MediaSmartServer.net
http://www.mediasmartserver.net/forums/

Remote Notification Add-In
http://www.mediasmartserver.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=19
Page 3 of 15

Author:  JohnBick [ Sat Jan 19, 2008 10:23 am ]
Post subject: 

My MSS did a routine backup with everything occuring normally last evening EXCEPT that I received a note from REMOTE NOTIFICATION!

My backups are set to occur between 2 AM and 6 AM. Homeserver Backup events show this computer being backed up between 3:57:23 and 4:07:21. At 3:58 The following was e-mailed by REMOTE NOTIFICATION and a corresponding Application Information event is logged:

The Note:
Quote:
XXXX-PC has not been successfully backed up since 1/18/2008. Ensure that XXXX-PC is turned on and connected to the home network. You can manually back it up at any time by using Backup Now.

The corresponding Event
Quote:
Sent message with subject: WHS WARNING

At 4:07:22 a REMOTE NOTIFICATION Error is logged:
Quote:
System.Net.Mail.SmtpException: Failure sending mail. ---> System.InvalidOperationException: One of the streams has already been used and can't be reset to the origin.
at System.Net.Mime.MimePart.ResetStream()
at System.Net.Mime.MimePart.Send(BaseWriter writer)
at System.Net.Mail.Message.Send(BaseWriter writer, Boolean sendEnvelope)
at System.Net.Mail.SmtpClient.Send(MailMessage message)
--- End of inner exception stack trace ---
at System.Net.Mail.SmtpClient.Send(MailMessage message)
at RemoteNotificationService.RemoteNotificationService.SendMessage(String subject, String body)

This seemed even more unusual so I looked further back in the Application Event log for other REMOTE NOTIFICATION events and found (these in, I believe, chronological order):
Warning at 3:57:24
Quote:
Got Warn: WHS.Backup.Machine.{71EBD672-A9E4-4CB2-86F0-6B2250D561AE} Type:WHS_NOTIFICATION_ADD Head:XXXX-PC Backup Warning Desc:XXXX-PC has not been successfully backed up since 1/18/2008. Ensure that XXXX-PC is turned on and connected to the home network. You can manually back it up at any time by using Backup Now.

Information at 3:57:24
Quote:
Added ID: WHS.Backup.Machine.{71EBD672-A9E4-4CB2-86F0-6B2250D561AE} Count: 1

Warning at 3:57:24
Quote:
Got Warn: WHS.Backup.Machine.{71EBD672-A9E4-4CB2-86F0-6B2250D561AE} Type:WHS_NOTIFICATION_ADD Head:XXXX-PC Backup Warning Desc:XXXX-PC has not been successfully backed up since 1/18/2008. Ensure that XXXX-PC is turned on and connected to the home network. You can manually back it up at any time by using Backup Now.

Warning at 3:57:24
Quote:
Replacing duplicate Add: WHS.Backup.Machine.{71EBD672-A9E4-4CB2-86F0-6B2250D561AE}

I am not concerned about the health of MSS/WHS or about my backups but thught you might want to look into the why this REMOTE NOTIFICATION e-mail is being generated. To me it appears to be a "false alarm"...

Author:  yakuza [ Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:54 am ]
Post subject: 

As I've stated before, Remote Notification only generates an email when a WHS Health Event is generated in the system and persists for more than 30 seconds.

In the case you've outlined above, if you had sat at your computer at 3:57AM you would have seen WHS issue a health notification. Also, if you look at your logs later than 3:57 you will likely see a similar REMOVE event that Remote Notification issues when WHS clears the health event. It'd be interesting to see how long it was before WHS cleared the health event.

If your backup had truly failed, and I'd coded in some logic to avoid sending health events during the backup window, I suspect you'd be upset with me for squelching errors. :D

One improvement I've considered but not yet implemented is a configureable window instead of the hard-coded 30 second wait before issuing the event.

Another fix for you would be to disable the Notify on Warn so that you only get notified when errors occur.

Author:  JohnBick [ Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:36 am ]
Post subject: 

After 3:57 there is the 4:07:22 Error (above) and a 4:07:22 Information reading
Quote:
Removed ID: WHS.Backup.Machine.{71EBD672-A9E4-4CB2-86F0-6B2250D561AE} Count: 0

which evidently cleared the error (supressing it).

But there is nothing indicating either the two Warnings at 3:57:24 were cleared, only a 3:58:27 Information entry indicating the Remote Notification was sent followed by an error that was cleared.

