# Handlers and checks

**URL:** <https://discourse.sensu.io/t/handlers-and-checks/244>\
**Category:** Sensu Classic (EOL)\
**Created:** [September 3, 2014, 12:10pm UTC](https://discourse.sensu.io/t/handlers-and-checks/244 "2014-09-03T12:10:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![reachmani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f14d63/32.png) [@reachmani](https://discourse.sensu.io/u/reachmani)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 12:10pm UTC](https://discourse.sensu.io/t/handlers-and-checks/244/1 "2014-09-03T12:10:43Z")

</div>

Hi Folks,

Couple of things.

1. On a specific check based on the event which could be critical or warning I would like to send out email to different email distribution list. Secondly my current check configuration is for 60 seconds and I would not want emails to be triggered every second. I would like to trigger only once for a event and stop sending emails until its resolved. Is this possible?
2. For sending out email I am using mail in linux environment.
3. 

```auto

```

{  
“handlers”: {  
“email”: {  
“type”: “pipe”,  
“command”: “mail -s ‘sensu alert’ your@address”  
}  
}  
}

```auto

I am using mail command as I dont have smtp host to send emails. Would I be able to mail the event details in this scenario?

Thanks,

Mani
```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kyle\_Anderson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Kyle\_Anderson](https://discourse.sensu.io/u/Kyle_Anderson)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 2:54pm UTC](https://discourse.sensu.io/t/handlers-and-checks/244/2 "2014-09-03T14:54:33Z")

</div>

You cannot use such a naive handler (mail binary) and achieve what you want.

You could start with the community mail handler:  
[https://github.com/sensu/sensu-community-plugins/blob/master/handlers/notification/mailer.rb](https://github.com/sensu/sensu-community-plugins/blob/master/handlers/notification/mailer.rb)

Read the docs on some of the filter tunables that it most of the  
community handlers respect:  
[http://sensuapp.org/docs/latest/checks#custom-check-definition-key-values](http://sensuapp.org/docs/latest/checks#custom-check-definition-key-values)

Here is the filter logic:

> <https://github.com/sensu-plugins/sensu-plugin/blob/1c75c7f7f831f800395ba681ffe03de734a52ab7/lib/sensu-handler.rb#L82>

There is currently no combination of tunables to do exactly what you  
want, but you can modify the handler to have it's own filter\_repeated  
function with whatever logic you need.

> **···**
>
> On Wed, Sep 3, 2014 at 5:10 AM, reachmani \<reachmani@gmail.com\> wrote:
> 
> > Hi Folks,
> > 
> > Couple of things.
> > 
> > On a specific check based on the event which could be critical or warning I  
> > would like to send out email to different email distribution list. Secondly  
> > my current check configuration is for 60 seconds and I would not want emails  
> > to be triggered every second. I would like to trigger only once for a event  
> > and stop sending emails until its resolved. Is this possible?  
> > For sending out email I am using mail in linux environment.
> > 
> > {  
> > &nbsp;&nbsp;"handlers": {  
> > &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"email": {  
> > &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"type": "pipe",  
> > &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"command": "mail -s 'sensu alert' your@address"  
> > &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;}  
> > &nbsp;&nbsp;}  
> > }
> > 
> > I am using mail command as I dont have smtp host to send emails. Would I be  
> > able to mail the event details in this scenario?
> > 
> > Thanks,  
> > Mani

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![reachmani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f14d63/32.png) [@reachmani](https://discourse.sensu.io/u/reachmani)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 10:09am UTC](https://discourse.sensu.io/t/handlers-and-checks/244/3 "2014-09-04T10:09:06Z")

</div>

Thanks for your response Kyle.

I have couple more follow up questions.

1\> I have added refresh attribute in checks. But it doesn’t seems to be working, I still continue to get emails every minute. As per the documentation here is what it says.

Custom key-values can be added to a check definition, which will be included in event data, enabling handler creativity.

Common custom check definitions

occurrences: Number of event occurrences before the handler should take action

refresh: Number of seconds handlers should wait before taking second action. Relies on sensu-plugin.

Can you please let me know which plugin I need to install to get the refresh working. Where should I deploy this?

My sample check configuration

“check\_disk”: {

“handlers”: [“handler\_system\_mail”],

“command”: “/opt/sensu/embedded/bin/ruby /etc/sensu/plugins/check-disk.rb”,

“interval”: 60,

“refresh”: 3600,

“subscribers”: [“system”]

}

2\> Secondly, if I need to modify the existing handler code. Can you tell me the location and file name look like for modification?

