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How To Generate A Trace On A Room Alert Monitor

Using an older version of the Room Alert Monitor web interface? Please click here for the appropriate FAQ.

The tracing feature is a very useful tool that can be used to assist in troubleshooting issues with your Room Alert Monitor.

Step 1: Ensure that trace is enabled on your Room Alert Monitor.
 Please skip this step if you are running a trace on a Room Alert 3 Wi-Fi and go right to Step 2

You may check to make sure trace is enabled by following the steps below.

Please note that trace is enabled by default on all Room Alert ‘S’ models. As of Room Alert 32E & 12E firmware version 3.0.1, Room Alert 4E firmware version 4.0.1 and Room Alert 3E firmware version 2.0.1, trace is enabled by default.

1. Open your Room Alert Monitor’s web interface. You may open the interface using Device Discovery, Device ManageR, or your account at RoomAlert.com. You may also type the IP address of the unit directly into the address bar of your web browser.

2. Select Settings in the navigation bar to the left.

3. Then select Advanced from the options below Settings.

Navigation Bar -- Settings--Advanced

4. Navigate to the Trace Configuration section of the Advanced Settings page.

5. In Trace Configuration:

– Check that the Enable check box is selected. If it is not, select this box.

– Typically, leave Port at the default, 143. You do not need to change this port unless you know port 143 is blocked by your network.

6. Select Save Settings at the top or bottom of the screen. Your Room Alert Monitor will reboot with your new settings.

Trace Configuration

7. Next, go to Step 2 to generate the trace.

Step 2: Generate the trace.

Select one of the methods below to capture a trace from your Room Alert Monitor.

* Using Windows Command Prompt is the preferred method. Our Technical Support Team is most familiar with this method.

Using Windows Command PromptUsing Mac TerminalUsing PuTTY

You must have Telnet enabled on your Windows system in order to complete the steps below. Telnet is disabled by default in Windows versions Vista and above. Please see our FAQ How To Enable Telnet In Windows (Versions Vista And Above) for help.

1. Open Windows Command Prompt as an administrator.

2. At the prompt, enter the following command:

telnet <IP address of your Room Alert unit> <trace port number> -f c:\tracefile.txt

In the example shown below, the IP address of the Room Alert is 192.168.2.138; the trace port number is the default, 143.

3. Once the trace starts, it is displayed live in Windows Command Prompt and also saved to a text file on your C:\ drive.

– The trace shown live in Windows Command Prompt:

– The trace saved to a txt file in your C:\ drive:

4. Next, go to Step 3 to recreate the issue you’re experiencing.

To capture a trace using MAC Terminal, please follow these instructions:

* These instructions require Telnet, which may not be available on newer versions of system software (including macOS Mojave and macOS High Sierra).

1. First, open a Terminal window.

– Press Command + Space on your keyboard to use Spotlight. Then type “terminal” and select Terminal from the list of programs.

2. At the prompt, enter the following command:

telnet <IP address of your Room Alert unit> <trace port number>

In the example shown below, the IP address of the Room Alert is 192.168.2.138; the trace port number is the default, 143.

3. Once the trace starts, it is displayed live in the window.

4. Next, go to Step 3 to recreate the issue you’re experiencing.

You may download PuTTY, a terminal emulator program, free from the Internet.

You must have Telnet enabled on your Windows system in order to complete the steps below. Telnet is disabled by default in Windows versions Vista and above. Please see our FAQ How To Enable Telnet In Windows (Versions Vista And Above) for help.

1. Open PuTTY. You must run it as an administrator to save the trace to a file on your C:\ drive.

2. Select Session in the navigation bar to the left.

3. In Host Name, enter the IP address of your Room Alert Monitor.

In the example shown below, the IP address of the Room Alert is 192.168.2.138.

4. In Port, enter 143 or the port you configured for trace on your Room Alert Monitor. (143 is the default.)

5. In Connection Type, select Telnet.

6. Next, select Logging (under Session) in the navigation bar to the left.

7. In Session Logging, select All session output.

8. In Log file name, erase what is there and enter “C:\tracefile.txt.”

9. Then select Open at the bottom of the screen to begin the trace.

– Once it starts, it’s displayed in the PuTTY window and saved to a text file on your C:\ drive.

10. Next, go to Step 3 to recreate the issue you’re experiencing.

Step 3: Recreate the issue you are experiencing.

1. With the trace running, recreate the issue you are experiencing.

 Example: Recreating an issue sending email from your Room Alert Monitor

One use for trace is to diagnose issues with email. In order to get information about what is happening when an email is triggered from your Room Alert Monitor, you would follow these steps:

– With the trace already running, navigate to Settings–>SMTP Email in the Room Alert Monitor web interface.

– At the bottom of the Email Settings page, select Send Test Email.

– Watch the trace window, allowing the trace run for at least 10 seconds.

– During that time, you’ll see the attempts by the Room Alert Monitor to connect to the configured mail server and any errors which may indicate what might be causing any issue. 

2. Allow the trace to run long enough to capture all of the data.

3. Once the issue has been captured in the trace, end the trace.

– If you’re using Windows Command Prompt, simply close the window. The trace automatically saves to a txt file in your C:\ drive.

– If you’re using PuTTY, simply close the window. The trace automatically saves to a txt file in your C:\ drive.

– If you’re using Mac Terminal, follow these instructions:

– Press Control + a on your keyboard to select everything in the Terminal window.

– Press Control + c on your keyboard to copy it.

– Open the program “textedit.”

– Paste the contents of the trace into textedit.

– Save the trace as tracefile.txt.

Step 4: Send the trace file to Support@AVTECH.com.

If our Technical Support team has requested a trace file from you, or if you feel it will be helpful before being asked, simply retrieve the .txt trace file, attach it to an email, and send it to us at Support@AVTECH.com.

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Room Alert is Made in the USA, ships worldwide from our locations in the US and EU, and has been protecting facilities since 1988.

You may find Windows Command Prompt at the following path:

  • Windows 7 & 8
    Start--> All Programs--> Accessories--> Command Prompt
  • Windows 10
    Start--> All Apps--> Windows System--> Command Prompt

To run Windows Command Prompt as an administrator:

  • Windows 7 & 8
    Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
  • Windows 10
    Right-click on Command Prompt, select More and then select Run as administrator.

Example Polling Method Properties saved in Orion SolarWinds:

If you are using this client, you should configure the general SNMPv3 Credentials, but leave the Read / Write SNMPv3 Credentials section blank.

Room Alert Link- Supported Firmware Updates



Current S modelsCurrent E models
Room Alert 32SRoom Alert 32E
Room Alert 12SRoom Alert 12E
Room Alert 4E
Room Alert 3E

Room Alert Manager - Compatible Devices

The latest version of Room Alert Manager supports only the devices below.

It does not support any legacy Room Alert or TemPageR models.

Current S modelsCurrent E models
Room Alert 32SRoom Alert 32E
Room Alert 12SRoom Alert 12E
Room Alert 3SRoom Alert 4E
Room Alert 3E
Room Alert 3W