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AN22 - How to send an e-mail from the PortStore buffer device

The PortStore buffer device has the facility to send e-mail alert when power failure occurs or the buffer is getting full. These functions are useful when you use PortStore as CDR/SMDR buffer for PBX in remote location. To use this function, it is necessary to have installed a SMTP server on the network which takes care of e-mail delivery. This application note describes configuration of the PortStore with a freeware SMTP server for MS Windows - Free SMTP server.

To start up of e-mail functionality of the PortStore is not necessary to use mentioned Free SMTP server but is possible to apply different software. Its selection is based on operating system of the server and on additional requirements of organisation.

Free SMTP server settings

Description of programme

Free SMTP server is freeware for MS Windows which enables to send e-mails directly from your computer. It can be used instead of your ISP's one. It does not require authorisation and special settings so it is easy to send e-mails from the PortStore.

Istallation

Installation of software is quite simple. First, we must download last version of Free SMTP server http://www.softstack.com/download/freesmtp.zip. We must unzip downloaded archive to a temporary folder and then we launch setup.exe. Wizard takes us trough the installation.
Notice: Software is located on delivered CD too.

Configuration

Free SMTP server is immediately usable after installation and there usually is not necessity to change any options. There are not many possibilities of configuration. All options are in menu File->Options. We can set two options in this dialog - port number (standard number of SMTP protocol is 25) and DNS server address. First option is necessary to change only in case that we already have another service on this port or due to security arguments. Second choice is suitable when we have special DNS server for an e-mail communication on our network.

Settings of PortStore

We must set the IP address of device, its mask, port number and gateway in PortStore's TCP Setup or RS-232 setup (see User's manual) at first. After this we can configure the e-mail. It can be done according to following example.

WEB51>S192.168.1.7	//IP address of computer where Free SMTP server is running
WEB51>U25	//port number of SMTP service on SMTP server (usually 25)
WEB51>&G<PortStore@hwg.cz>	//e-mail address of PortStore
WEB51>&U<mmatejka@hwg.cz>	//e-mail address where power failure alert will be sent to
WEB51>&XPower failure!!!	//subject of alert e-mail
WEB51>&V<mmatejka@hwg.cz>	//e-mail address where first full buffer alert will be sent
WEB51>&YBuffer is already full!!!	//subject of first e-mail
WEB51>&W<jrehak@hwg.cz>	//e-mail address where second full buffer alert will be sent
WEB51>&ZBuffer is totally full!!!	//subject of second e-mail
WEB51>D2	//save of configuration - not necessary
WEB51>R	//restart of device

Tip: After setting up the parameters switch PortStore from Setup mode to Ethernet mode.

Power failure alert verify

To check sending power failure alert e-mail is sufficient to unplug power adaptor for a couple seconds and then plug back. After start of PortStore we should receive the e-mail (as shown on picture).

Full buffer alert verify

For verifying of this functionality we will use software utility HW Hercules Setup Utility that is delivered together with a buffer box or it can be downloaded from http://www.hw-group.com/download/sw/HerculesSetup.zip.

First, we must prepare testing data that we will send via RS-232 into PortStore. This we make in pane Serial

We right-click on state window (below text "Received/Sent data") and from context menu we choose Send file-> Test file generator and we save the file.

In next step we send generated data via serial link into the PortStore. Then we have to set communication parameters (set up speed, parity and other parameters of the serial port according to configuration of PortStore) and in field Mode we select PortStore test and then click on Open. Legend "COM opened" should appear in state window.

After this we right-click on state window and from context menu we choose Send file-> Send file name… On following dialog we choose test file we made. If everything is O.K. we can see this dialog.

During sending of data we should received two e-mails from the PortStore. The messages look like following ones.

Buffer is almost full (70%) - screenshot
Buffer is total full (95%) - screenshot

If e-mails come then everything is right and the PortStore works properly. (Tip: It is often that your anti-spam software blocks e-mails from the PortStore because it interprets them as SPAM. If this happens you have to change configuration of the anti-spam.)

I am looking forward your comments and technical questions.

Marek Matějka - Matejka @ hwg.cz

Links and download

PortStore - Serial incomming data 2,048 kB buffer, SMTP e-mail notification about buffer overflow. The stored data can be accessed over Ethernet (TCP/IP). Typical PortStore application is buffering data from PBX, or remote serial device access.
PortStore2 - 2,048 kB Flash memory, supports the TCP Client/Server mode. The typical application is connecting phone branche exchanges over ethernet network and reading the stored call-data records.
PS Eye - SW for PortStore and PortStore2. PS Eye is a simple utility, which reads RS-232/485 data over Ethernet in regular intervals. The software is a simple utility but it can also be used as a background for your own application, as the Borland C++ source codes are free to download.
Application of PortStore with PBX - A typical application of the PortStore and PortStore2 devices is storing a CDR/SMDR from PBX serial port, which can be then accesed over intranet or Internet network. You can also store tarification (call accounting) data to the PBX using the RS-232 interface.
Free SMTP server - simple and free SMTP server for MS Windows
Hercules Setup Utility - useful utility for PortStore's setting