Syslog-Server
Receiving syslog messages from all devices on the network, such as PCs, routers, printers and other applications.
Receiving and forwarding messages
Content-based filtering and forwarding of messages to a higher-level control centre.
Extensive filtering options
by all properties and contents, such as priority, facility, IP, host names, messages or struct contents.
Detaillierte Protokolle
Branches into different logs depending on the filter rule; great overview
A wide range of actions in response to incoming messages
Forward, create email, alert sounds, run command line
Alarms
Notify a higher-level authority, either by email or by running a command-line command
System monitoring
Monitor the operation and performance of other devices
Log monitoring
Text-based logs from other applications can be monitored and stored centrally, and forwarded via Syslog to a central location.
Web server monitoring
Is your website accessible and working properly? There are alert functions for this too.
Compliant with all standard Syslog format
Supports the two major standards, RFC 3164 (BSD Syslog) and RFC 5424 (IETF Syslog), including all their individual data fields (timestamp, host, tag, ProcessID, MsgID), which can be referenced in filters and analyses.
Why no network should be without Cactus
In modern IT environments, routers, switches, firewalls, printers, IP telephones, servers and specialist applications generate important status and error messages around the clock. Without a central collection point, this information remains scattered – critical incidents, connection failures or creeping system errors are often only noticed once operations have already come to a standstill. Cactus consolidates all messages in a central location on Windows. The software goes far beyond a traditional syslog receiver: it combines powerful log management with active system and web server monitoring, as well as automated alerting and response mechanisms.Centralised Syslog reception
Reliably receives Syslog messages from the local system and from all network-enabled devices such as routers, printers, IP telephones, firewalls and servers – clearly organised and consolidated in one place.Log Streaming for text logs
It also monitors traditional, text-based log files from other applications (locally or on the network) and converts their entries into Syslog messages in real time. This allows you to effortlessly integrate programs that do not have their own Syslog interface.
You will have a central hub for all IT events on your network.
Precise filtering & sorting
Filters incoming data streams with fine granularity based on priority, facility, IP address, host name, message text or structured data content (Struct). Depending on the rule, Cactus automatically routes the entries to separate, clearly organised logs or forwards them.
Smart forwarding
Ideal for distributed sites and IT service providers: Cactus can pre-filter messages locally and forward relevant events specifically to a central office, enabling efficient remote management of customer networks.Active system and web server monitoring
A device that has gone offline no longer sends logs. That is why Cactus actively checks, via a built-in heartbeat function, whether computers, devices and key processes are running, and continuously monitors the availability of your web server.Automatic Alerts & Actions
Respond immediately to defined events or loss of connection: send email alerts, emit audible warning tones or automatically execute a command line (e.g. for your own scripts or service restarts).The benefits for you in day-to-day IT operations
- Immediate transparency: Direct access to all status data from our own networks or from customer environments we manage.
- An early warning system rather than troubleshooting: proactive notifications via email, text message or audio alert before users notice any outages.
- Open CSV interfaces: All log data is available as structured text files (CSV) and can be integrated directly into your own specialised applications on the network.
- Streamlined and practical: no unnecessary complexity – easy to administer in Windows, yet equipped with all the features of a modern syslog solution.
Cactus is an extremely powerful programme for receiving, forwarding and processing Syslog messages; it is easy to administer, yet offers all the capabilities of a modern Syslog solution. It has the following key features:
- Receiving syslog messages from the same computer, other computers or devices such as printers, routers, IP telephones and any devices and machines capable of sending syslog messages.
- Forwardingmessages to a higher level, e.g. from a client’s network to you as an IT service provider for centralised system monitoring
- Filteringmessages based on metadata such as IP address, priority or content
- Filter-based forwarding, storage and various actions
- Alertsvia email, text message or audible alert for specific Syslog messages
- System monitoring of other computers or devices using the Hartbeat function; alarm in the event of a loss of connection
- Your web server: Find out straight away if your web server is offline
- Monitoring of customer networks You are always kept informed as to whether customer computers or networks are functioning correctly, are online, and whether key processes are running. You are notified centrally of any changes.
- Monitoring of text-based log files from other applications on the server or other computers, and generation of syslog messages containing their content, thereby providing a centralised overview of a wide variety of other applications. Log streaming.
- The program is also suitable for integration into your own bespoke applications. The interfaces are implemented as text files (CSV files) and can also be used over a network.
Additional tools included in the package:
- Cactus-Slave: A tool for other computers on the network, featuring a heartbeat function and automatic file monitoring for streaming logs to the server. This allows you to monitor all computers on the network to check that they are running and functioning correctly. A central overview of network activity.
- CTSend: A dialogue-based tool for generating syslog messages, suitable for testing network connections, firewalls and reachability from other networks
- CTSendCmd: A command-line programme for generating syslog messages for integration into your own scripts, batch files or applications. All syslog properties can be configured via parameters.
See for yourself the excellent quality and try out the Freeware Version!
Versions and prices
There are 4 versions:
Cactus Freeware
Full range of functions; messages are accepted from up to 3 IP addresses
Cactus-S
For small networks or as a secondary site – for example, within a customer’s network – messages are accepted from up to 6 IP addresses
Cactus-Pro
For medium-scale applications, messages are accepted from up to 12 IP addresses.
Cactus-Enterprise
no limit on the number of IP addresses that can be used as the source of messages
You can upgrade to a higher version at any time. You’ll only need to pay the difference!
| Cactus Version: | S | Pro | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| IP Addresses | 6 | 12 | >100 |
| price including VAT: | 49,00 € | 119,00 € | 250,00 € |
Download the freeware version
The Cactus freeware version offers the same functionality as the full version, but is limited to just three other IP addresses.
Unpack CACTUS.ZIP (~15 MB, german and english) extract the files using WinZip, Unzip or a similar programme into an empty temporary folder, e.g. C:\Temp, and run the SETUP programme from there. You will need superuser or administrator rights to install the programme. You can delete the temporary folder afterwards.