All Terms A–Z

This page explains the terms you will see across the help center. If something is still unclear after reading an entry, the linked articles go deeper.

A

Administrator account — A user account on a computer with permission to install software, change settings, and access everything on the system. Sometimes called "admin" or "root." Regular user accounts are more restricted for safety. Read more

Agent — A small program that runs quietly in the background on each computer you want to monitor. It collects information (like how full the hard drive is or whether a service is running) and sends it back to octoja. You install it once and it takes care of the rest. Read more

Auto-start service — A service (see below) that is set to start automatically when the computer boots up. octoja's service check watches these by default, because if one of them stops unexpectedly it usually means something went wrong. Read more

B

Bandwidth — The amount of data that can flow through a network connection in a given time. Measured in megabits per second (Mbps). octoja can monitor bandwidth usage on network interfaces. Read more

Branding — Customising the appearance of your octoja instance — colours, logo, and display name. Managed under Administration → Branding. Read more

BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) — A crash screen that Windows displays when the operating system encounters a critical error it cannot recover from. octoja's crash detection check watches for these. Read more

C

Certificate (SSL/TLS) — A small digital file that proves a website is who it says it is, like an ID badge for a web address. Certificates expire and need to be renewed — octoja can monitor this for you with an SSL/HTTP check. Read more

Check — An automated test that the agent runs on a regular schedule. Each check looks at one thing — disk space, a service, a website — and reports whether everything is fine or something needs attention. Read more

Check-in — The periodic signal the agent sends to the octoja server to confirm it is still running. Each check-in carries the latest data. If check-ins stop, octoja marks the device as potentially offline. Read more

Chocolatey — A package manager (see below) for Windows. It lets you install and update software using a simple command instead of downloading installers manually. octoja uses it behind the scenes when deploying software to Windows devices. Read more

Command bar — The search-and-action panel you open with Ctrl+K inside octoja. Type a few letters to jump to a customer, a device, or a page — faster than clicking through menus. Read more

Configuration package — A set of software deployment instructions saved in octoja. A configuration package defines which software to install, the target platform, and the install command. Read more

Container — A lightweight, isolated environment for running a single application or service. Containers are managed by tools like Docker. octoja can monitor whether containers are running and healthy. Read more

Cron job — See Scheduled task.

Customer — In octoja, a customer is a company or individual whose devices you manage. Every device belongs to exactly one customer. Read more

D

Dashboard — The landing view when you sign in to octoja, showing a device overview across your customers.

Deployment — The process of installing the octoja agent on a device. Deployment can be done manually or with an enrollment token for automated enrolment.

Device — A computer, server, or workstation that has the octoja agent installed and is being monitored. Devices belong to a customer and optionally to a site. Read more

Disk I/O — How busy a disk drive is with reading and writing data. High disk I/O can slow down everything on the computer. octoja can monitor disk utilisation and alert you before performance degrades. Read more

DNS (Domain Name System) — The internet's address book. It translates human-readable names like help.octoja.de into the numeric addresses computers actually use.

Docker — A platform for running applications in containers (see above). Popular for servers because it makes deploying and updating software faster and more predictable. Read more

E

Elevated terminal — A terminal session running with administrator privileges. Because octoja's agent runs as a system service, the built-in terminal already has elevated access — you do not need to "run as administrator" separately. Read more

Enrollment token — A time-limited token that authorises a new agent to register with octoja. Used for automated or bulk deployments so that agents can enrol without manual approval. Read more

Event log — A record of system events that Windows keeps automatically — software installations, errors, security warnings, and more. octoja's event log check can scan these logs and alert you when specific events appear. Read more

F

File browser — A built-in tool in octoja that lets you browse, upload, and download files on a remote device directly from the browser — without opening a terminal. Read more

Firewall — Software (or hardware) that controls which network traffic is allowed in and out of a computer. octoja's agent only makes outbound connections to the octoja server — it does not need any inbound firewall rules. Read more

G

Group — In octoja, a group is a set of permissions bundled together. You assign users to one or more groups to control what they can see and do — for example, whether they can manage customers, deploy software, or open remote terminals. Read more

H

Homebrew — A package manager (see below) for macOS and Linux. Similar to Chocolatey on Windows, it lets you install software with a single command. Read more

Hyper-V — Microsoft's built-in virtualisation platform for running virtual machines on Windows. octoja can monitor the state of Hyper-V VMs and alert you if one shuts down or enters a saved state. Read more

I

IIS (Internet Information Services) — Microsoft's web server software for hosting websites and web applications on Windows. octoja can monitor IIS application pools and alert you if one stops. Read more

iLO (Integrated Lights-Out) — HPE's remote management interface built into ProLiant servers. It lets you monitor hardware health (temperature, fans, power supplies) even when the operating system is not running. octoja reads iLO data via SNMP. Read more

Integration — A connection between octoja and a third-party tool, such as a backup product. Integrations let octoja pull data from other systems so you can see everything in one place.

Inventory — The hardware and software information the agent collects from a device — operating system, installed software, hardware specs, network adapters, and more. Inventory data updates automatically with each agent check-in.

L

Location (Site) — A physical or logical grouping within a customer — for example, "Main Office" or "Berlin Datacenter." Devices can be assigned to a site so you know where they are. Read more

N

NTP (Network Time Protocol) — A protocol that keeps computer clocks synchronised with a reference time source. Accurate time matters for logging, security certificates, and authentication. octoja can check whether a device's clock is drifting too far from its NTP server. Read more

O

Outbound connection — A network connection that your computer starts toward an external server, as opposed to an inbound connection where an external server reaches into your computer. octoja's agent uses outbound connections only, which is why no firewall ports need to be opened.

