Beta Add-In: Loger v1.65

By on February 3, 2009 in Add-ins & Apps, Windows Home Server

A new Windows Home Server add-in hits the community today, and I reckon it’s one that many of you are going to be really interested in. Particularly the parents out there.

Loger, by Jose Cerna is an add-in which allows you to set timed access limits for each user for the computers on your home network.

For example, if you wish to limit the time your son/daughter can spend on the computer to 2 or 3 hours a day, then you can do this through Loger.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 have a similar feature, but of course this has to be set on each client and does not force the user to log off.

The add-in is currently in an early beta, and Jose is looking for testers to provide feedback and support to allow him to further develop and complete the add-in.

Loger consists of three components:

Server – This is an add-in to be installed on your Home Server which controls access. Jose’s working on this element right now.

Manager – This is to be installed and used on any machine (including the home server) that you want to manage users on.

Client – This is to be installed on those machines that you want to monitor usage time.

The following screenshots come from the Client and Manager apps – the home server add-in will be developed with your feedback.

logermanager thumb1 Beta Add In: Loger v1.65

logermanager3 thumb1 Beta Add In: Loger v1.65

logerclienttime2 thumb1 Beta Add In: Loger v1.65

logerusersettings thumb1 Beta Add In: Loger v1.65

Sounds like a great add-in, and who knows, maybe the platform from which more comprehensive parental controls could be built?

To join the beta, head over to Jose’s website where you can download the beta and submit your feedback.

Download: Loger v1.65


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About Terry Walsh

Terry Walsh is the founding editor and owner of We Got Served. Since February 2007, the site has provided detailed coverage and analysis of the emerging home server category, and has subsequently grown into a trusted outlet for digital home news and reviews.
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  • Armando

    Great App I’m going to like not having to fight with my son about getting off the computer.

  • http://www.msn.com Tablet PC User

    “Windows Vista and Windows 7 have a similar feature, but of course this has to be set on each client and does not force the user to log off.”

    You may want to update this…On Vista (Home Premium 32 bit), a person with a limited account and a time limit will be locked out when their alloted time is up (basically a forced WINKEY + L). Example, my kids are allowed to be on the computer from 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm M-F. When 10:00 pm comes around, they can not log back in until 6:00 pm the following day. No need for WHS or this add-in for this ability in Vista (or Win7 I suppose)

    http://www.microsoft.com/protect/products/family/vista.mspx

  • cernajose

    @Tablet PC User – I did not know that vista log off the user after their time is up. I tested this I guess to long ago when vista was in RC and it was not working. This add-in will be relevant because this add-on would be able to support windows vista parental controls time limits. In your example “my kids are allowed to be on the computer from 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm M-F. When 10:00 pm comes around, they can not log back in until 6:00 pm the following day” loger works differently instead of a range of times the user can log in it allows you to set the maximum time that user can use the computer that one day. So if you have a son and a daughter and you set parental controls for 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm M-F but you only want each of them to use the computer for one hour a day loger will keep track at what time your son loged on and log him off so your daughter can use it next.

    Also if you have multiple computers loger will know that your son use computer A for 25min and computer B for 30min. I am working in implementing vista/win 7 parental controls so that you can set up a user in the home server and it’s parental control and loger settings will move with them form computer to computer.

    Thanks for the heads up

  • Ian

    Excellent idea, an intial thought would be the ability to limit application useage. Can only use the internet for x hours per week. Watching stored movies through media player x hours per week. Will certainly watch this one with interest. And this is an add in I would pay for.

  • Chanan

    It would be nice if allowed times to login are added to Logger so everything can be managed from once place. Also I don’t think XP has that feature. My daughter has been waking up at like 5:30 in the morning and running downstairs to play on Webkinz or on her Nancy Drew game! She will curse the day I learned of Logger! :)

  • cernajose

    Ian thanks I’ll add those the the list.

    Chanan believe it not xp pro does allow you to modify log on times just like vista but you have to use the command prompt. The command is

    Net user kiduseraccount /times:m-su,14:00-1700

    be careful when i was testing this with loger for the first time i made the mistake of testing the command using my own account and forgot to add the / in /times so i change my account password to times:…..

    This feature is working in my test computers but It is not in the current posted version. I will add it hopefully soon. I also need to run xp home version to see if it will work

  • cernajose

    V1.65.1 Posted

  • cousinsp

    Is this add-in going anywhere? It's exactly what I'm lookin for.