The standard SMPP Connect form covers most vendors. Some vendors need extra settings: TLS binds, a stricter keep-alive, a smaller in-flight window, or prefix restrictions. Extra Attributes lets you set these per connect without changing any other connect.

Where to find it

SMPP Client → ConnectsEdit the connect → scroll to the bottom → Extra Attributes. Choose an Attribute, enter a Value, and click Save Changes. Add one attribute per entry.

Most useful attributes

Connection stability

AttributeUse
enquire-link-intervalSeconds between keep-alive (enquire_link) packets. Lower it if the vendor or a firewall drops idle binds
reconnect-delaySeconds to wait before re-binding after a disconnect. Increase it if the vendor blocks rapid re-binds
connection-timeoutHow long to wait when opening the connection
wait-ack / wait-ack-expireHow long to wait for a submit_sm_resp, and what to do when it doesn’t arrive

Throughput and flow control

AttributeUse
max-pending-submitsMaximum unacknowledged submits in flight (the window). Lower it if the vendor throttles or disconnects under load

Security

AttributeUse
use-sslBind over TLS when the vendor requires an encrypted SMPP port
ssl-client-certkey-fileClient certificate, if the vendor requires mutual TLS

Addressing and filtering

AttributeUse
allowed-prefix / denied-prefixOnly send (or never send) numbers with these prefixes on this connect. A safety net against sending traffic to destinations the vendor doesn’t cover
preferred-prefix / unified-prefixPrefix preference and number normalisation for this connect
source-addr-ton/npi, dest-addr-ton/npi, bind-addr-ton/npi, source-addr-autodetectOverride TON/NPI handling when the TON/NPI tab isn’t enough
address-range, service-type, interface-version, my-numberVendor-specific bind parameters

Message handling

AttributeUse
validityperiodMessage validity sent to the vendor. Useful for OTP routes, so stale OTPs expire instead of arriving late
esm-class, alt-dcs, alt-charset, alt-addr-charset, max-sms-octetsEncoding and message-class adjustments for vendors with non-standard handling
msg-id-typeHow the vendor’s message IDs are read (e.g. hex vs decimal). Fix this when DLRs don’t match their messages

Diagnostics

AttributeUse
log-level, log-formatMore detailed logging on one connect while troubleshooting. Turn it back down afterwards

Applying changes

Extra attributes are bind-level settings. After saving, reload/reconfigure the connect from its Connection manager, and restart the Connect Manager (System → Controls → SMPP Client) if the change doesn’t take effect. Do this in a low-traffic window.

Good practice

  • Change one attribute at a time and watch sessions, queue and DLRs before changing the next.
  • Record why each attribute was set (vendor ticket, date) in the connect’s Description.
  • DLRs not matching messages is almost always msg-id-type. Ask the vendor whether their IDs are hex or decimal in submit_sm_resp and in deliver_sm.

Related articles