ECS: How to activate xDoctor using dedicated SMTP and enable dial-home alerts when SCG connection is not available

Summary: ECS to SCG connection fails due to temporary issues with Dell asset record synchronization and in some other cases, SCG connection is not allowed (dark sites). In such situations, xDoctor cannot be activated. Without xDoctor activation, ECS will not send dial-home alerts or appear in xDoctor/CLM, as xDoctor uses SMTP to report alerts to CLM. Therefore an email is sent to the recipient when an alert is generated, no dial-home service request is generated without xDoctor portal and CLM connectivity. This KB explains the steps to activate xDoctor using a dedicated SMTP server instead of SCG. Each SCG gateway has an integrated SMTP server. If present, it can be used instead of a dedicated SMTP server until SCG issues are resolved. ...

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Instructions

Note: Dedicated SMTP configurations have limitations when generating DialHome SR for ECS native alerts. This is by design. To generate DialHome for ECS native alerts, CLM uses the SCG gateway. Since dedicated SMTP does not have SCG, no DialHome case was generated by CLM.

See KB ECS: No DialHome SR is generated for ECS native alerts if only SMTP is configured as it relates to the note above.
 

  1. xDoctor activation fails when there are issues with SCG connection, logs below

  
admin@host:~/> sudo -i xdoctor 
.....
2020-06-08 21:40:01,327: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2020-06-08 21:40:01,336: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : xDoctor Pre Features
2020-06-08 21:40:01,336: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : Cron Activation
2020-06-08 21:40:08,722: xDoctor_4.8-62 - ERROR   : Secure Remote Service Connection State is FAILED. Please check Secure Remote Service connectivity (10.30.50.100). Failed to add device ELMECS012345K9-ELMECS012345K9-1 to esrs gw 10.30.50.100, reason: java.io.IOException: Adding device is not approved from ESRS: response code "401", response message "Unauthorized"
2020-06-08 21:40:08,723: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : Connect Home not configured or disabled, activation cancelled ...
2020-06-08 21:40:08,723: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : --------------------
....

  

  
    
   
  1. Invoke xDoctor in configuration mode (the menu and options have changed in the latest xDoctor versions)
    2. 
  

  
admin@host:~/> sudo -i xdoctor -c
                              
  xDoctor Configuration Menu  
                                          
  1   Overview                                  
  2   Reports and Events                    
  3   Auto Update            
  4   Data Scrubbing                
  5   ECS API Credentials                        
  6   IPMI Analysis                 
  0   Exit  

  
           


  
    
   
  1. Choose option 2 - Reports and Events from the above menu
    2. 
  

  
Please make a choice: 2
                              
  xDoctor Reports and Events                           
                                     
  1   Reports and Events to DellEMC  
                                     
      Status     = Enabled
      Channel    = SMTP via SRS
       
       SRS 1 ID    = c94f8710-7bc0-49f6-a9c8-9d6ef33fcd19
       SRS 1 Host  = 10.30.50.100
       SRS 1 Port  = 9443
       SRS 1 State = FAILED
       SRS 1 Msg   = Failed to add device ELMECS012345K9-ELMECS012345K9-1 to esrs gw 10.30.50.100, reason: java.io.IOException: Adding device is not approved from ESRS: response code "401", response message "Unauthorized"
       SRS 1 S/N   = ELMECS012345K9
                          
  2   Events to Customer  
                
      Status  = Disabled
                 
  0   Main Menu  

  
               


  
    
   
  1. Choose option 1 - "Reports and Events to Dell" from the above menu
    2. 
  

  
Please make a choice: 1



  
    
   
  1. Provide the SMTP server details. Choose 'no' for dedicated SMTP, provide the SMTP server IP and port, and issue new settings.
    2. 
  

  

   Each SCG gateway has an integrated SMTP server. If present, it can be used instead of a dedicated SMTP server until SCG issues are resolved.
  

  
Send xDoctor Reports/Events to DellEMC?  [Yes]:
Use SRS SMTP (yes) or a Dedicated SMTP (no) for xDoctor Reporting?  [Yes]: no
Dedicated SMTP Server [Server_name or IP_address:port] []: 10.30.50.100:25
Email From [DoNotReply@emc.com]:
Enable TLS?  [No]:
Send xDoctor Reports/Events to DellEMC = Yes
 |- Using a Dedicated SMTP Server
     |- SMTP Server = 10.30.50.100:25
     |- Email From = DoNotReply@emc.com
     |- TLS = False
> Issue new Settings?  [No]: yes
2020-06-08 21:49:14,259: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : xDoctor Reporting Settings saved and distributed ...
2020-06-08 21:49:14,524: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : SMTP Settings saved and distributed ...
                              
