Alert Sierra Tools and Troubleshooting

To test and troubleshoot Alert Sierra functionality, you can choose from several third-party applications.

ICONICS does not support any of these tools. For assistance, contact your IT department before using any of them.

Third-Party Application

Description

Netstat

In the command line, you can enter netstat -o to view all open ports. For more information, see https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/netstat.

Microsoft Port Query

Using this utility, you can view the status of User Datagram Protocol (UDP) ports for an IP address. To use Port Query:

  1. Enter destination IP or FQDN to query: Enter the local machine IP address.
  2. Manually input the query ports. In Ports to query, enter the local host port. In Protocol, select UDP.
  3. Click Query.
  4. In Query Result, locate the following entry that indicates a successful connection: UDP port [PortNumber]: LISTENING or FILTERED.

IPConfig

In the command line, you can enter ipconfig to find the local IP address. For more information, see https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/ipconfig.

TCPView

Using this utility, you can monitor port usage and identify potential conflicts for FwxAlertWorXSierraService.exe. To use TCPView:

  1. To simplify the view of the results, clear (uncheck) TCP v4, TCP v6, and UDP v6.
  2. In the Process Name column, locate FwxAlertWorXSierraService.exe.
  3. Verify that all other local port values are not in conflict.

Packet Sender - UDP Test Tool

Using this utility, you can debug communication issues and verify that the GENESIS server can send UDP commands to the Sierra modem and the Sierra modem can send and receive SMS messages properly. To download the tool, see https://packetsender.com/download#show.

You must allow packetsender.exe to send and receive packets through your Windows firewall.

To use Packet Sender:

  1. In the menu bar, select File > Settings, enter the configuration information for your UDP server ports, and then click OK.
  2. In Address, enter the modem's IP address.
  3. In Port, enter the modem port number.
  4. In the protocol drop-down list, select UDP, and then click Send. Packet Sender sends a UDP message to the modem, which sends an SMS message to your phone.
  5. On your phone, reply to the message. For example, send Message received.
  6. In Packet Sender, verify the receipt of the Hex message, which converts into ASCII as your reply message.