Zinc is designed to work with Conserver to replace the functionality of the ConMan program (ConMan is a console management program developed locally at Columbia). ConMan and Conserver are programs that work with console connections to allow logging of console output as well as user interaction with the consoles. Unlike ConMan, however, Conserver does not offer the ability to display a "master console" that would display console information from all consoles on one screen. Zinc's role, therefore, is to provide a master console, and to allow a console operator to use the information it displays.

Specifically, the requirements are:

1. Real-time updates. The list of console output needs to be updated every time data comes in. Specifically, it was deemed that a delay of .5 seconds to 1 second between an event and its display is acceptable. This must hold true when the number of hosts is on the order of 200.

2. Large capacity. The list of console output must be able to store an arbitrarily large number of entries, or more specifically on the order of 100,000.

3. Ease of movement. The user must be able to move around the large list of entries easily.

4. Ease of output. The user must be able to copy the contents of an entry into an email easily.

5. Mouse functionality. The user must be able to use the mouse to select entries that will be output into an email, and in general be able to use the mouse to issue commands whenever reasonable.

6. Stability. The program must be able to run for a month or more without needed to be restarted, even though the log files may be replaced often during that time.

7. Simplicity. The program must be easy to understand and simple to use.

• Source Code (gzipped) for version 1.16
• User's Manual
• License Information