Nagios Support Forum

We recently integrated the Multitech rCell modem into our XI environment to facilitate SMS out of band paging. (It is connected to the server that runs XI via a dedicated ethernet link) We used the new plugin/wizard (MTR) to configure this. We would like to restrict/select the types of alerts. (i.e to 'host' only events) There is a simple way to do this for Email and Mobile Text under Notification Preferences and we currently have Host only alert types selected in the Mobile Text (SMS) tab in Notification Preferences.

In our environment we are unable to limit the SMS messages to host only alerts. Can you please assist us?

Thanks,
Josh...

@lorejo, I suggest creating a new user in XI. Nagios should automatically create a contact for that user as well. In the contact Alert settings under service Notification options select None, and under host notification options select all types of host states that you want to receive an SMS on.
Sign in to the XI as the new user you just created and enable MTR under Notification Methods. Follow this tutorial(section -> Enabling SMS Alerts For Users):
https://assets.nagios.com/downloads/nag ... ith-XI.pdf

Just a little clarification - under this method would the new user be able to receive service alerts via email? If no, which I fear to be the case, do you recommend setting up for each staff member 2 contacts, one for email and one for SMS/MTR?

@lorejo, Would each user/stuff member have its own SMS/MTR number? And each user also needs to receive emails for hosts and services but SMS for only host notifications, right? If that is the case, creating duplicate contacts might be the option. I will put down a development feature request to be able to limit what kind of notifications will go through the MTR.

Thank you for your response. Here are our requirements:
1. Each XI 'User' are and will be added via LDAP and will authenticate to AD.
2. Each XI 'User' will have the ability to receive all Host and Service notifications via email.
3. Each XI 'User' will receive 'Host' up/down notifications on their mobile phone via the rCell modem using the phone number associated to their account.
4. As a future requirement, we would like to limit the SMS notifications to a subset of business critical hosts.

BTW, I tested your initial recommendation and with Host only alerts selected for the new 'User' both Host and Service notifications were sent via SMS.

Regards,
Josh..

Hello, @lorejo.

As a future requirement, we would like to limit the SMS notifications to a subset of business critical hosts.

I am going to submit this feature request internally on your behalf.

BTW, I tested your initial recommendation and with Host only alerts selected for the new 'User' both Host and Service notifications were sent via SMS.

I see. Please open the rCell contact in the CCM, click on the alert settings tab and under service alert settings select "None". Let me know if this will stop the component from sending SMS for services.

Thanks and in response to -
'I see. Please open the rCell contact in the CCM, click on the alert settings tab and under service alert settings select "None". Let me know if this will stop the component from sending SMS for services.'
The rCell in our implementation is not configured as an individual 'contact'. I did create a contact group for rCell and within a contract group there is no 'alert tab'.

I configured the rCell in a contact group because each individual within that group has a different cell phone number that we want to sent notifications via SMS to. Perhaps I approached this the wrong way but it seemed logical to me at the time.

Regards,
Josh...

@lorejo

The rCell in our implementation is not configured as an individual 'contact'. I did create a contact group for rCell and within a contract group there is no 'alert tab'.

I meant if you configured a separate user for each SMS contact as I suggested earlier:

I suggest creating a new user in XI. Nagios should automatically create a contact for that user as well. In the contact Alert settings under service Notification options select None, and under host notification options select all types of host states that you want to receive an SMS on.

But I understand that in your implementation, you don't want to complicate things. My advice would be to wait for a feature request that will allow limiting SMS notifications to particular contacts or contact groups.

Thank you very much for your quick response. Is there a way that I can track when this feature will be available?

@lorejo, As of right now, this feature is still pending approval so a tracking number has not been assigned yet. I suggest keeping an eye on the XI changelog:
https://www.nagios.com/downloads/nagios-xi/change-log/