P

Package manager — A tool that installs, updates, and removes software automatically. Instead of visiting a website, downloading an installer, and clicking through a wizard, you type one command and the package manager handles the rest. Common examples: Chocolatey and Winget (Windows), Homebrew (macOS), APT (Linux). Read more

Passkey — A modern, passwordless login method. Instead of typing a password, you authenticate using your device's built-in security (fingerprint, face recognition, or a hardware key). More secure than passwords because there is nothing to phish or forget.

Patch — An update released by a software vendor to fix bugs or close security holes. octoja's patch check tells you whether a device has pending patches, so you know when updates are waiting. Read more

Patch cycle — One deployment ring's scheduled maintenance occurrence. You review and approve the updates while the cycle is a draft; during its maintenance window the approved updates install, and the cycle reports the result for each device.

Patch management — octoja's system for keeping Windows and macOS up to date in controlled stages — using patch policies, deployment rings, maintenance windows, and patch cycles — instead of pushing every update everywhere at once.

Patch policy — The plan that controls how operating-system updates roll out: which customers' devices it covers, the staged deployment rings it sends updates through (each with its own maintenance window), and the rules for promoting updates from one ring to the next.

Permission — A rule that says what a user is allowed to do inside octoja. Permissions are grouped (see Group) and cover areas like managing customers, deploying software, or opening terminals. Permissions are managed as checkboxes in Administration → Groups. Read more

Ping — A quick network test that sends a tiny message to another computer and waits for a reply. If the reply comes back, the other computer is reachable. If it does not, the connection might be down. octoja's ping check monitors this automatically. Read more

Priority — How urgent a case is. octoja uses four levels: Low, Medium, High, and Critical.

R

RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) — A way of combining multiple hard drives to work together for better reliability, performance, or both. If one drive fails in a RAID array, the data is usually still safe — but the array needs attention. octoja can monitor RAID health. Read more

Registry — The Windows Registry is a database where Windows stores configuration settings for the operating system and installed software. On managed Windows devices, registry settings may be relevant when troubleshooting check results or agent configuration. octoja includes a built-in Registry Editor toolbox for browsing and editing the registry on a remote Windows device directly from the browser.

Report — A templated summary of customer and device data that octoja can generate on demand. Reports are built from a library of widgets, scoped to a customer or a specific device, and exported as a PDF print-bundle. Configured under the Reports section.

Remote desktop — A feature that lets you see and control a device's screen from your browser. Useful for hands-on troubleshooting when a terminal is not enough. Available for devices running the Windows agent. Read more

S

Scheduled task — An instruction that tells a computer to run a program at a specific time or on a regular schedule — like an alarm clock for software. On Linux this is called a cron job. octoja uses scheduled tasks to time patch installations and software deployments.

Service — A program that runs in the background without a visible window. Services handle things like printing, networking, antivirus scanning, and database engines. When a service stops unexpectedly, the software that depends on it may stop working too — which is why octoja can monitor services for you. Read more

SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology) — Built-in health monitoring inside hard drives and SSDs. It tracks things like temperature, read errors, and wear level. octoja's SMART check reads this data so you can spot a failing drive before it actually dies. Read more

SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) — A standard way for network devices (routers, switches, printers) to share status information. octoja supports SNMP checks for monitoring network device metrics.

Software deployment — The process of remotely installing, updating, or configuring software on managed devices. octoja uses the device's package manager (Chocolatey, Winget, Homebrew, or APT) to handle the installation. Read more

SSO (Single Sign-On) — A login method that lets you use one account — like your Microsoft work account — to sign in to multiple applications, including octoja. Instead of remembering a separate password, you sign in once and you are in everywhere. Read more

Staleness — How long ago the agent last checked in. A device that checked in seconds ago is "online"; one that has not checked in for a week is "stale." octoja shows this with coloured rings on the device tile. Read more

Syslog — The standard logging system on Linux and macOS. System messages, application logs, and security events all flow through syslog. octoja's system log check can scan these messages and alert you based on severity. Read more

T

Terminal — A text-based interface where you type commands instead of clicking buttons. octoja lets you open a terminal on a remote device straight from the browser, so you can troubleshoot without needing to be in front of the machine. Read more

Case — A support request or task tracked inside octoja. Cases have a status (Open, In Progress, Closed) and a priority, and they keep a full history of comments and changes. Read more

TOTP (Time-based One-Time Password) — A type of two-factor authentication where an app on your phone generates a six-digit code that changes every 30 seconds. You enter this code alongside your password when logging in, making your account much harder to break into. Read more

Two-factor authentication (2FA) — An extra layer of login security that requires something you know (your password) plus something you have (a code from your phone or a hardware key). octoja supports TOTP as a second factor. Read more

U

UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) — A battery backup device that keeps a computer running during brief power outages and protects against power surges. octoja can monitor UPS status via SNMP — battery charge, runtime remaining, and load. Read more

V

Virtual machine (VM) — A software-based computer that runs inside a physical computer. VMs let you run multiple operating systems on a single piece of hardware. octoja can monitor VM state on Hyper-V hosts. Read more

W

White-labelling — Customising octoja so it appears under your own brand name and colours when clients or end users see it. Managed under Administration → Branding. Read more

Widget — A single building block in a report template — a chart, a counter, a table. You assemble widgets from the available library to build the report you want.

Winget — A package manager built into Windows 10 and 11. Like Chocolatey, it lets you install software from the command line. octoja can use it for software deployments. Read more