DiskPulse 15.9.16

Overview

Data is a very critical entity. Any change in data leads to file attribute changes so the file system can be monitored by tracking these changes, and therefore ensure that data doesn't loses its integrity.

DiskPulse is a tool that monitors file system changes at directory/disk level in real time. Any change in file attributes of monitored directory is logged in DiskPulse's monitor interface. This logger entry report can be saved to a file. Also this report can be generated in pie chart/bar chart. The Advanced Monitor option allows you to execute specific action such as sending notifications to email (available in upgraded version).

Installation

The installation is quick and very simple. It takes only 10.6 MB space on your hard disk and can be installed in less than a minute without any additional software or toolbars.

Currently, DiskPulse is only available for Windows 32bit/64bit, all major versions such as Windows XP/Vista/7/8/Server 2003/2008/2012.

Interface

The interface is very simple and user friendly. When you open DiskPulse, you get a panel window with simple icons that makes accessing DiskPulse's functions easy. This panel window includes: Monitor, Continue, Pause, Stop, Reset, Charts and Save options. When you click Monitor, another window opens, where you can:

- Add/delete directories need to be monitored.
- Select the type of file system changes (created, modified, renamed, deleted) to be monitored.
- Select the events (file name, size, access time, creation time, security, attribute changes) that changes files.
- Add/Delete directories need to be excluded from monitoring.
- Define rules to monitor files matching criteria rule.

Overall, the interface is neatly designed and is easily accessible, even to a newbie.

Pros

DiskPulse provides a single point to monitor whole system’s file system.

Disk pulse provides two level of monitoring: Disk level, where you can select your local disk to monitor, and Directory level, where you can also select particular directory or list of directories to be monitored.

It also provides the functionality to exclude directories that need not be monitored.It allows multiple profile management. Suppose you need to monitor two set of directories separately so that it can be monitored in two sets and monitored data can be logged in two sets then profile comes in role. Also, if two users are using DiskPulse then profiles can be used as well.

It provides real time monitoring. As soon as there is a change in file system attributes, it is logged on monitor interface (assuming monitoring is on).

Report of all files changes can be saved into a single html file. It can also be saved to different other formats as well as sql database (applicable to upgraded version).

For better statistics, reports can be generated in pie chart/bar chart format.

Cons

We have not encountered any specific flaws during testing. However some parts may be noted:

- The free version allows you to save reports in html format, but it does not allow executing action for the same i.e. to save report in html format. So you have to manually save report after monitoring.
- Monitoring at directory level/disk level is available but for file level monitoring you have to define rules, which is available only in upgraded version.

Alternatives

FolderChangesView is a similar program to DiskPulse. FolderChangesView provides a minimal functionality of real time file system monitoring and saving html report like free version of DiskPulse. Although, if you opt for the upgraded version of DiskPulse, it provides several extensive features which FolderChangesView doesn't have.

Conclusion

Overall, DiskPulse is very sophisticated and comes with a well designed interface. You may find many software boasting real time monitoring but the kind of simple interface and easiness DiskPulse provide, is just awesome so give it a try and convince yourself.