SMS Channel Redundancy

[jlx]

Our customer uses Alarm Redirection + SMS Pager Actions (Geo SCADA 2019 January Edition) to send SMS messages to users that notifies them on alarms.
The customer would like to add redundancy to this layer by adding a second SMS modem should the first one fail.
I have confirmed with SE support, that currently there is no build-in redundancy to the SMS channel Database object, however this is in a queue for consideration.

In the interim I have no option but to script this to fail-over to a backup modem. This is where I am stuck.

My thoughts are that if I could use the alarm redirection on the SMS channel object to call the script below that would solve my issue, but I cannot find a way to call this script from the alarm redirection action.
The script below is currently linked to a button and works as should, however I do not want the operator to initiate the fail-over this should happen automatically.

Any thoughts on how to achieve this, or a better way of doing this?

Public Function ConfigIP()

sIP = Server.GetOPCValue ("System.Notification.SMS Channel.ConnectionPoint.Address")

If sIP = "172.16.192.8" Then
MsgBox "The Current SMS Modem IP is " + sIP + ", Changing to 172.16.192.9"
'Server.SetOPCValue "System.Notification.SMS Channel.ConnectionPoint.Address","172.16.192.9"
Elseif sIP = "172.16.192.9" Then
MsgBox "The Current SMS Modem IP is " + sIP + ", Changing to 172.16.192.8"
'Server.SetOPCValue "System.Notification.SMS Channel.ConnectionPoint.Address","172.16.192.8"
Else
MsgBox "The Current SMS Modem IP is " + sIP + ", Configuration Issue, Please Check with System Administrator"

END IF

End Function

[geoffpatton · Accepted solution]

You can use a method redirection action to execute a ST program.

[jlx]

Thanks Geoff!

[BevanWeiss]

One thing to keep in mind with your current concept is that it will not be testing the standby SMS Paging Modem until it's required (at which time it may be failed).

I'd recommend having several SMS Paging Channels, and SMS Paging Services, with only one 'Active' SMS Paging Service.

This then allows you to at least perform the AT heartbeat testing of the standby modem.

This can be extended so that it actually sends SMS test messages to each modem, and raises an alarm (and potentially fails over) if the self test isn't operational.

[jlx]

Thanks @BevanWeiss, I'll keep that in mind.