Abstract: A system for monitoring various support devices of a computer network is disclosed. The network has a monitoring computer with a monitoring program that monitors the devices. The monitoring program is used to configure a subordinate program. Using push technology, the subordinate program is installed on and is run on target computers in the network. The monitoring program monitors operating parameters and alarm signals from the devices. When the monitoring program determines that the devices can no longer support its load, the monitoring computers sends a shut down instruction to the affected target computers. The subordinate program executes a shutdown routine for the target computer based on the shutdown instruction sent from the monitoring program. The subordinate program has minimal or no graphical user interface on the target computer and requires no local configuration by the user of the target computer.