E-mail Message Action
The E-mail Message Action is the standard way for monitors to notify you via SMTP email messages. This allows for typical email messages as well as messages sent to cell phones and pagers if you cell/pager provider has an SMTP gateway (many providers do).
To configure this action, give the target SMTP email address. Typically only one email address would be used per action--if you want to send to two or more addresses, just create two or more E-mail Message Actions (this allows for greater notification flexibility). To reduce possible message overload, you can specify that multiple messages that are going to be sent within a short time (about 1 minute) combine them into a single message.
SMTP server settings are shared among all E-mail Message Actions. You can specify a primary SMTP server and a backup which will be used if sending to the primary fails. Naturally a primary SMTP server must be specified; the backup is optional.
The settings for each SMTP server (primary and secondary) can be validated by by the program. You may do this by pressing the "Test Primary Server" and "Test Backup Server" button, respectively. This test causes PA Storage Monitor to send a brief email message as a test to the email address that has been entered into the "Email address" text box at the top of the form. If the sending of the email succeeds and if you successfuly receive the message at the same email address as that specified, then the SMTP server settings that you have entered are correct.
Pressing the Advanced button on the dialog above displays the configuration dialog below. This lets you customize the message text that is sent to you. This is most useful when sending alerts to devices like pagers and cell phones which might only accept the first sentence or two of a message. You can also rename the action as it shows up in the various action lists. You can reset the action to its original/default name by simply clearing the name field.
If you're lucky enough to not be on call 24/7 you can use the Schedule button to specify when notifications should be sent through the given email address. On off hours the action acts as though it isn't configured at all. The dark green below indicates 'on hours' and the lighter grey specifies 'off hours'.