Thanks,

Mani

> **···**
>
> On Wednesday, 3 September 2014 20:24:35 UTC+5:30, Kyle Anderson wrote:
> 
> > You cannot use such a naive handler (mail binary) and achieve what you want.
> > 
> > You could start with the community mail handler:  
> > [https://github.com/sensu/sensu-community-plugins/blob/master/handlers/notification/mailer.rb](https://github.com/sensu/sensu-community-plugins/blob/master/handlers/notification/mailer.rb)
> > 
> > Read the docs on some of the filter tunables that it most of the  
> > community handlers respect:  
> > [http://sensuapp.org/docs/latest/checks#custom-check-definition-key-values](http://sensuapp.org/docs/latest/checks#custom-check-definition-key-values)
> > 
> > Here is the filter logic:  
> > [https://github.com/sensu/sensu-plugin/blob/1c75c7f7f831f800395ba681ffe03de734a52ab7/lib/sensu-handler.rb#L82](https://github.com/sensu/sensu-plugin/blob/1c75c7f7f831f800395ba681ffe03de734a52ab7/lib/sensu-handler.rb#L82)
> > 
> > There is currently no combination of tunables to do exactly what you  
> > want, but you can modify the handler to have it’s own filter\_repeated  
> > function with whatever logic you need.
> > 
> > On Wed, Sep 3, 2014 at 5:10 AM, reachmani [reac...@gmail.com](mailto:reac...@gmail.com) wrote:
> > 
> > > Hi Folks,
> > > 
> > > Couple of things.
> > > 
> > > On a specific check based on the event which could be critical or warning I  
> > > would like to send out email to different email distribution list. Secondly  
> > > my current check configuration is for 60 seconds and I would not want emails  
> > > to be triggered every second. I would like to trigger only once for a event  
> > > and stop sending emails until its resolved. Is this possible?  
> > > For sending out email I am using mail in linux environment.
> > > 
> > > {  
> > > “handlers”: {  
> > > “email”: {  
> > > “type”: “pipe”,  
> > > “command”: “mail -s ‘sensu alert’ your@address”  
> > > }  
> > > }  
> > > }
> > > 
> > > I am using mail command as I dont have smtp host to send emails. Would I be  
> > > able to mail the event details in this scenario?
> > > 
> > > Thanks,  
> > > Mani

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kyle\_Anderson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Kyle\_Anderson](https://discourse.sensu.io/u/Kyle_Anderson)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 2:52pm UTC](https://discourse.sensu.io/t/handlers-and-checks/244/4 "2014-09-04T14:52:58Z")

</div>

1. Are you using a handler that can interpret that data? (like most  
from the community repo  
[https://github.com/sensu/sensu-community-plugins/tree/master/handlers/notification\](https://github.com/sensu/sensu-community-plugins/tree/master/handlers/notification%5C))  
2. It is wherever you put it? Stock sensu comes with no handlers.  
People (cfg mgmt tools) usually put them in /etc/sensu/handlers/

