UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

How do I setup a cronjob for calling a normal telephone number. Is this possible? Also, can you tell me how to do this in Windows? We have a T-1 line for access to the Internet, no modems on the server.

Can you describe more about what you're trying to do? Are you trying to create a cron job that calls up a script that dials a number? What's going to happen once the number is dialed? If you have a T1 line, then you shouldn't need to dial anywhere.. you're always connected to the Internet. The more details the better!

Yes, I would like the cronjob to call up a script that would allow me to call a normal phone number like a cell phone. No I am not always connected since I don't work 24 hrs a day, and believe it or not, I actually have a girlfriend and I sometimes don't even turn on my computer when I get home from work.

I already know how to do cronjobs, the question would be what script would allow me to dial a normal phone from the Internet, I have seen Internet phones, but I would just want it to dial a number and maybe even leave a message.

contrary to popular belief computers do not talk. (by them selfs.)

if you want ot leave text messages on a pager or cell phone thats 1 things. but a voice message is a complete nother.

you will spend big $$ getting software to make your PC communicate in the way you are describeing.

believe it or not i do work 24/7 and i have no life. but my servers leave text messages on my cell phone when there is something wrong.

Yes, text message would be fine, I don't need the computer to talk to me. By the way, we did have some voice recognition software on some of our Windows machines, they would talk to you, but you could not understand what they were saying, and they did not understand what you were telling them to do, so we stopped using the software. Plus, I am sure the people nearby did not like hearing their cubical mate telling the computer to order him some more viagra.

I know how to do send mail, I guess that would work for text messaging, but I wanted the Sun Box to actually dial a phone number and make it ring.

You can hang a modem on a serial port. Then use the tip command to dial the number. tip has a man page. Use "man tip".