ThorroldFox IP Monitor vs Competitors: Feature Comparison and Pricing

Setting Up ThorroldFox IP Monitor — Step-by-step Installation & Configuration

Requirements

• Java 8+ installed (JRE/JDK)
• Windows or Linux (headless mode supported on Linux)
• Internet access for IP detection and optional email/DNS updates

1. Download & install

1. Download the latest IP Monitor package from the ThorroldFox website (https://www.thorroldfox.com/software) or a trusted mirror.
2. On Windows: run the installer or unzip the release and place the folder where you want the app.
3. On Linux/headless: extract the archive to a server directory.

2. Start the app

• Windows: double-click the executable or run the provided .jar with:

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java -jar IPMonitor.jar 

• Linux/headless (console mode introduced in recent releases):

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java -jar IPMonitor.jar –headless 

3. Basic configuration (GUI)

1. Open Settings.
2. Add a new “Watch” or monitor target (it monitors your WAN/Internet IP).
3. Set check interval (e.g., 5–15 minutes).
4. Choose IP detection method (default public IP lookup services are typical).
5. Enable logging level you want (info/debug).

4. Actions on IP change

1. In Actions, add one or more responses:
   • Execute program/script: specify full path and pass arguments (use this for updating dynamic DNS clients like ddclient).
   • HTTP POST: provide URL, headers, and payload for webhook/DDNS endpoints.
   • Send email: configure SMTP server, port, username, password, from/to addresses, and whether to use TLS.
2. Test each action using the built-in test button or by simulating a change.

5. Email (SMTP) setup

• Enter SMTP host, port (587 for STARTTLS, 465 for SSL), username/password.
• Set “From” and “To” addresses and test sending.
• If using OAuth or special security, use a dedicated app password if required.

6. Dynamic DNS / webhook setup

• For HTTP POST, include placeholders if supported (e.g., {ip}).
• For common DDNS providers, use their update URL and provide credentials or token in headers/query string.

7. Run as a background service

• Windows: create a scheduled task at startup or use a service wrapper (e.g., NSSM) to run the java command.
• Linux: create a systemd unit file that runs the jar with –headless on boot.

8. Troubleshooting & tips

• Ensure Java version >= 8; update if detection fails.
• If IP not detected, check outbound firewall and allow connections to the public IP lookup endpoints.
• Review logs for errors (enable debug temporarily).
• Use small check intervals only if necessary to avoid rate limits from IP lookup services.

9. Updates & maintenance

• Check ThorroldFox news/changelog for newer releases and headless improvements.
• Backup config files before upgrading.