Embedded SMTP Problems

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Date: 15 Aug 2004 10:25:48 -0700

I am currently in the midst of a project that utilizes an AXIS 2420
network camera (Linux based) with a serial connection to a Creative
External MODEM Blaster. The camera has both a serial connection and an
Ethernet connection available (it is a web server.) All my
intereaction with the camera is browser based over the ethernet
connection. I can also setp a dial-up connection over the serial port
for browser based interaction with the camera.

The camera supports a feature that when movement is detected within
the camera's field of view a frame of video is captured and the camera
will then dial out to an ISP and send a SMTP email with the frame of
video within it.

(I have a data tap in-line with the serial connection so that I can
monitor the TX & RX between the MODEM and camera.)

The problem that I have run into is this: It appears that when the
image file size exceeds a size of roughly 10KB the email does not go
through. (By that I mean that the log within the camera shows a
succesful connection and transfer, the data tap indicates, as far as I
can tell, a normal connection and SMTP transfer. But the email never
arrives. I don't think it's an ISP limitation on file size since 10KB
is pretty small these days.) My hunch is either an invalid email is
generated once a certain file size is exceeded or there is a buffer
problem between the camera and MODEM and it doesn't rear its ugly head
until a certain email size is reached.

My current capabilities are:
   Linux - Clueless (I've got a Linux box running to fiddle with,
that's about it.)
   FTP - I can connect with the camera and wander about within the
files on it
   Serial - I have a data tap in-line between the camera and dial-up
MODEM and I can observe the ASCII data between each.

My questions are these:

Is there a way to troubleshoot MODEM communications and email other
than the data tap I'm currently using?

Is there a way to determine whether the camera is producing an invalid
email once the file size gets to large? (I have a hunch that it's the
camera...I've found several bugs so far. I have yet to receive any
help from AXIS on the issues I've had up to this point, so don't
suggest that I contact them :-)

How would I start a terminal session with the camera through the
Ethernet connection?

I apologize for not being able to provide more/detailed information.
My Linux experience prevents it at this point. If a certain detail
would shed more light provide me the means to extract that detail from
my situation. (A previous post response asked what version of Linux
was being used. Since I can't open a terminal window to "% uname -r"
the camera I couldn't tell you....)

Any Linux expertise and/or MODEM/email help would be greatly
appreciated. I guess I should qualify the request by saying I'm not
looking for someone to solve my problems. I need reading material
recommendations, websites, debugging tools, Linux wisdom, etc.

Thanks,

John Cottrell

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