> **···**
>
> On Thu, Sep 4, 2014 at 3:09 AM, reachmani \<reachmani@gmail.com\> wrote:
> 
> > Thanks for your response Kyle.
> > 
> > I have couple more follow up questions.
> > 
> > 1\> I have added refresh attribute in checks. But it doesn't seems to be  
> > working, I still continue to get emails every minute. As per the  
> > documentation here is what it says.
> > 
> > Custom key-values can be added to a check definition, which will be included  
> > in event data, enabling handler creativity.
> > 
> > Common custom check definitions
> > 
> > occurrences: Number of event occurrences before the handler should take  
> > action  
> > refresh: Number of seconds handlers should wait before taking second action.  
> > Relies on sensu-plugin.  
> > Can you please let me know which plugin I need to install to get the refresh  
> > working. Where should I deploy this?
> > 
> > My sample check configuration  
> > "check\_disk": {  
> > &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"handlers": ["handler\_system\_mail"],  
> > &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"command": "/opt/sensu/embedded/bin/ruby  
> > /etc/sensu/plugins/check-disk.rb",  
> > &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"interval": 60,  
> > &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"refresh": 3600,  
> > &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"subscribers": ["system"]  
> > &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;}
> > 
> > 2\> Secondly, if I need to modify the existing handler code. Can you tell me  
> > the location and file name look like for modification?
> > 
> > Thanks,  
> > Mani
> > 
> > On Wednesday, 3 September 2014 20:24:35 UTC+5:30, Kyle Anderson wrote:
> > 
> > > You cannot use such a naive handler (mail binary) and achieve what you  
> > > want.
> > > 
> > > You could start with the community mail handler:
> > > 
> > > [https://github.com/sensu/sensu-community-plugins/blob/master/handlers/notification/mailer.rb](https://github.com/sensu/sensu-community-plugins/blob/master/handlers/notification/mailer.rb)
> > > 
> > > Read the docs on some of the filter tunables that it most of the  
> > > community handlers respect:  
> > > [http://sensuapp.org/docs/latest/checks#custom-check-definition-key-values](http://sensuapp.org/docs/latest/checks#custom-check-definition-key-values)
> > > 
> > > Here is the filter logic:
> > > 
> > > [https://github.com/sensu/sensu-plugin/blob/1c75c7f7f831f800395ba681ffe03de734a52ab7/lib/sensu-handler.rb#L82](https://github.com/sensu/sensu-plugin/blob/1c75c7f7f831f800395ba681ffe03de734a52ab7/lib/sensu-handler.rb#L82)
> > > 
> > > There is currently no combination of tunables to do exactly what you  
> > > want, but you can modify the handler to have it's own filter\_repeated  
> > > function with whatever logic you need.
> > > 
> > > On Wed, Sep 3, 2014 at 5:10 AM, reachmani \<reac...@gmail.com\> wrote:  
> > > \> Hi Folks,  
> > > \>  
> > > \> Couple of things.  
> > > \>  
> > > \> On a specific check based on the event which could be critical or  
> > > \> warning I  
> > > \> would like to send out email to different email distribution list.  
> > > \> Secondly  
> > > \> my current check configuration is for 60 seconds and I would not want  
> > > \> emails  
> > > \> to be triggered every second. I would like to trigger only once for a  
> > > \> event  
> > > \> and stop sending emails until its resolved. Is this possible?  
> > > \> For sending out email I am using mail in linux environment.  
> > > \>  
> > > \> {  
> > > \> "handlers": {  
> > > \> "email": {  
> > > \> "type": "pipe",  
> > > \> "command": "mail -s 'sensu alert' your@address"  
> > > \> }  
> > > \> }  
> > > \> }  
> > > \>  
> > > \> I am using mail command as I dont have smtp host to send emails. Would I  
> > > \> be  
> > > \> able to mail the event details in this scenario?  
> > > \>  
> > > \> Thanks,  
> > > \> Mani

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![reachmani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f14d63/32.png) [@reachmani](https://discourse.sensu.io/u/reachmani)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 4:05pm UTC](https://discourse.sensu.io/t/handlers-and-checks/244/5 "2014-09-04T16:05:44Z")

</div>

I am using pipe handler, this could be the reason refresh isnt working?

“handler\_system\_mail”: {

“type”: “pipe”,

“command”: “echo ‘System critical!!!’”

