Lithium Corp has launched a beta version of Lithium Console 5, a set of network, server and storage monitoring applications. Lithium provides support for industry standard SNMP and proprietary monitoring protocols, such as those used by Apple’s Xserve, Xsan, and Xserve RAID devices. The beta version offers improved incident reporting and e-mail alerts, a new Module Builder application for creating device modules using third-party SNMP MIBs, and the ability to view network, server and storage monitoring data from Lithium Touch on the iPhone and iPod touch.

The update also features HUD-style views for case log entries, new container and object views, and the integration of the incident manager and inspector panel into the main window of the program. Lithium 5.0 also improves the search function with more in-depth information on the inspector panel display. Users can now drag-and-drop devices from one site to another, or add devices that are discovered using Bonjour or the network scanner.

Incident reporting now identifies each entry as new, recurring, transitioned, and clear, while reducing the volume of e-mail alerts. Incident e-mail alerts that are generated by the programs action system now provide more information, including a URL, while allowing the relevant monitoring data to be accessed through Console. Mac users can now choose to monitor devices using Apple’s Server Manager Protocol or SNMP when adding a device.

Lithium Console 5 beta version is available for download directly from the company’s website and requires Mac OS X 10.4 or higher.