USB Watchdog v1.0
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1. What is USB Watchdog?
This tool had been programmed to monitor on a server PC the functioning of a user defined selection of USB devices connected on different client computers which are connected via network inside e. g. a home cockpit environment. 
As home cockpit builders, we mostly have a lot of devices, switches or cards connected to several computers, usually via USB. The home cockpit normally only can work correctly, if all USB devices are connected properly. However, the control of them often can be very laborious. To verify their functions, a lot of device manager calls via e. g. team viewer are needed, sometimes gymnastic exercises to control hubs or cable connections within the shell. 
USB Watchdog is a client-server-application which reports whether a predefined USB device/hub is enabled, online or whether an error occurred. As well it is possible to see whether a client PC is online and if not, it is possible to wake him up with magic packets over Ethernet (WoL). USBWD works with all computers connected in Windows domains or workgroups. Although WiFi works with USB watchdog (but not WoL!) I suggest a cable connection over Ethernet between the PCs.
USB Watchdog is freeware for private issues. You can download this software from the AVSIM file library and others. To contact the author or to download the newest version go to FlightSim, AVSIM  or FlighX Forum (for german-speaking users). 

2. Installation
You must have administrator rights (logged on as admin) to start setup and to run the program(s). Start setup.exe and install USBWD in any directory you want on every PC you desire to observe. 
Install the application on the PC specified to be the server. USBWD had been tested on x86 and x64 Windows 7 and 10 but should also work with Windows 8, but will not work with Windows XP. 

Norbert Jaun, June 2018


