What is SMS Notification?
SMS (Short Message Service) notifications deliver alert messages directly to your mobile phone as text messages. This is one of the most immediate ways to be notified about critical server or website issues, especially when you're away from your computer.
Why Use SMS Notifications?
- Instant delivery — Text messages arrive within seconds
- No internet required — Works on basic cellular networks
- Hard to miss — Phone notifications are more noticeable than emails
- On-call friendly — Perfect for after-hours alerting
How to Configure SMS Notifications
Step 1: Create a Notification Role
- Log in to your Xitoring Dashboard
- Navigate to Settings → Notification Roles
- Click Create New Role
- Name it appropriately (e.g., "On-Call SMS")
Step 2: Add Your Mobile Number
- In the notification role, click Add Contact
- Select SMS as the channel
- Enter your mobile number with country code (e.g., +1234567890)
- Verify the number if prompted
Step 3: Assign to Monitors
- Open the relevant monitor
- Under Triggers, attach the notification role
- Save your changes
Step 4: Test the Configuration
- Click Send Test in the notification role
- Confirm you receive the SMS on your phone
Best Practices
- Reserve SMS for critical alerts only to avoid alert fatigue
- Use SMS in combination with email for a tiered alerting strategy
- Keep your phone number updated in your notification settings
- Consider time zones when setting up SMS alerts for global teams
Learn More
Explore all available Notification Channels to build a comprehensive alerting strategy.