AutoBoot is a Control Panel/System extension which will reboot (restart) you Macintosh after a System Error ('bomb') or a Freeze-Up has occurred. This comes in handy when your Macintosh must be 'on-line' at all times, even when it is left unattended for long periods of time.
For instance, people using Timbuktu (a package which allows you to operate a Mac remotely by modem) complained that they had to drive down to the location of the Mac to reboot it after a system crash. Very nice if the Mac is located at the other side of town !
Other uses can be found for file servers, http servers, systems that carry a BBS, systems with a FAX modem, systems which have file sharing turned on … . AutoBoot allows maximal availability of these Macs, even in the presence of System crashes or Freeze-Ups.
Up to now I received hundreds of thank you letters and e-mails from satisfied customers, saying AutoBoot can be a real life saver ! No Macintosh Server should be without AutoBoot.
I suggest you carefully read this document before installing AutoBoot on your system.
Advertisement: AutoBoot only handles "System Errors" or "Bombs", and not the infamous "Application errors". These kinds of errors don't halt the entire system, but only one application and you get the infamous "The Application xxx has unexpectedly quit because an error of type ZZ occurred" message. For this purpose, you should (also) run Keep It Up (KIU), another utility I wrote. KIU watches certain applications and monitors if they are still running. If an application for some reason no longer runs, KIU will attempt to relaunch this application (and open certain documents) or restart the computer.
AutoBoot requires at least system 7. It is compatible with the PowerPC and System 7.5.3.
B. Installation
Just drop the AutoBoot control panel and AutoBoot extension in your System Folder and let the system put them in the appropriate folders. You should not use AutoBoot in the presence of a debugger (like Macsbug). It would not hurt if you did, but the debugger would disable the functioning of AutoBoot. If you reboot, you should see the AutoBoot icon appear on the desktop:
If the icon is crossed out, and you don't get any other message, you probably are running a system earlier than 7 . Do not change the names of the control panel and extension nor move them to other folders.
If you're running System 7.5 you must disable the shutdown warning in the General Controls control panel:
C. Functionality
AutoBoot 1.4 handles two kinds of errors: System Crashes (a System Error Dialog occurs on the screen) and Freeze-Ups (Mac doesn't respond any more, cursor freezes,…).
If your Mac crashes, it will show the normal error alert box.
System 7 users will see a slightly different alert, with buttons called 'continue' and 'restart'.
After a configurable amount of time (see lower), the mac will reboot (restart) if no action is taken. If you press the resume (or continue) button within the time limit, the current application will be terminated and no reboot will take place. When the mac 'autoboots', all data that was not saved before will be lost.
If the Mac freezes up, it will also be restarted by AutoBoot after a configurable amount of time.
You can test AutoBoot by launching one of the 'Bomb' applications which came with this package. At least one of them should cause a crash on your Mac. Be patient: AutoBoot only starts functioning 30 seconds after it was loaded at boot time.
Warning: I can not give a 100% guarantee that AutoBoot will in fact reboot your Mac after a crash or freeze-up. A severe crash can disable all functionality of the Mac, and thus prevent reboot. If the Mac crashes before AutoBoot was loaded, it will of course not reboot the mac.
D. The Control Panel
1.Restart after System Error:
If you switch this option on, your Mac will be rebooted after a System Error. You can set the time between crash and reboot (Restart Delay: minimum 0 and maximum 30 minutes) .When the Mac first discovers an error, it will look again after the specified amount of time. If the error still exists, the mac will be rebooted. Use zero minutes only if ultra fast recovery after a crash is necessary. I suggest you set this time to at least one minute to allow for user intervention .
2.Restart after Freeze Up:
If you switch this option on, your Mac will be rebooted after a Freeze Up. You can set the time between Freeze Up and reboot (Inactivity Period: minimum 10 and maximum 99 minutes) .
Important : It is very important to understand how AutoBoot attempts to detect a freeze-up. For this purpose, AutoBoot monitors the System's activity. Even when the computer appears to do nothing, every running program is supposed to call some housekeeping routine (technical: SystemTask() ) at least 60 times a second. If the system freezes up, this routine will not be called any more. If this routine is not called for a certain length of time (the inactivity period), AutoBoot will conclude the system has jammed, and reboot the Mac.
