SMS alerts for servers – email to SMS or API?
If a server goes down at 3 AM, you don’t want to rely on an email that’s sitting in an inbox, competing with threads and LinkedIn notifications. You need a buzz in your pocket that says the server is down – please fix it!
If you’re setting up SMS alerts for your server monitoring, you generally have two paths: Email to SMS or an API. At The SMS Works, we’re big fans of keeping things simple and honest. Here’s the lowdown on which one you actually need.
Email to SMS is a no-code set-up
Email to SMS is the ‘plug and play’ option for those using monitoring tools like Nagios or Zabbix that already send email alerts. By sending an email to a specific address formatted with the mobile number, our system strips away the headers and fires the body of that email as a text message.
This method is ideal because it requires zero coding and can be set up in minutes, making it compatible with any legacy system. It’s important to keep your messages brief – use a double hash to tell our system to ignore your email signature so you don’t waste credits on unnecessary text.
The API is a developer-friendly option
For those who prioritise speed and control, our API is the superior choice. Built for developers who want to integrate SMS directly into their code, it involves making a direct HTTPS request to our gateway.
The API allows you to use smart features like our AI Optimiser to trim messages and save credits, or an SMS Credit Overdraft to ensure alerts keep firing even if your balance runs low. While it does require a few lines of code to implement, the reliability and data feedback it provides are worth the effort for mission-critical monitoring.
Which one should you choose?
You should opt for Email to SMS if you are using a third-party tool that doesn’t allow custom integrations or if you need an immediate solution that just works. On the other hand, the API is the best fit if you are building your own tools, require absolute reliability, or want to manage costs more tightly through delivery reports.
Why do it with us?
Whichever route you go, we don’t believe in the common industry practice of charging for messages that don’t arrive. We only charge for delivered messages and automatically refund credits for failures. Furthermore, our credits never expire, which is perfect for server alerts that might be infrequent, and we only use Tier 1 UK routes to ensure your alerts are handled with the same priority as a bank’s security code.
Ready to stop missing alerts? Set up a free account on our website. We’ll give you 50 free credits to test both the API and the Email to SMS service with no credit card or contracts required.