How to receive text messages (sms) on a web server

Discussion in 'Programming' started by sm9ai, Aug 31, 2010.

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  1. #1
    Hi All,

    I am wanting to be able to receive text messages on a web server so I can control certain aspects remotely. E.g. send a text message to my server to restart it, or to shut down a website.

    The restarting and shutting down is easy, the tricky bit it how do I actually receive the text messages?

    Any ideas?

    Thanks
     
    sm9ai, Aug 31, 2010 IP
  2. stephan2307

    stephan2307 Well-Known Member

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    #2
    You would need to use a third party. they usually offer an api to retrieve the txt messages or email them to you. So you either have to write a script that uses the api or can check emails.

    Hope this helps
     
    stephan2307, Sep 7, 2010 IP
  3. shaams

    shaams Peon

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    #3
    following solution would be costly to manage it and bit hard.

    you can use nowsms sms gateway .. it have api service for web, you can search on google nowsms; you need at-least gsm modem to handle it.

    But i advice you try to control it from email.

    and send message from mobile to email and restart your applications or server.
     
    shaams, Sep 12, 2010 IP
  4. AstarothSolutions

    AstarothSolutions Peon

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    #4
    As others say, to actually receive them would be a pain to set up. Your better off buying a service from a company that has an exposed API and have your server call the API every minute or so and react appropriately.

    Of cause this is potentially a high risk strategy as your allowing anyone who finds the details to be able to shut down your server.
     
    AstarothSolutions, Sep 12, 2010 IP
  5. boon4376

    boon4376 Greenhorn

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    #5
    yes someone could easily mask their email to look like it came from your address and shut down your server at a moment's notice... There are also phone apps availible on the driod market place that make it look like your SMS text came from a different phone number, so if your server even checked the message against your phone number, that could still be faked.
    If you NEED this much remote control, I suggest getting a smart phone with wifi so you can log into some sort of secure remote console.

    Or if you are just having stability problems and need frequent restarts, program that in as some sort of repeating scheduled task.
     
    boon4376, Sep 12, 2010 IP
  6. longcall911

    longcall911 Peon

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    #6
    That's a very risky approach. Think about what you are suggesting. Most people are extremely concerned about restarting a server and take great pride in uptime. If you need to restart so often that you want to use sms to do it, something is wrong.

    You could write an iPhone app though. . .
     
    longcall911, Sep 13, 2010 IP
  7. Tomastamm

    Tomastamm Well-Known Member

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    #7
    Tomastamm, Sep 21, 2010 IP