(Send me a PM if you would like me to call you to discuss off-line.)

Author:  yakuza [ Sun Jan 20, 2008 1:15 pm ]
Post subject: 

The Removed: means that WHS cleared the health event, so I believe Remote Notification was doing exactly what it's been coded to do -- send an email when WHS generates a health event. I don't control when or why WHS generates the events.

The SMTP error is indeed some problem, but I'm not clear on what caused that, but it's down in the SMTP class of .NET and out of my control...

Author:  Mach1 [ Sat Jan 26, 2008 10:59 am ]
Post subject: 

Downloaded. Works like a champ! Thanks Alex!

Joe Michel

Author:  yakuza [ Sat Jan 26, 2008 2:18 pm ]
Post subject: 

Awesome, thanks for the feedback Joe! 8)

Author:  whashburn [ Sun Jan 27, 2008 9:28 pm ]
Post subject: 

Running for a few days now on an EX470 w/2GB. Runs great through Verizon.net. Thanks for the fine job.

Author:  Pyrmus [ Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:16 pm ]
Post subject: 

Yeah Alex... I love it as well... It has been working perfectly...

Author:  yakuza [ Thu Jan 31, 2008 11:10 am ]
Post subject: 

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback. I haven't forgotten about the version 2 I still have in mind, there's just way too much other stuff going on to find time to dedicate to it... :(

Author:  OlarsMannen [ Tue Feb 05, 2008 4:06 am ]
Post subject: 

Great stuff!

Works with my home made WHS-server (Yes, I know this forum is for MediaSmartServer users but perhaps I'm welcome to post anyway? :D ) and with TeliaSonera SMTP server.

Although WHS is not officially launched in Sweden, there are some enthusiasts using it here. If you would like some help with translating your add-in to Swedish, please feel free to contact me! :!:

Author:  yakuza [ Thu Feb 07, 2008 12:12 pm ]
Post subject: 

Awesome, of course you're welcome on the forums! :) I'm interested to hear a bit more about your system, are you using English language servers with Swedish client PCs?

I'll put you on the list of translators for when I'm ready to do that, thanks!

Alex

Author:  OlarsMannen [ Thu Feb 07, 2008 2:09 pm ]
Post subject: 

My WHS server runs an English version. There is no Swedish version available yet. I actually used a HTPC case from Silverstone to build my server which made it easy to put on top of a wardrobe. :)

The server has a AMD Athlon 64 Dual-Core 4600+ 65W, 2 GB RAM and 4 x 500 GB Western Digital RE2 disks. I built it to be as future proof as possible.

I'm using both English and Swedish clients:
1: A Windows XP (English) desktop computer (home built as well) for my working files. Planning to change to Vista SP1 when that's available.
2: A portable Dell Inspiron with English version of Windows XP.
3: A media center PC (yeah, built by me) with Swedish Windows Vista Ultimate.

I use the WHS server to backup both my work and home files like Office files, photos, home videos and recorded tv. When I'm on the road in my work, I use remote access.

WHS is a great product but I look forward to the Power Pack when that's available. (Being able to do a backup of the server and support for x64 Vista.)

/Henrik

Author:  yakuza [ Thu Feb 07, 2008 2:59 pm ]
Post subject: 

Thanks for the details, Henrick. I'd heard that the Nordic countries were using English WHS with local client PCs, and was curious how that was working.

Author:  zanary [ Fri Feb 22, 2008 9:13 pm ]
Post subject: 

I've been using RemoteNotification for some time now and it's a great add-in.

I was wondering if it's possible to add a new featuer in your next build

Have a checkbox on the configuration window that would allow notification to be sent if any users successfully logs in and logs out to the Windows Home Server Remote Access homepage (if configured that way). I'd like to see who connects to it, and when they log off along with how long they were connected. It feels good keeping a near real-time eye on my home server when my family connects to it to access the file share.

I know that this information is available becuase the Windows Home Server Tookit has a "Remote Access History" button which shows this type of details but it would be nice to get alerts sent via RemoteNotification if one configures it as such.

Also the version I have of RemoveNotification is missing the AT&T's "txt.att.net" in the Recipient Hostname editable drop down list box.

Author:  JohnBick [ Fri Feb 22, 2008 9:23 pm ]
Post subject: 

That information is currently available in the HomeServer Event Log (RemoteAccess category) and can, I believe, be reported by the Event Monitor Add-In.

Page 3 of 15 All times are UTC - 7 hours [ DST ]
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/