Workaround for SMS sending in BMC Performance Manager

BMC Performance Manager (earlier BMC Patrol) is a network monitoring and management application that can be used for increase your system performance. Now there is a possibility to add SMS functionality to your existing system to improve the features of BMC Performance Manager. To achieve this functionality you need a powerful SMS gateway such as Ozeki NG SMS Gateway. Ozeki NG SMS Gateway is a software product that can be installed on your computer. In this article you can read more about the implementation of this solution.

If you wish to connect to the mobile network with a GSM modem attached to your computer, please watch this video tutorial about how to setup this connection:

Video:

Send SMS from BMC Performance Manager (part 1/1, configure your modem)

Overview

Network monitoring and management applications are widely employed by organizations to simplify system management and ensure performance of IT processes. BMC Performance Manager meets the above mentioned properties though there still can be problems with availability within your company. If an error is detected by BMC Performance Manager it generates reports about it. These reports are generated at 24/7 though it cannot be ensured that they are forwarded to the intended person in time. Furthermore if there is no Internet connection in the office the administrators cannot be notified about errors. So in a competitive company availability and speed need to be ensured beside good performance to attract more customers and satisfy the existing partners and customers.

You can achieve availability and speed by implementing SMS technology for BMC Performance Manager in your corporate IT system. SMS functionality can be achieved by a stable SMS gateway software such as Ozeki NG SMS Gateway. With this solution you will be able to identify system and network errors before they affect business services. In practice it means that reports about detected errors can be sent as SMS notifications to the mobile phones of intended people through the SMS gateway. In this way, immediate intervention is possible and further harms can be avoided. If you add SMS functionality to BMC Performance Manager errors will be detected in time and at the very same time you will be able to react to these events and make the necessary steps to solve them.

Requirements for your SMS system

To create this solution, you need to connect your system to the mobile network. For this purpose you can use Internet connection or a GSM phone/GSM modem attached to your computer (this way you will have a wireless connection). The following webpage gives you all the information to decide which solution suits your requirements best: Internet based SMS connections vs. GSM modem based (wireless) SMS connections.

Internet based connection:

For connecting your system over the Internet to an SMS service provider, you need the follows:

Figure 1/a - IP SMS connection components

First of all, you need a service provider, who can reach the mobile phones in your area and enables you to connect to their SMSC through the Internet. The following website lists some of them: SMPP SMS Service providers. After you have chosen a service provider, you need to sign up for their service. This will you will get connection parameters that can be used to configure your Ozeki NG SMS Gateway software.

GSM modem connection:

For a wireless connection, you need a suitable GSM phone/GSM modem that can be attached to your computer with a data cable. This way, Ozeki NG SMS Gateway software will send and receive the SMS messages wirelessly, using the GSM modem. To create this connection, you need the following prerequisites:

Figure 1/b - GSM modem connection components

Ozeki NG SMS Gateway can be obtained by
opening the download page:
Download Ozeki NG SMS Gateway!

How sending SMS from BMC works

If an error occurs in your IT system BMC Performance Manager will detects it. It processes this error and forwards it to Ozeki NG SMS Gateway. The SMS gateway will process it and deliver the error message as an SMS message to the intended mobile phone or mobile phones. Ozeki NG SMS Gateway sends SMS messages to the mobile network via GSM modem attached to the computer with a data cable or it directly connects to the SMSC of the mobile service provider over the Internet.

Figure 2 - SMS messaging process from BMC with Ozeki NG SMS Gateway

To send SMS messages from BMC Performance Manager you need to do the follows: First, start BMC Performance Manager and define clients you want to monitor. Then create a rule that will execute SendSMS.exe file with the proper parameters. In message parameters you need to insert the details of the error to the proper fields. Next generate an error, for example, change the IP address of the monitored computer. BMC Performance Manager should detect this error, and if you have a look at Ozeki NG SMS Gateway, you should see that the error message has already been sent to a mobile phone.

Summary for BMC Performance Manager SMS solution

BMC Performance Manager with Ozeki NG SMS Gateway is the best choice if you want to improve the reliability and effectiveness of your monitoring and management software. This solution is based on SMS technology which ensures that reports about detected errors will be delivered as SMS messages to mobile phones. In this way both the IT staff and management can be informed about events of the corporate IT environment. If you decide to implement this solution you will get a stable, well-working and effective system with the highest quality.

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