},

> **···**
>
> On Thursday, 4 September 2014 20:22:59 UTC+5:30, Kyle Anderson wrote:
> 
> > 1. Are you using a handler that can interpret that data? (like most
> > 
> > from the community repo
> > 
> > [https://github.com/sensu/sensu-community-plugins/tree/master/handlers/notification](https://github.com/sensu/sensu-community-plugins/tree/master/handlers/notification))
> > 
> > 1. It is wherever you put it? Stock sensu comes with no handlers.
> > 
> > People (cfg mgmt tools) usually put them in /etc/sensu/handlers/
> > 
> > On Thu, Sep 4, 2014 at 3:09 AM, reachmani [reac...@gmail.com](mailto:reac...@gmail.com) wrote:
> > 
> > > Thanks for your response Kyle.
> > 
> > > 
> > 
> > > I have couple more follow up questions.
> > 
> > > 
> > 
> > > 1\> I have added refresh attribute in checks. But it doesn’t seems to be
> > 
> > > working, I still continue to get emails every minute. As per the
> > 
> > > documentation here is what it says.
> > 
> > > 
> > 
> > > Custom key-values can be added to a check definition, which will be included
> > 
> > > in event data, enabling handler creativity.
> > 
> > > 
> > 
> > > Common custom check definitions
> > 
> > > 
> > 
> > > occurrences: Number of event occurrences before the handler should take
> > 
> > > action
> > 
> > > refresh: Number of seconds handlers should wait before taking second action.
> > 
> > > Relies on sensu-plugin.
> > 
> > > Can you please let me know which plugin I need to install to get the refresh
> > 
> > > working. Where should I deploy this?
> > 
> > > 
> > 
> > > My sample check configuration
> > 
> > > “check\_disk”: {
> > 
> > > ```
> > > "handlers": ["handler_system_mail"],
> > > 
> > > ```
> > 
> > > ```
> > > "command": "/opt/sensu/embedded/bin/ruby
> > > 
> > > ```
> > 
> > > /etc/sensu/plugins/check-disk.rb",
> > 
> > > ```
> > > "interval": 60,
> > > 
> > > ```
> > 
> > > ```
> > > "refresh": 3600,
> > > 
> > > ```
> > 
> > > ```
> > > "subscribers": ["system"]
> > > 
> > > ```
> > 
> > > ```
> > > }
> > > 
> > > ```
> > 
> > > 
> > 
> > > 2\> Secondly, if I need to modify the existing handler code. Can you tell me
> > 
> > > the location and file name look like for modification?
> > 
> > > 
> > 
> > > 
> > 
> > > Thanks,
> > 
> > > Mani
> > 
> > > 
> > 
> > > On Wednesday, 3 September 2014 20:24:35 UTC+5:30, Kyle Anderson wrote:
> > 
> > > >
> > 
> > > > You cannot use such a naive handler (mail binary) and achieve what you
> > 
> > > > want.
> > 
> > > >
> > 
> > > > You could start with the community mail handler:
> > 
> > > >
> > 
> > > > [https://github.com/sensu/sensu-community-plugins/blob/master/handlers/notification/mailer.rb](https://github.com/sensu/sensu-community-plugins/blob/master/handlers/notification/mailer.rb)
> > 
> > > >
> > 
> > > > Read the docs on some of the filter tunables that it most of the
> > 
> > > > community handlers respect:
> > 
> > > > [http://sensuapp.org/docs/latest/checks#custom-check-definition-key-values](http://sensuapp.org/docs/latest/checks#custom-check-definition-key-values)
> > 
> > > >
> > 
> > > > Here is the filter logic:
> > 
> > > >
> > 
> > > > [https://github.com/sensu/sensu-plugin/blob/1c75c7f7f831f800395ba681ffe03de734a52ab7/lib/sensu-handler.rb#L82](https://github.com/sensu/sensu-plugin/blob/1c75c7f7f831f800395ba681ffe03de734a52ab7/lib/sensu-handler.rb#L82)
> > 
> > > >
> > 
> > > > There is currently no combination of tunables to do exactly what you
> > 
> > > > want, but you can modify the handler to have it’s own filter\_repeated
> > 
> > > > function with whatever logic you need.
> > 
> > > >
> > 
> > > >
> > 
> > > > On Wed, Sep 3, 2014 at 5:10 AM, reachmani [reac...@gmail.com](mailto:reac...@gmail.com) wrote:
> > 
> > > > > Hi Folks,
> > 
> > > > >
> > 
> > > > > Couple of things.
> > 
> > > > >
> > 
> > > > > On a specific check based on the event which could be critical or
> > 
> > > > > warning I
> > 
> > > > > would like to send out email to different email distribution list.
> > 
> > > > > Secondly
> > 
> > > > > my current check configuration is for 60 seconds and I would not want
> > 
> > > > > emails
> > 
> > > > > to be triggered every second. I would like to trigger only once for a
> > 
> > > > > event
> > 
> > > > > and stop sending emails until its resolved. Is this possible?
> > 
> > > > > For sending out email I am using mail in linux environment.
> > 
> > > > >
> > 
> > > > > {
> > 
> > > > > “handlers”: {
> > 
> > > > > ```
> > > > > "email": {
> > > > > 
> > > > > ```
> > 
> > > > > ```
> > > > > "type": "pipe",
> > > > > 
> > > > > ```
> > 
> > > > > ```
> > > > > "command": "mail -s 'sensu alert' your@address"
> > > > > 
> > > > > ```
> > 
> > > > > ```
> > > > > }
> > > > > 
> > > > > ```
> > 
> > > > > }
> > 
> > > > > }
> > 
> > > > >
> > 
> > > > > I am using mail command as I dont have smtp host to send emails. Would I
> > 
> > > > > be
> > 
> > > > > able to mail the event details in this scenario?
> > 
> > > > >
> > 
> > > > > Thanks,
> > 
> > > > > Mani

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![reachmani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f14d63/32.png) [@reachmani](https://discourse.sensu.io/u/reachmani)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 4:44pm UTC](https://discourse.sensu.io/t/handlers-and-checks/244/6 "2014-09-04T16:44:36Z")

</div>

I am using mail command instead of echo in my code. Since my check executes ever minute my mail box gets filled. I am expecting refresh parameter to work so that I can set delay for my next notification.

