Query FLSMS status

[Pablo A. Destefanis]

Hello guys,

Does anyone know if there is any way to query FLSMS' status, as a way to ascertain if the program is running, or if one (or more) modems have been detected, etc?
I do not expect an SNMP OID, but maybe there's some way to do those queries programatically.

I would like to be able to send alerts (both local and remote) if a fairly unattended instance is unresponsive, or has found a condition that will prevent its normal functioning.

Thank you,

Pablo

[kiwanja]

Hi Pablo

Funnily enough I did write this functionality into a hybrid FrontlineSMS system a couple of years ago (where remotely monitoring the status of a bank of modems was critical).

I'll leave Alex or Morgan let you know what's possible in the current build. ;o)

Cheers for now, and have a good weekend!

Ken

[Alex Anderson]

Hi Pablo,

Not quite what it was designed for, but you could use HTTP Trigger to check if FrontlineSMS is still running - if the URL is responsive (e.g. returns an error) you know that the program is still running.

Trigger could be extended quite simply to return a status report of connected devices, and possibly trigger reconnection etc. It'd take some developer time, but I'm more than happy to discuss.

Cheers,

Alex

[Pablo A. Destefanis]

Hi Alex,

Entry through the trigger is a good option, particularly to query device status. My tests are going fine, but modems are usually a weak spot. I can see how this can be extended to other parts of the system.
I'm not a Java developer, but is there any way in which I can help?

Cheers,

Pablo

[Alex Anderson]

Hi Pablo,

If you aren't a developer, I guess the most useful thing you can do is to discuss with us what you need and we can see about implementing it. The more we can understand how people are using FrontlineSMS and what its shortcomings are, the better we can improve it. So, let us know what the different options you are looking for are.

Thanks,

Alex

[Pablo A. Destefanis]

Hi Alex,
I am thinking of any way in which we can expose internal data from FLSMS to an outside app, ideally in a format alike to what an SNMP OID would, to allow me to check (i.e.) how many messages have been sent/received, how many modems are detected, info (including status) on those modems, etc.
Why am I requesting this? So I can add some robustness to a FLSMS implementation. I could write a script to check if, in FLSMS' view, the modem/s is/are there and responsive.
Another, simpler, way to implement this could be through a /proc-like status file, that any app can query.

Just some ideas! Let me know what you think.

Cheers,

Pablo

[Alex Anderson]

Hi Pablo,

Great ideas! Would an HTTP interface be suitable for you? If so, we can add this functionality quite simply, I think, and it would be very powerful.

Alex

[Pablo A. Destefanis]

Hi Alex,

It depends :) I think what we need is something that"s "machine readable", rather than "human readable". If by HTTP interface you mean a dashboard, I'll say no. If you mean a system that I can query via HTTP, then by all means yes.

I have the feeling that you mean the latter :)

Cheers,

Pablo

[Alex Anderson]

Certainly do :¬) Great to hear that it would suit you; we'll keep you posted on progress.