XE Watchdog Timer
icon on your desktop.
The Watchdog Timer’s application interface window appears.
•Click
Start
Programs
DellDell OptiPlex XE Watchdog Timer
.
The Watchdog Timer’s application interface window appears.
Using Watchdog Timer
System Monitor It displays the current status of your computer. Watchdog Timer
monitors your computer during the following stages:
• Turning on the computer
• Loading the Operating System
• After loading the Operating System
In the Operating System interface, Watchdog Timer tracks the
programs running in the Windows task manager.
NOTE: If your computer stops responding within the defined
refresh interval, Watchdog Timer restarts your computer.
For information on changing the refresh interval,
see "Changing the Refresh Interval" on page 11.
Program Monitor Allows you to select the programs to be monitored by Watchdog
Timer from those listed in the Windows task manager.
NOTE: You can also view the status of the programs that are
tracked.
For information on tracking the programs,
see "Tracking the Programs" on page 11.
Configuration Allows you to change Watchdog Timer’s auto run and program
monitor log file related settings.
For information of setting auto-run feature,
see "Setting the Auto run Feature" on page 13.
For information on enabling the program monitor status log, see
"Enabling the Program Status Monitor Log" on page 13.
About It displays the Watchdog Timer’s version and copyright details.
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Changing the Refresh Interval
Watchdog timer tracks the programs listed in the windows task manager over a
defined interval of time.
To configure the refresh interval in Watchdog Timer:
1
Click the
2
In the
System Monitor
tab on the Watchdog Timer’s application interface.
Watchdog Timer refresh interval
section:
• Click the or buttons to set the interval.
• Click the button, enter the refresh interval in seconds and click
OK
Tracking the Programs
To select the programs to track:
1
Click the
2
In the
that you wish to monitor using Watchdog Timer.
3
Select the check box of the
Program Monitor
Program Status
NOTE: You can track only the programs running in your Windows task manager.
You can track a maximum of five programs from the Watchdog Timer’s
application interface.
on the Watchdog Timer’s application interface.
section, click the button and choose the
program
that you wish to track.
programs
.
NOTE: If you click the
appears informing you to stop the currently tracked program.
button of an already tracked program, a message
Defining the Actions
You can define the actions that must be initiated if a program fails to respond
within the defined track interval.
To define the actions:
1
Click the
2
In the
window appears.
3
Select the actions that must be performed when your program stops responding.
Program Monitor
Program Status
tab on the Watchdog Timer’s application interface.
section, click the icon. The
Tracking Detail Settings
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a
Click
Reboot system
•Click
•Click
Software Reboot
Hardware Reboot
to restart your computer.
to restart your computer under software control.
to restart your computer without performing
any shut-down procedure.
CAUTION: A Hardware Reboot causes data loss. Save your data to prevent data loss.
b
Click
End the Program
NOTE: Selecting this option will end only the non-responsive program without
automatically restarting it.
c
Click
Restart the Program
4
Click OK.
to end a non-responsive program.
to end and restart the program.
Configuring the Track Interval and Timeout Period
On the Program Monitor tab you can specify the frequency of the checks performed
by the Watchdog timer on the monitored program’s status. You can also specify the
duration during which the watchdog timer will wait for a program to respond.
To configure the Track Interval:
1
Click the
2
In the
track interval.
3
Click the button. A dialog box appears.
4
Enter the
To configure the Timeout period:
1
Click the
2
In the
timeout period.
3
Click the button. A dialog box appears.
4
Enter the
Program Monitor
tab on the Watchdog Timer’s application interface.
Track Interval (seconds)
Track Inter v a l
Program Monitor
Timeout (seconds)
Timeout period
in seconds and click OK.
tab on the Watchdog Timer’s application interface.
section, click the or buttons to set the
in seconds and click OK.
section, click the or buttons to set the
NOTE: If a program tracked by Watchdog Timer is not responding, then a message
appears indicating that the program will reboot after the defined timeout period. The
reboot action depends on the action that you have selected. For more
information, see "Defining the Actions" on page 11.
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Setting the Auto run Feature
To set the Auto run feature:
1
Click the
2
Select
Configuration
tab on the Watchdog Timer’s application interface.
Auto run when system starts up
check box to automatically start
Watchdog Timer when your computer starts.
Enabling the Program Status Monitor Log
Program log files will display the status of each program that is monitored and
tracked over different intervals of time.
To enable the Program Status Monitor Log:
1
Click the
2
Click the icon to view the log files of all the programs that are monitored
and tracked by Watchdog Timer.
________________
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 2010 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction of these materials in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is
strictly forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, and OptiPlex are trademarks of Dell Inc.
Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or
other countries.
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the
marks and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade
names other than its own.
Configuration
tab on the Watchdog Timer’s application interface.
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