> **···**
>
> On Thursday, 4 September 2014 21:35:44 UTC+5:30, reachmani wrote:
> 
> > I am using pipe handler, this could be the reason refresh isnt working?
> 
> > “handler\_system\_mail”: {
> 
> > “type”: “pipe”,
> 
> > “command”: “echo ‘System critical!!!’”
> 
> > },
> 
> > 
> 
> > On Thursday, 4 September 2014 20:22:59 UTC+5:30, Kyle Anderson wrote:
> > 
> > > 1. Are you using a handler that can interpret that data? (like most
> > > 
> > > from the community repo
> > > 
> > > [https://github.com/sensu/sensu-community-plugins/tree/master/handlers/notification](https://github.com/sensu/sensu-community-plugins/tree/master/handlers/notification))
> > > 
> > > 1. It is wherever you put it? Stock sensu comes with no handlers.
> > > 
> > > People (cfg mgmt tools) usually put them in /etc/sensu/handlers/
> > > 
> > > On Thu, Sep 4, 2014 at 3:09 AM, reachmani [reac...@gmail.com](mailto:reac...@gmail.com) wrote:
> > > 
> > > > Thanks for your response Kyle.
> > > 
> > > > 
> > > 
> > > > I have couple more follow up questions.
> > > 
> > > > 
> > > 
> > > > 1\> I have added refresh attribute in checks. But it doesn’t seems to be
> > > 
> > > > working, I still continue to get emails every minute. As per the
> > > 
> > > > documentation here is what it says.
> > > 
> > > > 
> > > 
> > > > Custom key-values can be added to a check definition, which will be included
> > > 
> > > > in event data, enabling handler creativity.
> > > 
> > > > 
> > > 
> > > > Common custom check definitions
> > > 
> > > > 
> > > 
> > > > occurrences: Number of event occurrences before the handler should take
> > > 
> > > > action
> > > 
> > > > refresh: Number of seconds handlers should wait before taking second action.
> > > 
> > > > Relies on sensu-plugin.
> > > 
> > > > Can you please let me know which plugin I need to install to get the refresh
> > > 
> > > > working. Where should I deploy this?
> > > 
> > > > 
> > > 
> > > > My sample check configuration
> > > 
> > > > “check\_disk”: {
> > > 
> > > > ```
> > > > "handlers": ["handler_system_mail"],
> > > > 
> > > > ```
> > > 
> > > > ```
> > > > "command": "/opt/sensu/embedded/bin/ruby
> > > > 
> > > > ```
> > > 
> > > > /etc/sensu/plugins/check-disk.rb",
> > > 
> > > > ```
> > > > "interval": 60,
> > > > 
> > > > ```
> > > 
> > > > ```
> > > > "refresh": 3600,
> > > > 
> > > > ```
> > > 
> > > > ```
> > > > "subscribers": ["system"]
> > > > 
> > > > ```
> > > 
> > > > ```
> > > > }
> > > > 
> > > > ```
> > > 
> > > > 
> > > 
> > > > 2\> Secondly, if I need to modify the existing handler code. Can you tell me
> > > 
> > > > the location and file name look like for modification?
> > > 
> > > > 
> > > 
> > > > 
> > > 
> > > > Thanks,
> > > 
> > > > Mani
> > > 
> > > > 
> > > 
> > > > On Wednesday, 3 September 2014 20:24:35 UTC+5:30, Kyle Anderson wrote:
> > > 
> > > > >
> > > 
> > > > > You cannot use such a naive handler (mail binary) and achieve what you
