Newbie question: modems/paging

[Rick Stevens]

karlp at ourldsfamily.com wrote:
>>Shane Presley wrote:
>>
>>>Hello there,
>>>
>>>I hope this is the right list, if not, please point me in the right
>>>direction.  I'm very new to red hat, and Linux in general.  My
>>>background is Windows and Solaris.  I am ordering a Dell server w/
>>>RedHat ES on it, for an opensource monitoring package (Big Brother).
>>>I'll need a modem on it to do dial-out paging. Does anyone have any
>>>experience with this?
>>
>>We use a similar thing with BigBrother and Linux.  Works fine.
>>
>>
>>>Will an external US Robotics serial modem work.  How about USB?  Are
>>>the drivers included in RedHat or will I need to get them from US
>>>Robotics.
>>
>>Stick with the external serial modem.  Most USB and PCI modems are
>>"winmodems", which are far more trouble than they're worth.  A serial
>>modem "just works", regardless of OS or driver availability.
> 
> 
> Not so fast, Rick.. Some companies are now making winmodems that are
> external/serial modems. They are a BPIA. So, RULE OF THUMB: Check the box
> and if it says "compatible with Windows NT 3/4" you're in business whether
> it's an int or ext modem.

True, Karl, but unless you know that or are absolutely sure, it's still
best to stick with a serial modem.  There is no doubt with those.

>>>How about paging software?  I dont think Big Brother comes with it, so
>>>I'll have to fire off an external script?
>>
>>No, BB doesn't have a pager system, but it will use one if you set it
>>up.  There are several options.  You can set up BB to send email to the
>>pager through the pager company's gateway, or you can get one of the
>>open source pager packages such as QuickPage (http://www.qpage.org).
>>I've used both mechanisms.  Before I set up QuickPage, I even set up a
>>version that called a kermit script that talked to the pager company's
>>modem.  Mondo ugly, but it worked.
> 
> 
> I use procmail to page me when emails from certain criteria are met. Would
> this type of thing work?

If their pager has a mail gateway, that will work.  Many paging
companies only use TAP, where you'd need QuickPage or that kermit script
to accomplish the page.
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- Rick Stevens, Senior Systems Engineer     rstevens at vitalstream.com -
- VitalStream, Inc.                       http://www.vitalstream.com -
-                                                                    -
-    If Windows isn't a virus, then it sure as hell is a carrier!    -
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