The Basic action types consist of four action groups: Desktop, Diagnostics, Notify, and Simple.
Desktop
The Desktop group contains notification actions that all occur on the computer where the Connection Broker is running and connected to a given server. They are intended for the person using the program as an immediate visual or audible notification, so that responses to various network problems raised by alerts can be executed as quickly as possible.
- Play Sound
- Another desktop notification involves playing a sound alert on the computer where Connection Broker is running and connected to a given server, when a selected event is processed. When defining this action type for an event, you must select an appropriate sound file from your local or network drive (for example, in the standard .WAV format).
- Display Desktop Notification Window
- The alert dialog is a special program window used to display processed alerts. Defining this type of desktop notification action for an event lets the user see new, unacknowledged alerts in a convenient table. You can display this dialog by clicking the Alerts Received link in the program's status bar (if any alerts were recently received).
Diagnostics
The Diagnostics group contains actions related to alert messages, such as:
- Add Traceroute to Alert Message
- Use this type of action if you want to extend alert information for debugging purposes; in this case, an additional diagnostic step will be performed before other predefined actions take place. You can set several parameters when defining this type of action: the maximum number of hops to use during traceroute and whether to resolve names.
- Add Network Services Status to Alert Message
- Use this type of diagnostic action to add network services status to the actual alert message.
Notifications
Notify user or group
Permits automatically notifying a user or a group of users about an occurred event. Information on how to notify each of them (email or text message (SMS)) is predefined in the program to simplify this type of new action. You do not have to specify each time how the notification should be sent to different users.
Simple Notification
The Simple group contains various message actions. For a simple notification action, you have to define parameters relating to whom you want to notify. They vary depending on which simple notification you select. You can define one of the following simple notification types:
- Selecting this type of notification implies that it will occur via email. When setting up this type of notification, you will need to specify the recipient's email address. You can also create and set up the external SMTP Server.
- SMS via Email
- This type of method involves sending a notification in an email to an SMS gateway, which then redirects it using a cellular phone message (SMS) to the recipient. To use it, you need to configure/select the appropriate SMS gateway so the message is processed correctly. Since NetCrunch will send an email, proper mail configuration must also be performed (for example, specifying the reply address and enabling an external mail server instead of the built-in one in the program).
- SMS via GSM
- To use SMS notifications via GSM phone, you need to connect and set up the phone or a device that acts like it first. This is usually done by using one of the standard COM ports on the computer running NetCrunch. After completing this, you may proceed to set up NetCrunch options for using the GSM phone.
See also: Alerting Action Types Control Action Types Logging Action Types Scripts Action Types