> > > 
> > > > > want.
> > > 
> > > > >
> > > 
> > > > > You could start with the community mail handler:
> > > 
> > > > >
> > > 
> > > > > [https://github.com/sensu/sensu-community-plugins/blob/master/handlers/notification/mailer.rb](https://github.com/sensu/sensu-community-plugins/blob/master/handlers/notification/mailer.rb)
> > > 
> > > > >
> > > 
> > > > > Read the docs on some of the filter tunables that it most of the
> > > 
> > > > > community handlers respect:
> > > 
> > > > > [http://sensuapp.org/docs/latest/checks#custom-check-definition-key-values](http://sensuapp.org/docs/latest/checks#custom-check-definition-key-values)
> > > 
> > > > >
> > > 
> > > > > Here is the filter logic:
> > > 
> > > > >
> > > 
> > > > > [https://github.com/sensu/sensu-plugin/blob/1c75c7f7f831f800395ba681ffe03de734a52ab7/lib/sensu-handler.rb#L82](https://github.com/sensu/sensu-plugin/blob/1c75c7f7f831f800395ba681ffe03de734a52ab7/lib/sensu-handler.rb#L82)
> > > 
> > > > >
> > > 
> > > > > There is currently no combination of tunables to do exactly what you
> > > 
> > > > > want, but you can modify the handler to have it’s own filter\_repeated
> > > 
> > > > > function with whatever logic you need.
> > > 
> > > > >
> > > 
> > > > >
> > > 
> > > > > On Wed, Sep 3, 2014 at 5:10 AM, reachmani [reac...@gmail.com](mailto:reac...@gmail.com) wrote:
> > > 
> > > > > > Hi Folks,
> > > 
> > > > > >
> > > 
> > > > > > Couple of things.
> > > 
> > > > > >
> > > 
> > > > > > On a specific check based on the event which could be critical or
> > > 
> > > > > > warning I
> > > 
> > > > > > would like to send out email to different email distribution list.
> > > 
> > > > > > Secondly
> > > 
> > > > > > my current check configuration is for 60 seconds and I would not want
> > > 
> > > > > > emails
> > > 
> > > > > > to be triggered every second. I would like to trigger only once for a
> > > 
> > > > > > event
> > > 
> > > > > > and stop sending emails until its resolved. Is this possible?
> > > 
> > > > > > For sending out email I am using mail in linux environment.
> > > 
> > > > > >
> > > 
> > > > > > {
> > > 
> > > > > > “handlers”: {
> > > 
> > > > > > ```
> > > > > > "email": {
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > ```
> > > 
> > > > > > ```
> > > > > > "type": "pipe",
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > ```
> > > 
> > > > > > ```
> > > > > > "command": "mail -s 'sensu alert' your@address"
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > ```
> > > 
> > > > > > ```
> > > > > > }
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > ```
> > > 
> > > > > > }
> > > 
> > > > > > }
> > > 
> > > > > >
> > > 
> > > > > > I am using mail command as I dont have smtp host to send emails. Would I
> > > 
> > > > > > be
> > > 
> > > > > > able to mail the event details in this scenario?
> > > 
> > > > > >
> > > 
> > > > > > Thanks,
> > > 
> > > > > > Mani