  xDoctor Reports and Events                            
                                     
  1   Reports and Events to DellEMC  
                                     
      Status  = Enabled
      Channel = Dedicated SMTP
       
       SMTP Server = 10.30.50.100:25
       Email From  = DoNotReply@emc.com
       TLS         = No
                          
  2   Events to Customer  
                          
      Status  = Disabled
                 
  0   Main Menu  

  

  
    
   
  1. Choose '0' to go back to Main Menu
    2. 
  

  
Please make a choice: 0
                              
  xDoctor Configuration Menu                          
                
  1   Overview           
                          
  2   Reports and Events                      
                   
  3   Auto Update                 
                      
  4   Data Scrubbing                   
                           
  5   ECS API Credentials                
                     
  6   IPMI Analysis                  
            
  0   Exit  
            

  

  
    
   
  1. Choose '0' to Exit from the xDoctor configuration menu
    2. 
  

  
Please make a choice: 0
admin@host:~/>



  
    
   
  1. xDoctor activation should succeed now.
    2. 
  

  
admin@host:/> sudo -i xdoctor
....
2020-06-08 21:49:35,747: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2020-06-08 21:49:35,756: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : xDoctor Pre Features
2020-06-08 21:49:35,756: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : Cron Activation
2020-06-08 21:49:36,729: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : Found Dedicated Server (10.30.50.100:25) as SMTP Server ...
2020-06-08 21:49:37,855: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : Successfully added xDoctor to cron ...
2020-06-08 21:49:38,120: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : xDoctor Activated (default) ...
2020-06-08 21:49:38,121: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : --------------------
....
2020-06-08 21:53:45,961: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : ------------
2020-06-08 21:53:45,961: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : ProcComplete
2020-06-08 21:53:45,961: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : ------------
2020-06-08 21:53:47,021: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : Found Dedicated Server (10.30.50.100:25) as SMTP Server ...
2020-06-08 21:53:47,022: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : Using local Report functions.
2020-06-08 21:53:47,022: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : Using SMTP Channel ...
2020-06-08 21:53:47,028: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : Sending xDoctor Report (RSC_APM00200512345-njecslabn1_060820_214933000.xml) to ['emailalert@emc.com']
2020-06-08 21:53:48,142: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : ----------------



  
    
   
  1. Test the connect home using the below command. If the test is successful, it sends a Test Report to the xDoctor Portal
    2. 
  

  
admin@host:~> sudo xdoctor --tool --exec=connecthome --method=test
2020-06-14 14:29:54,938: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : Executing xDoctor Tool: [connecthome], using Method: [test], Options: [] and Args: []
2020-06-14 14:30:08,996: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : ------------------------------------------
2020-06-14 14:30:08,997: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : Testing the existing Dedicated SMTP Server
2020-06-14 14:30:09,005: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : |- [SUCCESS] Pinging SMTP Server: 10.30.50.100
2020-06-14 14:30:09,005: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : |- [SUCCESS] Testing SMTP Port: 25
2020-06-14 14:30:09,998: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : |- SMTP Settings
2020-06-14 14:30:09,998: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    :     |- From Address: DoNotReply@emc.com
2020-06-14 14:30:09,998: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    :     |- Recipients: ['emailalert@emc.com']
2020-06-14 14:30:09,998: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    :     |- TLS: False
2020-06-14 14:30:11,081: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : |- [SUCCESS] Sending Test Report RSC_APM00200512345-njecslabn1_061420_143009000.xml to ['emailalert@emc.com']
2020-06-14 14:30:11,082: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : -----------------------------
2020-06-14 14:30:11,082: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : Current xDoctor Configuration
2020-06-14 14:30:11,082: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : -----------------------------
2020-06-14 14:30:11,082: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : ConnectHome Path = (1) Dedicated SMTP Channel
2020-06-14 14:30:11,083: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : (1) Dedicated SMTP Channel (941c7bcf-d36a-48cc-8c2a-c7b84f852229) ... SUCCESS
2020-06-14 14:30:11,083: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : The configured ConnectHome Path is working optimally ...
2020-06-14 14:30:11,083: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : Please check the xDoctor Portal to see if the heartbeat is been updated.
2020-06-14 14:30:11,083: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : http://xdoctor.isus.emc.com/ecs/health/serial/APM00200512345
2020-06-14 14:30:11,083: xDoctor_4.8-62 - INFO    : After about 20 minutes it should have the HeartBeat updated and indicate a Test flag

  




        


        

        
        
Affected Products

        ECS
    
Products

        ECS Appliance Gen 2, ECS Appliance Gen 3, ECS Appliance Software with Encryption, ECS Appliance Software without Encryption, Secure Remote Services







                        

                            

    

        

            

                
                    
 Article Properties

                
            

            

                

                        
Article Number: 000021158

                

                
                

                        
Article Type: How To

                

                

                        
Last Modified: 29 Oct 2025


                

                    

                            
Version:  9

                    


            


        

    

    

        

            

                
                    
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