Unfortunately, some badly written programs don't call this housekeeping routine as often as they should. Even well know programs sometimes fail to call it for several minutes. One can easily detect these programs: for lengthy periods, they don't respond to user input, and one can not switch them to the background. Examples are: backup programs, installer programs, conversion programs,…
There is a real danger, AutoBoot might mistake such a situation for a Freeze Up, and reboot the Mac. That's why the minimum Inactivity Period is 10 minutes, a period in which most programs will call systemtask at least once. You can lower this minimum period to 2 minutes by holding down the option key while lowering the inactivity period (registered users only !). Lowering the inactivity period below 10 minutes is NOT recommended and should only be done under controlled circumstances.
You should set the Inactivity Period as high as possible, to prevent accidental reboots. However, if you use programs which run for long periods of time without calling the housekeeping routines, like installers, backup programs … you should switch "Restart after Freeze Up" off. You can also prevent AutoBoot from loading by holding down your mouse button at boot time.
p.s.: if you move the position of your mouse, the timer which measures the inactivity period will be reset. If you want to leave "Restart on Freeze-Up " on, and yet run programs which don't call the housekeeping routine regularly, you can prevent reboot by moving the mouse every few minutes.
4. Post Notification on restart
If you check this option, a notification will be posted to the user after the reboot caused by a system crash/ freeze-up. The notification will give the time and reason of the crash, and also the number of reboots since the power was turned on. If the notification is not dismissed by the user, it will remove itself after about 10 minutes.
Warning: this notification, when not dismissed, will disable all foreground processing till it removes itself. An example of foreground processing is the launching of the startup application(s). Background processing will continue however. When maximal availability is wanted, do not check this option.
Note: internal AutoBoot errors will always be communicated to the user by a notification, even if this option is turned off.
5. Maintain log file.
The log file will be called 'AutoBoot Log' and will be created in the preferences folder. It will contain the same messages as the notifications: the time and reason of the crash, and also the number of reboots since the power was turned on. I strongly suggest to check this option to keep a log of all reboots, in order to identify machines which have a problem.
Note: The log and notification messages are written to disk AFTER the reboot. In certain circumstances the reason for the restart may get lost during the restart. AutoBoot will report that the reason for restarting the mac is unknown.
Note2: internal AutoBoot errors will always to logged, even if this option is turned off.
6. Registration
This software is Shareware. You can evaluate it for two weeks. After this period, you will be regularly reminded to pay your shareware fee. After each user reboot, you will be presented with a notification, inviting you to pay your shareware fee. This message, when not dismissed, will remove itself after 10 minutes to allow foreground processing to continue. The message will also be logged.
After you pay your fee, you will receive a serial number, which you must use to register your copy. The messages will disappear.
Note: you can of course also install a fresh copy of AutoBoot every two weeks :-)
E. Shareware
This software is shareware. This is not another term for free software, as many people seem to think. Shareware software must be paid, just like ordinary commercial software. The difference is that a shareware author uses cheap distribution channels to keep costs down and this system also allows you to evaluate the software before you decide to purchase it.
Support the shareware system by paying your shareware fee ! Many great shareware products have gone commercial because people did not take up their responsibility and paid their fees.
Distribution:
You can distribute this software by giving it away to friend, upload it to a BBS or online services like Compuserve or AOL, or send it to any ftp site. Basically you can distribute it any way you like, as long as you don't ask any money for it, other than a small charge related to distribution costs (cost of a disk, postage or download fee) and keep it together with this unmodified document in the original compressed archive this product came in.
You may not sell this product or bundle it with any other products (commercial or other) without explicit written permission by the author of this software.
You may not modify AutoBoot or this document in any way nor distribute AutoBoot without this document or the other files and applications that came with it.