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Max2subscribe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/edb3f5/32.png) [@Max2subscribe](https://discourse.sensu.io/u/Max2subscribe)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2015, 4:35pm UTC](https://discourse.sensu.io/t/handlers-and-checks/244/7 "2015-02-25T16:35:01Z")

</div>

Hi , I am trying to do the same thing (echoing to the console), but it does not works.  
On running “sensu-server” , I get this in the logs sensu-server.log

{“timestamp”:“2015-02-25T11:33:32.799380-0500”,“level”:“error”,“message”:“unknown handler”,“handler\_name”:“default”}

{“timestamp”:“2015-02-25T11:33:44.879601-0500”,“level”:“info”,“message”:“publishing check request”,“payload”:{“name”:“check\_cpu”,“issued”:1424882024,“command”:“check-cpu.rb”},“subscribers”:[“production”]}

> **···**
>
> On Thursday, September 4, 2014 at 12:05:44 PM UTC-4, reachmani wrote:
> 
> > I am using pipe handler, this could be the reason refresh isnt working?
> 
> > “handler\_system\_mail”: {
> 
> > “type”: “pipe”,
> 
> > “command”: “echo ‘System critical!!!’”
> 
> > },
> 
> > 
> 
> > On Thursday, 4 September 2014 20:22:59 UTC+5:30, Kyle Anderson wrote:
> > 
> > > 1. Are you using a handler that can interpret that data? (like most  
> > > from the community repo  
> > > [https://github.com/sensu/sensu-community-plugins/tree/master/handlers/notification](https://github.com/sensu/sensu-community-plugins/tree/master/handlers/notification))
> > > 2. It is wherever you put it? Stock sensu comes with no handlers.  
> > > People (cfg mgmt tools) usually put them in /etc/sensu/handlers/
> > > 
> > > On Thu, Sep 4, 2014 at 3:09 AM, reachmani [reac...@gmail.com](mailto:reac...@gmail.com) wrote:
> > > 
> > > > Thanks for your response Kyle.
> > > > 
> > > > I have couple more follow up questions.
> > > > 
> > > > 1\> I have added refresh attribute in checks. But it doesn’t seems to be  
> > > > working, I still continue to get emails every minute. As per the  
> > > > documentation here is what it says.
> > > > 
> > > > Custom key-values can be added to a check definition, which will be included  
> > > > in event data, enabling handler creativity.
> > > > 
> > > > Common custom check definitions
> > > > 
> > > > occurrences: Number of event occurrences before the handler should take  
> > > > action  
> > > > refresh: Number of seconds handlers should wait before taking second action.  
> > > > Relies on sensu-plugin.  
> > > > Can you please let me know which plugin I need to install to get the refresh  
> > > > working. Where should I deploy this?
> > > > 
> > > > My sample check configuration  
> > > > “check\_disk”: {  
> > > > “handlers”: [“handler\_system\_mail”],  
> > > > “command”: “/opt/sensu/embedded/bin/ruby  
> > > > /etc/sensu/plugins/check-disk.rb”,  
> > > > “interval”: 60,  
> > > > “refresh”: 3600,  
> > > > “subscribers”: [“system”]  
> > > > }
> > > > 
> > > > 2\> Secondly, if I need to modify the existing handler code. Can you tell me  
> > > > the location and file name look like for modification?
> > > > 
> > > > Thanks,  
> > > > Mani
> > > > 
> > > > On Wednesday, 3 September 2014 20:24:35 UTC+5:30, Kyle Anderson wrote:
> > > > 
> > > > > You cannot use such a naive handler (mail binary) and achieve what you  
> > > > > want.
> > > > > 
> > > > > You could start with the community mail handler:
> > > > > 
> > > > > [https://github.com/sensu/sensu-community-plugins/blob/master/handlers/notification/mailer.rb](https://github.com/sensu/sensu-community-plugins/blob/master/handlers/notification/mailer.rb)
> > > 
> > > > > Read the docs on some of the filter tunables that it most of the  
> > > > > community handlers respect:  
> > > > > [http://sensuapp.org/docs/latest/checks#custom-check-definition-key-values](http://sensuapp.org/docs/latest/checks#custom-check-definition-key-values)
> > > 
> > > > > Here is the filter logic:
> > > > > 
> > > > > [https://github.com/sensu/sensu-plugin/blob/1c75c7f7f831f800395ba681ffe03de734a52ab7/lib/sensu-handler.rb#L82](https://github.com/sensu/sensu-plugin/blob/1c75c7f7f831f800395ba681ffe03de734a52ab7/lib/sensu-handler.rb#L82)
> > > 
> > > > > There is currently no combination of tunables to do exactly what you  
> > > > > want, but you can modify the handler to have it’s own filter\_repeated  
> > > > > function with whatever logic you need.
> > > > > 
> > > > > On Wed, Sep 3, 2014 at 5:10 AM, reachmani [reac...@gmail.com](mailto:reac...@gmail.com) wrote:
> > > > > 
> > > > > > Hi Folks,
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > Couple of things.
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > On a specific check based on the event which could be critical or  
> > > > > > warning I  
> > > > > > would like to send out email to different email distribution list.  
> > > > > > Secondly  
> > > > > > my current check configuration is for 60 seconds and I would not want  
> > > > > > emails  
> > > > > > to be triggered every second. I would like to trigger only once for a  
> > > > > > event  
> > > > > > and stop sending emails until its resolved. Is this possible?  
> > > > > > For sending out email I am using mail in linux environment.
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > {  
> > > > > > “handlers”: {  
> > > > > > “email”: {  
> > > > > > “type”: “pipe”,  
> > > > > > “command”: “mail -s ‘sensu alert’ your@address”  
> > > > > > }  
> > > > > > }  
> > > > > > }
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > I am using mail command as I dont have smtp host to send emails. Would I  
> > > > > > be  
> > > > > > able to mail the event details in this scenario?
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > Thanks,  
> > > > > > Mani