Re: [IUG] SMS Script again

[Bob Duncan <duncanr at lafayette dot edu>]

At 04:26 PM 8/27/2010, John wrote:
> Christine - we too were getting "Message Sent" but with no message.  The
> problem was that the virtual server running the php was not cleared on
> the network for sending emails outside campus.  We had our campus IT
> correct it.  We deduced the problem by using some simplified php pages
> (unconnected to iii) that would send test emails when displayed.  The
> emails would come thru to local accounts, but not to off campus
> accounts, so we could tell that was the problem.  (Not sure about
> sendmail, I thought it was only connected to the perl setup, not php.)

Sendmail is just one of many mechanisms that PHP scripts can use to 
send email, so sendmail itself isn't required, but the PHP script 
needs to be able to send email somehow (and without authentication) 
in order for this to work.  (The script as written uses plain old PHP 
"mail".)  And as John points out, it needs to be able to send outside 
campus.  It's important to remember that even though the patron gets 
a text message, nowhere in the process is SMS actually involved -- 
the script merely sends an email whose To: address results in the 
user getting a text message.  It all hinges on sending that email, so 
the functionality and permissions need to be in place on the server 
where the script lives in order for the message to get sent.  If 
you're not getting an error it suggests that PHP mail is working fine 
but that there's something preventing the messages from actually 
being sent.  (I think that makes sense.  As with many scripting 
languages, I know just enough to get myself in trouble and give 
others bad advice.)

Bob Duncan


~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~
Robert E. Duncan
Systems Librarian
Editor of IT Communications
Lafayette College
Easton, PA  18042
duncanr at lafayette dot edu
http://library.lafayette.edu/ 


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