Check the AutoBoot web pages if you want info on the latest release, download sites, tips, ...
http://www.vl-brabant.be/mac
Price:
The fee is U.S. $20 or BEF 660 for the one copy; $15/copy or BEF 500/copy if you buy more than one copy.. Mind you: you don't pay for the number of users, but for the number of Macs you run AutoBoot on.
You will receive a personal registration number which will reflect the number of copies you paid for . Please allow 5 to 6 weeks for response.
A site license is U.S. $200 or BEF 6600. This gives you the right to install as many copies as you want on one site. I will give full support to the best of my possibilities (e.g. problem solving, modification of AutoBoot for specific needs…).
For a multi-site license, please contact me for pricing.
If you want to sell this product with any of your products, please contact me, and we'll work something out.
Payment:
Please always use the supplied registration form. Write clearly !
You can pay in U.S. dollars if you use cash, International Postal Money Order or a check drawn on a non-Belgian bank. You must pay in BEF if you use a Eurocheck, check drawn on a Belgian bank or wire transfer.
You must use one of the following methods:
a. cash: you can send cash dollars or Belgian Franks. Included the payment with your shareware registration form.
b. Eurocheck: (available in the E.C. only). The Eurocheck must be made payable in Belgian Franks (BEF) and the Eurocheck cardnumber must be on the back.
c. check drawn on a Belgian bank: The check must be made payable in Belgian Franks (BEF) and drawn on a Belgian bank.
d. check drawn on any non-Belgian bank: U.S. dollars. Please add $18 to the shareware fee to cover international banking costs. This fee must also be paid for federal drafts, international drafts, foreign drafts, cashier's checks, etc ... I will not accept your check unless this fee is added !
e. International Postal Money Order: Ask your Post Office for an International Postal Money Order. They will send the payment directly to me, so you will need to send the registration form separately. You can choose to pay in U.S. dollars or Belgian Franks.
f. Wire transfer: you can also transfer the payment directly to my bank account. The payment must be made in Belgian Franks. You must make sure that you take all costs (local, foreign and currency conversion costs) on your behalf, i.e. make sure I receive the full amount. Don't forget to send your registration form by regular mail, or I will not be able to process your order !!
Which method do I choose ?
The cheapest way to pay is cash, the safest way is by wire transfer. The easiest ways are cash or regular check, but the check is more expensive due to the $18 banking fee. If you live in Europe, go for the Eurocheck. If you live in a country which has a well established Postal Service (e.g. Japan), use the Postal Money Order. For largers amounts by companies, use the wire transfer or the check drawn on a Belgian bank.
From contacts with people in the U.S.A, I learned many people don't pay shareware fees because they think it is a hassle to get money to Europe. It isn't ! The simplest way (for small fees, less than $50), is to send CASH. My experience tells me this is quite a reliable method. Put the money inside a piece of paper (the registration form) and put it in a firm envelope, so that you can't see it when you hold it to the light. Send the letter by air mail.
My address:
Karl Pottie
Orkaanstraat 21
8800 Rumbeke-Roeselare
Belgium (Europe)
My e-mail adress on the internet (also reachable from Applelink, Compuserve, AOL; check for details on how to reach me at your online service):
karlp@macbel.be
Check the AutoBoot web pages if you want info on the latest release, download sites, tips, ...
http://www.vl-brabant.be/mac
If you want to send me a bug report, be sure to state Macintosh model, system version, used inits (system extensions) and cdevs (control panels). Describe the problem as clearly as you can: what happens ? which circumstances ? Can you eliminate the problem by turning off some extensions ? Does the problem also occur if you remove AutoBoot ?
LIMITED WARRANTY AND LIABILITY:
THIS SOFTWARE COMES 'AS IS'. I CAN NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE OR LOSS OF DATA CAUSED BY THIS PRODUCT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, WHATEVER THE NATURE OF THE DAMAGE. I DO NOT GUARANTEE THAT AUTOBOOT WILL IN FACT REBOOT A MACINTOSH AFTER A SYSTEM CRASH NOR DO I GUARANTEE IT WILL NOT REBOOT A MACINTOSH AT ANY OTHER TIME.
