E-Mail Notification

The E-mail notification section in the Automatic installation category you specify the settings for status e-mails for the automatic installation.

This function provides the possibility to send status information of the automatic installation per e-mail to any address.

If this function is activated, the DataClient registers itself with the corresponding settings at the server. Then, the server sends e-mails, depending on the defined settings. Registering with the server is required, so that e-mails can also be sent in that case, if the concerning computer is not able to do this itself (for example due to the missing internet access or if the system service of the automatic installation is crashed). Furthermore, the usage of the server offers the possibility, to summarize the information of all computers in one e-mail.

Note: The notification can be used only in combination with the automatic installation. No e-mails will be sent for manual updates. Also, no monitoring is possible.

E-Mail-Verification

If you activate this function for the first time or if you insert a new E-mail address, you will first have to confirm your E-mail address. Enter your mail address in the E-mail address field and click OK. Immediately, you will receive an e-mail with a confirmation link. Please call the link directly or copy it into the address bar of your browser. on the browser page now opening, click Confirm. Immediately after, the notification function is activate.

Option Send e-mail on the following events:

A separate e-mail will be sent for every event.

Sub option Update performed

If this field is activated, an e-mail will be sent after every performed update. This e-mail includes a list of the installed updates. The e-mail will also be sent in case no new updates are available. If you have configured daily updates, you will receive a daily e-mail as long as the update process is not compromised.

Sub option Update overdue

If this option is activated, an e-mail is sent when an update was not performed in time. An update is overdue in cases where it could not be performed in the scheduled time plus an adjustable tolerance period.

For example: You have configured the update for Monday 8 a.m. and the tolerance period is 2 days. The update would then be considered as overdue from Wednesday 8 a.m. If no update was performed until then, you will receive an e-mail within one hour.

Possible reasons for an overdue update:

•Computer was switched off within the time period

•Computer was not connected with the internet within the time period

oA (network) directory that is not available was specified as the update source

•The update was repeatedly interrupted (e.g. by using the function Pause updates in the Info-Icon of the automatic installation)

•The system service for the automatic installation is crashed.

The tolerance period can be defined within the lower part of the E-Mail notification section. When defining the tolerance period, please note that in many cases the delay of an update is normal. If, for example, the computer is configured to daily updates and will be switched off on weekend, the tolerance period should amount to at least 2 - 3 days.

Sub option On errors or when manual intervention is necessary

An e-mail is sent in case an automatic update could not be successfully completed.

Reasons for this could be the following:

•An installation package is faulty due to a transfer error

•There is an interactive update that has to be installed manually with the DataClient assistant

•The update could not be performed after several attempts due to running pCon-Applications.

Option Regularly send summarized status mail

An e-mail with information about the current status of the automatic installation is sent in regular intervals (e.g. daily). It includes the date of the last update and also the result of the update (successfully or the type of the error). This e-mail does not contain the list of the recently installed updates. If you want to monitor the status of several computers and specify the same e-mail address on all these computers, all machines are summarized in one status mail.

Sub setting Send period

Defines how often the status mail should be sent, for example, daily or weekly.

Sub option Only send on status changes

E-mail is only sent when the status of the computer has changed. A status change is for example:

•An update was performed (the date of the last update has changed)

•An update was overdue

•An error occurred during the last update (If the same error occurs again, this is no longer considered as a status change.)

Input field An update is considered overdue if the deadline is exceeded by ... day(s)

Defines the number of days by which an update date must be exceeded before the computer is considered overdue and the corresponding event or status mails are triggered. For more information, please read the notes within the sub option Update overdue.

Input field Computer name

A computer name which will appear in the notification e-mails can be specified in this field. If you monitor several computers, you can assert the exact computer referred to in the notification e-mail. Any text can be specified. The host name is predefined as computer name during the first use of the function. Please note that the computer name is not automatically updated if the host name is changed later. A user defined computer name cannot be overwritten.

Input field E-mail-address

An e-mail address to which the notification should be sent must be specified in this field. If needed, several e-mail addresses, separated by commas, can be entered here.

Button Test

This button allows you to send a test e-mail.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if the computer is switched off or has no network connection?

A corresponding e-mail notification is send if the update is overdue. As soon as the e-mail notification and the automatic installation are activated, the time for the next scheduled automatic update as well as the accepted tolerance period is transferred to the server. An internet connection is necessary at this time. Otherwise, an error message appears.

If an automatic update is performed, the new due date will be transferred to the server. In regular intervals, the server checks whether the last reported due date plus tolerance period has expired and sends an e-mail, if needed. This check is independent of the computer on which the DataClient is running. This makes sure that the notification e-mail is sent even if the computer has no internet connection or is switched off.

Which server is used?

A server provided by the EasternGraphics GmbH is used for the notification function. This server is independent of the update server you configured.

Does the e-mail notification also work if a DataPool is used as a data source?

The notification function is also available if a DataPool (or a local data directory) is used as update source.

Which updates are considered by the e-mail notification?

Considered:

•Automatic installation updates that are executed according to the defined schedule

•Updates of the automatic installation that are triggered by the icon within the notification area (beside the windows clock) and the associated application.

•Updates with the command line DataClient (This is, for example, possible in connection with the pCon.configurator Online on servers)

Not considered:

•Updates that are carried out with the DataClient Assistant.