Monitoring - Shadowing SSH2/Telnet Sessions

Session Monitoring is the method used to locally observe the display on a remote SSH2/Telnet session. As the data displayed on the remote SSH2/Telnet client, an exact copy is sent to the Session Monitor too. The display is exactly the same as the display being presented to the remote session. Session Monitoring is transparent to the client being monitored and does not impact their performance.

To select a SSH2/Telnet session to monitor first highlight the session to monitor. This is accomplished either by moving the up/down arrow keys or clicking on the particular session [26]. Once selected either depress or click the menu item Session (see Figure 99) to display the drop down item Monitor. You may now select Monitor.

You are now connected to the other telnet session, observing the screen activity exactly is appears to the other user. You may monitor only. No input is allowed to the other session. To end monitoring the other telnet/SSH2 session depress . You are returned to the Session Administrator Screen.

Notice that the graphics, the colors, the lines, checks and box’s are all displayed correctly.

Figure 99: Session Monitor - Select Session to Monitor

If User John was using Norton Command and his screen was displaying the following:

Figure 100: Session Monitor: Client Session

Then the monitor screen would look as follows:

Figure 101: Session Monitor: Monitor Session

Yes, the screen displays look exactly the same and that is the way it is supposed to work. The Monitor’s screen displays the screen activity exactly as it appears on the session being monitored!

Shadowing SSH2/Telnet Sessions

Shadowing is similar to Monitoring except interactive input is allowed. This means that you can provide input to another SSH2/Telnet session. This is a powerful training and Quality Assurance tool. A user may need assistance in using their application and you can shadow their SSH2/Telnet session providing input where they have difficulty.

To select a SSH2/Telnet session to Shadow first highlight the desired session. This is accomplished either by moving the up/down arrow keys or clicking on the particular session. Once selected click the menu item Session (see Figure 99) to display the menu drop down items. You may now select Shadow. As a shortcut you may simply press "S".

Figure 102: Session Monitor - Shadowing

You are now connected to the other SSH2/Telnet session, observing the screen activity exactly is appears to the other user. Both you and the original user are now able to enter data into the session. To end shadowing the other SSH2/Telnet session, depress . You are returned to the Session Administrator screen.