Sending a text message via modem

[J Busch]

Background

We have several scripts in place to monitor key system parameters and processes on our HP servers. If something exceeds a predetermine value a text message is sent via email to the admins. If it is a critical alert (network issue) the text message is also sent via a modem. The modem is used only for critical alerts to ensure the admin is notified. Everything works fine for the admins with Verizon or sprint cell phones.

Recently an admin switch to ATT and an IPhone. Text messages via email works fine. But we are unable to send a text message via modem. I have tried every modem number we can find for ATT with every setting we can think of but no luck. I found an old post saying ATT no longer provides TAP service with the standard cell plans. You may need to purchase an add-on data package. I have tried to contact ATT but just keep getting passed around. Now one there seems to know anything about sending text messages via modems or any special data plan.

Question

Does anyone know if ATT provide TAP access? Or is an additional cell phone data package needed??

I know this is little off topic but I have been knocking my head into a wall on this one…

Thanks.

[TwoProc]

I liked this article to get it done. Thinking about doing it myself. The article talks about using Nagios - but it will work for most anything.

http://www.linuxjournal.com/magazine/using-sms-server-provide-robust-alerting-service-nagios

[TwoProc]

I liked this article to get it done. Thinking about doing it myself. The article talks about using Nagios - but it will work for most anything.

http://www.linuxjournal.com/magazine/using-sms-server-provide-robust-alerting-service-nagios

If you just want to use a plain Ol' modem (not a GSM modem) this is the ONLY article I found on the subject.

http://howto.gumph.org/content/send-sms-messages-from-linux/

[J Busch]

Interesting product, I will have to read up on it.

We have a similar solution. The problem is in talking with ATT. Our system calls ATT via modem but ATT will not take the message. I was wondering if anyone else had this problem (figure out a solution) or knew if ATT only took inbound TAP message if you had a specific phone service.

Sorry if I was not clear...

[TTr · Accepted solution]

Do you have this list?

http://www.qpage.org/phone-numbers.html

It is rather old but you never know. I am using qpage with a good old modem and it is working fine. No need to rely on email and LAN/WAN. I don't know what the status is with ATT. I have seen diminishing support on the TAP service from most cell companies. It is a shame because it is a nice service. We call the sales reps and they no idea what we are talking about. It takes a while to find the right person. In sevral cases the service was down and we had to call the cell company to alert them about it. Then all the queued pages came out all at once.

I guess it is time for SMS based paging.

[J Busch]

I did not have that list of phone numbers. Found a link in the ATT section of the list that confirms you need to have Enterprise paging to use TAP on the ATT network.

We will need to find another solution or the admin will need to have enterprise paging added to there cell plan.

Thanks for your help...

[J Busch]

ATT requires you to have Enterprise paging to use TAP on the ATT network.