SMS in case of server failure

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21.11.2023
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To be notified via SMS when your homepage is no longer accessible, you can use various monitoring and alerting services. A common approach is to use a website monitoring service that will regularly check your homepage and notify you if there are any problems. Here are the basic steps to set this up:

  1. Choose a website monitoring service:

    • There are various services that can monitor website availability.
  2. Register for an account:

    • Sign in to the selected website monitoring service and create an account.
  3. Add your homepage:

    • After you have logged in, add your homepage URL to the monitoring service. You'll usually be asked to set the monitoring interval (how often you want your page to be checked).
  4. Configure notifications:

    • Configure notifications in the monitoring service settings. Most services offer various notification methods, including SMS, email, Slack, etc. Select the SMS notifications option.
  5. Verify your phone number:

    • To receive SMS notifications, you may need to verify your phone number and follow the required steps to activate SMS notifications.
  6. Set thresholds:

    • Set availability thresholds to define when a notification should be triggered. For example, if your homepage is unavailable for a certain period of time.
  7. Test the configuration:

    • Run a test to ensure you receive notifications when your homepage is down.

Here is a simplified guide, which may depend on the specific features of the website monitoring service you choose. Make sure the service you choose supports SMS notifications and that you have enough credit or the required subscription to send SMS messages.

Keep in mind that SMS notifications usually come at a cost, especially if you send a large number of messages. Check the pricing of your chosen service to ensure it meets your needs and budget constraints.

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Knowledge Base

Here we answer questions about server monitoring from Livewatch. If you have a question that we have not yet answered here, please contact us.

SMS (Short Message Service)

SMS, or Short Message Service, is a service for sending short messages between mobile devices. These text messages can contain text of up to a certain length (typically 160 characters per message) and are transmitted over the cellular network. SMS has been a popular form of communication since the early days of mobile telephony and has continued to endure despite the emergence of other messaging platforms.

Basic features of SMS:

  1. Text-based: SMS messages are purely text-based and can contain letters, numbers, special characters and emojis. However, unlike multimedia messages (MMS), they do not support media such as images or videos.

  2. Universal Compatibility: SMS is almost universally compatible and can be sent between different mobile devices and network operators. This makes SMS a widely used form of communication.

  3. Instant Delivery: SMS messages are typically delivered in real time, meaning they appear on the target device almost immediately after they are sent.

  4. Limited Length: The length of SMS is limited, usually to 160 characters per message. If a message exceeds this limit, it will be split into multiple messages.

  5. Delivery Reports: Many mobile operators offer delivery reports that show the sender whether the SMS was successfully delivered.

Use of SMS:

  1. Personal Communication: SMS is often used for personal communication between individuals. It's an easy and quick way to send messages when a call might be inconvenient.

  2. Corporate Communication: Companies use SMS for notifications, reminders, confirmations and other forms of customer communication.

  3. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): SMS is often used to deliver one-time passwords and codes as part of two-factor authentication.

  4. Alarms and Notifications: SMS can be used for alarms, alerts and notifications in various applications and systems.

  5. Mobile Marketing: Businesses also use SMS for marketing purposes to send offers, promotions or information to customers.

Future of SMS:

Although alternative messaging services such as WhatsApp and iMessage have gained popularity, SMS remains relevant due to its widespread compatibility and ease of use. RCS (Rich Communication Services) is also being introduced in some regions as a more advanced SMS successor that supports multimedia elements and advanced features.

Which messenger services are available?

We currently offer the following messenger services: SMS, Mattermost, Telegram, Twitter, Slack as well as Prowl and Pushover. Further messenger providers are planned. If you need a specific provider, please contact our support.