Test modem on COM port

[Kris]

Hi all,

I have a Siemens TC55 modem on COM1 to send SMS notifications.
However, sometimes it hangs and is unreachable.

Is there a way to test if the modem is still alive?

[KS-Soft Europe]

You may setup Text Log test to check GSM log file, specified on SMS:GSM page of Options dialog.
E.g. Text Log test may check this log file for "Error:" string and start assigned actions.

Please check the manual for more information:
http://www.ks-soft.net/hostmon.eng/mfra ... tm#textlog

[Kris]

Even though I'd rather would have had a real COM port test, this solution will do the trick as well

Thanks!

[Kris]

Since reading the logfile for something that went wrong already isn't very predictive I decided to write a small program to send a AT command to the COM port and waits for response.

If no response it will timeout in HM and set the test in "Unknown" status, which in turn triggers a email action.

Just wanted to share

[KS-Soft Europe]

We wrote VB script that can send AT commands and check for response from GSM modem. It can be used with Shell Script test method:
http://www.ks-soft.net/hostmon.eng/mfra ... m#chkShell

Code: Select all

Option Explicit

const statusAlive       = "scriptRes:Host is alive:"
const statusDead        = "scriptRes:No answer:"
const statusUnknown     = "scriptRes:Unknown:"
const statusNotResolved = "scriptRes:Unknown host:"
const statusOk          = "scriptRes:Ok:"
const statusBad         = "scriptRes:Bad:"
const statusBadContents = "scriptRes:Bad contents:"

'---- entry point ----
Const ForReading = 1
Const ForWriting = 2

DIM fso, com, s, objArgs

Set objArgs = WScript.Arguments

IF objArgs.Count<>4 Then
WScript.StdOut.Write statusUnknown & "Expected parameters <COM port> <speed> <AT command> <Expected response> E.g.: COM2 19200 AT OK"
Wscript.Close
End if

Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set com = fso.OpenTextFile(objArgs(0) & ":" & objArgs(1) & ",N,8,1", ForWriting)
com.WriteLine(objArgs(2))
com.Close()
Set com = fso.OpenTextFile(objArgs(0) & ":" & objArgs(1) & ",N,8,1", ForReading)
com.ReadLine
s = com.ReadLine
if s = objArgs(3) then
WScript.StdOut.Write statusOk & s
else
WScript.StdOut.Write statusBad & s
end If
com.Close()

Start CMD: cmd /c cscript /B /E:VBScript %Script% %Params%

Script requires four parameters: <COM port> <speed> <AT command> <Expected response>. E.g. COM2 19200 AT OK

This script works well on our Windows 7, however we couldn't manage to run it correctly on Windows XP