Sonar Documentation

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We have reviewed and revised some of our existing Tech Notes and created some new ones. If you're a Sonar customer and you want a copy, let us know.

The documents are grouped in the following categories:

Recently added: Sonar and YouTube for Schools.

General Setup and Maintenance

Upgrading to Sonar 3.2.12 (TN10025A)

This Tech Notes not only explains the upgrade process but also how to check the upgrade was successful. Request a copy.
Added 26 May 2011

Backing up and Restoring Sonar (TN10028B)

To enable you to recover from a disaster or system failure, it is important to frequently back up the Sonar operating system, the contents of the database (log files and email), and database files themselves. This Tech Note explains how to run, schedule and restore backups. Request a copy.
Added 26 May 2011

Setting Time and Date (TN10004B)

Making sure the time and date is set correctly in your Sonar system is important for a number of reasons such accurate date and time stamps in the log files produced by the Sonar firewall and general troubleshooting. Accurate dates also help you with identifying network policy breaches (that is, access to inappropriate websites). This Tech Note explains how to change the time and date in Sonar. Request a copy.
Added 26 May 2011

Customising Sonar HTML Pages (TN10022B)

As of Sonar 3.2.12 you can customise the pages that are displayed when users try to access blocked web sites, including the page that is displayed once they have submitted a request to unblock those pages, and the logout page. You can add your organisation’s logo, change the text or the style of the pages. Request a copy.
Added 26 May 2011

Changing Sonar IP Address (TN10030A)

For all kinds of reasons, at some point you may have to change the IP addresses of Sonar’s internal Ethernet interfaces, its public IP address or the IP address of the SMTP server. For each of these entities there are different places in the Sonar system where you have to replace the old IP address with the new one, and possibly make other changes as well. This document shows you where and how to do that. Request a copy.
Added 26 May 2011

Transparent Proxy (TN10029A)

Transparent proxy means that any HTTP requests are automatically redirected to the Sonar proxy, there’s no need to configure the browser with the Sonar IP address, and the user is not aware that the request is redirected. This Tech Note explains with which authentication methods transparent proxy can be used, and how to set up transparent proxy mode. Request a copy.
Added 26 May 2011

Renewing Sonar Digital Certificates (TN10032A)

Sonar's digital certificate expired on July 19th, 2011. Each time one of the Sonar applets is launched a message is displayed warning that the certificate has expired. This is not only annoying, but it's also bad practice to allow your users to grow accustomed to accepting expired or possibly invalid certificates. We therefore strongly recommend that you update the certificates as soon as possible. This Tech Note takes you through the process. Request a copy.
Added 20 July, 2011

Authentication

Automatically Launching Sonar Authentication on Login (TN10002C)

The Sonar authentication application is designed to be started and launched soon after a user logs in to their computer. Using a script, the application can be launched immediately after the user has logged in to their computer. Request a copy.
Added 6 June 2011

Sonar Authentication Options (TN10024B)

Sonar offers a wide range of authentication methods which are used to apply access and usage policies when accessing email or the Internet. This Tech Note explains how and when to use them. Request a copy.
Added 26 May 2011

iOS (TN10011C)

It’s not possible to log into Sonar managed network resources with iPads, iPhones or any other Apple iOS device the way you can with desktop computers because of the nature of Apple’s mobile operating system. Aside from AD pass-through authentication, there are three other types of authentication available in Sonar for iOS devices. This Tech Note explains these authentication methods. Request a copy.
Added 26 May 2011

AD Pass-through Authentication (TN10023C)

With pass-through authentication, users only have to log in to the domain when they start their computers; they no longer have to also log in to Sonar to get access to the Internet or email. The login credentials on the Active Directory (AD) domain controller are used by Sonar to authenticate the user the moment they log in.

This feature enables desktop computers and laptops to be automatically authenticated when they connect to the network. It also provides an easy and convenient way for iOS and other mobile devices to be authenticated by Sonar. Request a copy.
Added 26 May 2011

Filtering

URL Regular Expression Exceptions (TN10010B)

Using regular expressions you can create exceptions to URL regular expression filtering rules. This Tech Note explains how to define URL regular expression exceptions. Request a copy.
Added 6 June 2011

Blocking Anonymous Proxies (TN10003B)

Anonymous proxies enable users to circumvent your web usage policies. An anonymous proxy server acts as a mediator between the user’s computer and Sonar. The user can access blocked pages such as Myspace or Facebook through an anonymous proxy, because to Sonar it appears the traffic is coming from the website running the proxy, not from the websites accessed via the proxy.

It's impossible to block all anonymous proxy websites, but Sonar offers a number of methods to drastically reduce the number of anonymisers that can be accessed. Request a copy.
Added 26 May 2011

Sonar and YouTube for Schools (TN10033A)

This document outlines the process of setting up and configuring YouTube for schools. Request a copy.

Added 26 May 2011

Email Management

Sonar Email Management (TN10026A)

If Sonar has been set up in your organisation to serve as an SMTP proxy server to protect against spam and email viruses, your users can check for any emails that are pending or have been quarantined by Sonar. They can also add email addresses to the trusted and blocked lists.

This Tech Note explains the two ways available in Sonar for users to manage their email. Request a copy.
Added 26 May 2011

Reporting

Sonar Standard Reports (TN10027A)

Sonar enables you to report on almost every aspect of network usage, ranging from authentication events, payments per user or group, outstanding accounts, web access details, Internet usage and email activity. This Tech Note provides an overview of the standard reports that are available in Sonar and how to work with them. Request a copy.
Added 26 May 2011

Advanced Configuration

Quality of Service (TN10031A)

The aim of this Tech Note is to provide you with the information you need to understand Quality of Service (QoS) and how it works in Sonar so that you can set up your own bandwidth management policies. It also includes a list of questions that can help you plan and define your QoS policies, and broad guidelines how to set them up. Request a copy.
Added 26 May 2011

Setting up ActivePassive HA Sonar Environment (TN20002A)

High-availability (HA) is a configuration in which multiple Sonar servers (clusters) are used to provide high availability of services. In an HA environment there are redundant Sonar systems which are used to provide service when the server fails. Request a copy.
Added 26 May 2011

Request Your Copy of the Documentation

If you're a Sonar customer, you can request a copy of one or more Tech Notes here.

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