iLON.100 Email Setup

[ctrlguy]

I'm starting to feel stupid. I've got half a dozen iLONs out there and have yet to successfully setup email from any of them. I put in my smtp server address, my user name and password, all of which work on my email client, but when I test it, I get a connection failure every time. What am I missing?

[glennmcaz]

The i.LON doesn't allow for SMTP authentication or your SMTP server may not allow relay (it shouldn't, so don't set it up to do so), so that could be the issue.
I always used a third party SMTP relay service that allows you to relay the messages.
Most of these are paid services, but the cost is pennies a day, normally. You pay for the number of addresses/messages you want to allow per time period. These also eliminate the need for you to have your own email address and password floating around in someone else's building.
The i.LON also doesn't have a POP client, which also ties into authentication, so you could be failing there as well.

Just get a third-party SMTP relay and watch your messages start flowing through.

[ctrlguy]

Okay, I spent the big bucks ($15) and signed up for Mailhop Outbound (https://www.dyndns.com/services/mailhop/outbound.html) from DynDNS and assigned the smtp server, username and password, ran verify on the iLON and got a failed connection request. The server works just fine with my email client, but no go with the iLON. Any ideas?

[glennmcaz]

I'm thinkin, I'm THINKIN... LOL
That's the SMTP Relay service I use.
What type of outbound connection are you using? broadband, dial-up, ???
Hate to say it, but _some_ ISP's (especially cable Internet) won't allow anything outbound unless it's through their servers.
For example:
If you want to use smtp.dydns.com but you have Cox internet in Phoenix, AZ
you have to use smtp.west.cox.net for your smtp server.
Sorry, if this works, as you've paid out funds... it just occured to me.

[ctrlguy]

Right now, I have an iLON in the office that I'm testing this on. I use a DSL service from my phone company and since it allows my email client to use the DynDNS server, why not the iLON? I've also tried using my DSL smtp server as well as my cable provider's server, so I'm thinking it's something else. I'll try the nice folks at Distech support.

Thanks for your help.

[glennmcaz]

You know, I seem to recall connection failures when running the "verify" tool as well. But the emails went out.

Have you tried actually getting the alarm generator/notifier to attempt to send a message?

[crab master]

Do you have a valid dns server address(es) in the device? The other thing is I've always had the local IT/IS people help me setup the mail servers so I could use there mail servers and have them allow the routing for mail outside of their network.

[ctrlguy]

Okay, so I figured I'd take Glenn's advice and create an alarm and have the iLON email me. No problem, I just need a point type SNVT_Alarm. So go to create a dynamic variable in the iLON. Source address...umm...ain't got one that's type SNVT_Alarm anywhere in any xif I've got. Who's got a device that has one? I never understood that source variable thing anyway. Why can't I just create a point an tell it at that time what type it is?

[ctrlguy]

Never mind. Answered my own question.

[glennmcaz]

by the way... you DON'T need a SNVT_Alarm to work the gerneator and notifier... this var exists in each of them and is meant to be used between them.
just use a SNVT_Switch or some other... heck ANY... point and point it into the generator.
set the alarm threshold in the generator and point the generator's output at the notifer (where you have your handy-dandy message setup, right?)
Then make sure that you enable the alarm type (there's a long list of what you can alarm on)
Then trigger the alarm however you have to...
heat up a temp sensor, make a switch go high or low... whatever you setup.
It's really not that difficult to do if you go in the right order. kinda like a JACE, actually LOL. just a little easier on the alarm front.

[lonboy]

Did you try using the actual IP address of the SMTP server instead of the URL name? To find it, goto the command prompt Start/Run/ "cmd" and ping your mail servers URL name - you should get the 4 octet IP address returned. Try that instead of the url name. It could be that the ilon doesn't know the DNS server's address,
Also sometimes you need the source email address of the ilon to match the same domain as the mail server like Myilon@sbc.com
BTW, Lonsupport@echelon.com has been really responsive lately to issues with the ilon and it's a free support call. Jason has been really helpful!
Cheers,
lb

[ctrlguy]

lonboy, you are right, using the IP address instead of the URL worked. The DNS addresses were filled out correctly in the iLON, but obviously weren't working. I still have a problem on my office setup, I get a socket creation error which may be ISP related.

Anyone know how to get an iLON to send an email on IP address change? I have a DNS updater running on a site, but sometimes it doesn't update and I'd like to have the iLON send me the new address just in case.

[klrogers]

Anyone know how to get an iLON to send an email on IP address change? I have a DNS updater running on a site, but sometimes it doesn't update and I'd like to have the iLON send me the new address just in case.

Since you say you have a DNS updater running, i guess you are behind a NAT router, in which case the iLon will not know the external IP address. The only way I know for you to have a backup in case of the DNS updater not working. Is to have the Ilon send you an email at regular intervals, always save the latest email, and then when/if required look in the internet header of the email for the current IP address the email was sent from. At least if the ip address changes and the DNS updater does not work you will receive an email at the next scheduled time with the new IP address in the header.

Kevin

[ctrlguy]

I've just downloaded DirectUpdate DNS updater which has an email on IP address change feature. It'll even launch other applications or upload a file via ftp on change or failure of update. Very nice. $25.

[lonboy]

I have a customer who is so cheap he got a $15/mo residential dsl account for his 12 story buildings ddc system. We use dyndns to resolve a host name (free from www.dyndns.com) to the ip address assigned by the dsl provider. A dns updater inside a router updates the dyndns servers when the ip address changes, which can be quite often. The problem here is that the updater won't update until an outgoing ip packet is sent by the ilon. Now, the email solution works but we found another solution. Create a web bind from the ilon to another ilon and set a heartbeat for the datapoint used in theweb bind. This packet will update the router on the heartbeat interval. This has worked for the last 6 months no problemo.
Hasta,
Lb

[ctrlguy]

Anyone know if iLON email works with Lotus Notes?