Send Alert emails to the SNMP Contact name(s)

I am setting up "Node down" Alerts, and trying to Alert only the specific support persons needed for the specific Node. Each server has 1 or 2 site people that should get the alert, and 1 or 2 regional people. So, just about every Node has a different list to email to. I could setup a separate alert for every single Node in Orion, but I really don't want to. I could also setup an alert for each support person, but again that would be a pain. However, in the Contacts field from SNMP, I have listed the exact names of those responsible. So, I just want it to send the email to those contacts.

My first idea is to run a VB script. This script would take care of parsing the SNMP data into a viable message, and use the SNMP info to create the email address list and send the email. My first problem is that I don't know how to pass the Node Name, Status, and SNMP contact field to the external VB. Any ideas??

My second idea is to just have the native alert system use the SNMP Contact field as the email "To:". But again, I don't know how to use a variable in the Alert email setup. Any ideas on this one?

Thanks for any input.

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DenverDrake

Actually, I've got my second idea to work....kindof. In the "To:" field, I just enter ${Contact} and it takes it. But, it will only work, if the SNMP contact looks like a regular email address ( username@somewhere.com). It won't even attempt to pass a plain name. I am using the default Outlook Express as the email engine. In it, I have setup all of the email addresses for our IT support. From OE I can type a name (like Denver Drake), and it will send it to the proper address. So, all I need to do is get the Orion Alert system to quit complaining and just pass the names, which are separated by semi-colons, on along to OE. I don't want to fill up the Contact field with full-blown email addresses. It would be huge, and look ugly on reports. Besides which, I don't know how many bytes you are allowed in that field anyway.

Getting closer. Any suggestions?

WINNT

I was told by support that you need to use commas, and not semi-colons. Commas work for me.

DenverDrake

The separation character is not my problem. My problem is that I can give Outlook Express the name "Bill Jones", and it will work fine. However Orion refuses to even attempt to use a name like that. It forces you to put in something like Bill.Jones@company.net. Orion doesn't have its own email function, it just passes the info to Outlook Express (or whatever emailer is you Windows default). But, it is trying too hard to error check your input, before handing it off.

WINNT

I think Orion does have its own e-mail client. I don't believe Orion is using anything MAPI related. What works for me is to create custom properties such as OSOwner, OSOwnerEmail, and OSOwnerPager which I then populate with full e-mail addresses. As far as I can tell, the only input Orion is checking is if the variables that you pass it are in the proper e-mail address format with proper separators.

cybersapp

Were you able to get this to work for you? I'm having a similar problem and I want to parse the snmp traps to get the description before emailing to my group.