Monitoring the system through email

I got my PAC code and bid a sad farewell to my Nokia N95 8GB (not the only sad farewell we have bid this week...) - it is all engines go on the Palm Pre now with the HTC Hero on backup duty. I am down to just two devices both with data tariffs and I have been considering the best way to use them – and then the idea of system monitoring dawned on me.

The best thing about the Pre so far, as I talked about before, is having all my email and contacts in one list so I can see at a glance all the unread mail from my various email accounts. I am still getting used to the idea of having a data tariff as I seem to have a deeply ingrained habit of keeping the amount of time I spend online to a minimum. This is probably a throwback to the dial-up days of modems and even further back to data cassette loading systems. But, now I can get email anywhere, anytime, I have started hooking our various information technology systems into the email system so I can get warnings about key infrastructure events. Initially I had these monitors and alerts going to my main work email address but I have since decided to use another client email licence and create a dedicated email account for this kind of thing. I am also working on the balance between alert messages and simple monitoring messages - maybe utilising another email licence - the licences could really start to add up. The kind of monitors and alerts range from printer errors to server low disk space conditions – it is handy keeping an eye on these things especially in a 24x7 operation when you can’t always be onsite.

Having a visual cue on the Pre for system alerts has been nothing short of a step along the evolutionary scale. Already this week I have received an automated email alert prior to a user call to report a problem; if I could gain access to the system on the mobile device too I could also have resolved the problem remotely.

So, I am getting used to the Palm Pre. The 1.3 WebOS Pre firmware is speculated for release in the UK anytime now (by the end of November) and I am waiting keenly to see what goodness it brings to the experience. I bought a 12MP Canon IXUS 200 for camera duties so at least I do not have to rely on the 3MP camera on the Pre anymore - a bit of a trade-off but I hope the added functionality in other areas will more than make up for things. The battery doesn't last as long as I would like. As I write this the Pre is flat and I don't have a cable handy to charge it up - though this is probably just a transition period after being spoiled a bit by the great battery life of the previous Nokia.

To keep balance it is worth mentioning that the HTC Hero is flat too and I don't have a cable handy for that either - note to self, get more cables. I have been spending some time in the Palm Pre Self-Paced Learning Centre which is fun and works you through a number of features: http://learning.palm.com/splg/pre/.