Alert Sierra Configurations

Using an Alert Sierra configuration, you can enable remote notifications of process data and facilitate acknowledgment of alarms, sending and receiving SMS messages through Sierra Airlink Wireless modems. Alert Sierra works with BridgeWorX and CFSWorX, streamlining the process of handling alarm data.

Setting Up Sierra Airlink Modems

Using the ALEOS ACEManager, you can configure the SMS settings for your Sierra Airlink modem.

On your local network, install the Sierra Airlink modem.
In your web browser, browse to the ALEOS webpage using the modem's IP address. For example, enter https://127.0.0.1:9443.
In User Name and Password, enter your username and password, and then click Log In.
Under the Services tab, select SMS, and then do the following:
- SMS Mode: In the drop-down list, select Control and Gateway.
- Local Host IP: Enter the IP address of the computer running the Alert Sierra Point Manager.
- Local Host Port: Enter the port of the computer running the Alert Sierra Point Manager, used to receive incoming UDP messages.
- ALEOS Port: Enter the modem port number, used to send outgoing UDP messages.
  
  This port number should match the Local Host Port above.
  
  Update your firewall configuration to allow UDP messages through Local Host Port and ALEOS Port above.
In the Message Format Configuration section, do not make any changes.

The software only supports ASCII for Message Body Format.
Click Apply, and then restart the modem.

Updating Sierra.config.xml

In the ICONICS Sierra.config.xml file, you can establish the connection between GENESIS64 and your Sierra Airlink modem.

Using an XML editor, browse to the C:\ProgramData\ICONICS folder and open the Sierra.config.xml file.
In the Sierra.config.xml file, update the following values, which must match the values entered above on the ALEOS webpage:

Only one node can receive UDP messages from the modem.
- <ClientIPAddress>: Enter the modem's IP address, used above to browse to the ALEOS webpage.
- <ClientPort>: Enter the modem port number, used to send outgoing UDP messages.
- <ServerIPAddress>: Enter the IP address of the computer running the Alert Sierra Point Manager.
- <ServerPort>: Enter the port of the computer running the Alert Sierra Point Manager, used to receive incoming UDP messages.
- <StartString>: By default, set to <![CDATA[<<<]]>, which converts to <<<.
- <StopString>: By default, set to <![CDATA[>>>]]>, which converts to >>>.
- <Delimiter>: Enter the delimiter used for UDP messages.
- <UDPType>: Set to ASCII.
  
  The software only supports ASCII for Message Body Format.
In your XML editor, save the changes.

Using Workbench

In Workbench, you can configure how GENESIS64 handles SMS text messages using your Sierra Airlink modem.

In Workbench, expand Project Explorer > Alarms and Notifications > AlertWorX, and then do one of the following:
- Right-click SMS/Text Nodes, and then select Add SMS/Text Node.
- Click SMS/Text Nodes, and on the Home ribbon, click Add SMS/Text Node.
In the NewSMS/TextNode dialog box, configure the new Alert Sierra configuration, as follows:
1. In Name, enter the Alert Sierra configuration name.
2. In the SMS Settings tab, do the following:
  - Enable the SMS node: To enable the Alert Sierra configuration, select the checkbox.
  - Device: Enter the name or IP address of the modem.
  - Receive commands on this node: To receive commands from the client, select the checkbox.
  Do not use Test SMS, which does not support Alert Sierra at this time.
  
  Alarm subscription is not supported.
3. Click Apply & Close.
In Project Explorer > Alarms and Notifications > AlertWorX, double-click General Settings, and then do the following:
1. Enable SMS ID: To support acknowledgment using an incrementing SMS Message ID in outgoing messages, select the checkbox. To acknowledge receipt, the receiver would reply with the SMS Message ID. For example:
  
  SENDER: 1 First Message
  
  RECEIVER (reply): 1
  
  SENDER: 2 Second Message
  
  RECEIVER (reply): 2
  
  The SMS Message ID automatically increments with each message sent until the SMS ID Maximum Value, which is set in the FwxServer.PointManagers.config file. To set the FwxServer.PointManagers.config file, see Updating FwxServer.PointManagers.config.
2. Enable Acknowledge ID: To require an acknowledgment code with reply SMS messages, select the checkbox.
  
  You must select the Enable SMS ID checkbox first.
  
  SENDER: 1 First Message
  
  RECEIVER (reply): 1 123
  
  SENDER: 2 Second Message
  
  RECEIVER (reply): 2 123

Updating FwxServer.PointManagers.config

The SMS Message ID automatically increments with each message sent until the SMS ID Maximum Value. Upon reaching the SMS ID Maximum Value, the SMS Message ID resets to 1.

To set the SMS ID Maximum Value, do the following:

Using a text editor, browse to the C:\ProgramData\ICONICS folder and open the FwxServer.PointManagers.config file.
In the FwxServer.PointManagers.config file, locate the AlertSierra section.

<ClassName>Ico.Fwx.Server.AlertSierra.AlertWorXSierraPointManager</ClassName>

<Params>

<Param>

<Name>MsgIdLimit</Name>

<Value xsi:type="xsd:int">9999</Value>

<Hidden>false</Hidden>

</Param>

</Params>
In the AlertSierra section, update the <Name>MsgIdLimit</Name> value to the desired SMS ID Maximum Value. For example, to set the SMS ID Maximum Value to 20, update the value as follows:

<Name>MsgIdLimit</Name>

<Value xsi:type="xsd:int">20</Value>
In your text editor, save the changes.