Google Cloud SMS

The next guide helps you to install and use effectively Google Cloud with Ozeki SMS Gateway. Ozeki SMS Gateway is an on premise SMS server software that makes it possible to send and receive bulk messages. The SMS system can be used to create high capacity SMS Marketing System or provide advanced IT solutions, such as one-time passwords, product delivery notifications, or payment reminders and to keep in touch with customers and employees. Using Ozeki SMS Gateway enables enterprises to improve customer experience through SMS technology. Google Cloud allows organizations to scale faster and more efficiently their SMS service. The setup procedure does not require any further digital knowledge.

What is Google Cloud?

Google Cloud is the on-demand availability of computing resources as services over the internet. It eliminates the need for enterprises to procure, configure, or manage resources themselves. Cloud computing uses a network (most often, the internet) to connect users to a cloud platform where they request and access rented computing services. A central server handles all the communication between client devices and servers to facilitate the exchange of data. Security and privacy features are common components to keep this information secure and safe.

How to install Ozeki SMS Gateway on Google Cloud (Quick steps)

To install Ozeki SMS Gateway on Google Cloud:

  1. Open https://cloud.google.com/
  2. Create new virtual machine in Google Cloud
  3. Open virtual machine details
  4. Connect to the virtual machine and login
  5. Download and install Ozeki SMS Gateway
  6. Open the Ozeki SMS Gateway software
  7. Change the default admin password in the Ozeki SMS Gateway
  8. Add new Windows Firewall inbound rule
  9. Create new VPC firewall rule
  10. Open virtual machine details
  11. Copy the external IP address
  12. Login SMS Gateway remotely

Enhance SMS Communication with Ozeki SMS Gateway on Google Cloud

Improving SMS Communication with Ozeki SMS Gateway on Google Cloud provides an effective solution for managing SMS communication. The process involves the deployment of Ozeki SMS Gateway on Google Cloud, which includes setting up the gateway and configuring connections to various service providers using API credentials provided by Google Cloud. Once the gateway is successfully installed and connected, users can leverage user-friendly SMS client software to streamline text message management. Businesses may access services specifically suited to their requirements by integrating with Google Cloud's business SMS APIs, improving their SMS communication capabilities. The Ozeki SMS Gateway makes it simple to send and receive SMS messages on Google Cloud, which makes it an excellent choice for distributing marketing materials, notifications, and urgent warnings.

google cloud sms gateway
Figure 1 - Google Cloud - SMS Gateway architecture

To initiate the process, you must begin by accessing the URL https://cloud.google.com/ on your web browser, and subsequently, opt for the "Console" button situated at the upper right corner of the webpage.

open google cloud console
Figure 2 - Open Google Cloud console

It will bring up a Welcome page, where you can start the process of creating a virtual machine. Your task is to click on the "Create a VM" option from the enumeration of functions.

create new virtual machine
Figure 3 - Create new virtual machine

In the following section, it is required to enter some essential information. You need to type the name (for example: ozekismsgateway), then by scrolling down on the page, you need to change the boot disk data.

set instance name
Figure 4 - Set instance name

Find the "Change" button on the Boost disk section of the page, then fill out the boxes with the necessary details.

change boot disk
Figure 5 - Change boot disk

At the Operating System box choose the "Windows Server" option. At the Version box choose the "Windows Server 2022 Datacenter" option then click on the "Select" button, at the bottom of the page, highlighted in blue.

select windows disk
Figure 6 - Select Windows disk

Now, click on the "Create" button at the bottom of the page in order to finish the process.

create virtual machine
Figure 7 - Create virtual machine

You need to make sure that the Virtual Machine is running, by checking the status of that. If the status of your machine turns green, it means that it is running.

virtual machine running
Figure 8 - Virtual machine running

Now, open the Virtual Machine's details, by clicking on its name link.

open virtual machine details
Figure 9 - Open virtual machine details

In order to run the machine as intended, you need to set up a Windows password. Click on the "SET WINDOWS PASSWORD" link to set these data.

set windows password
Figure 10 - Set Windows password

By clicking on the "SET WINDOWS PASSWORD" link, a pop-up window will bring up, where you have to enter the password to your machine. Before entering the password, the system generates a username. Click on the "SET" button, then type the password. After that copy on the clipboard the new password, by clicking on the copy icon next to the password. You can also accept the automatically generated password. If you are ready, choose the "Close" button.

copy the new password
Figure 11 - Copy the new password

The following stage is to download the RDP file. Find the "RDP" button and choose the "Download the RDP file" option from the drop-down list.

download the rdp file
Figure 12 - Download the RDP file

Now, open the RDP file from your downloads, at the upper right corner of your browser.

open rdp file
Figure 13 - Open RDP file

Click on the downloaded file. A window will show up. There you need to choose the "Connect" button at the bottom, in order to connect your Virtual Machine.

connect to virtual machine
Figure 14 - Connect to virtual machine

When it is ready, a Windows Security window will show up, where you need to enter the password that has been set previously. If it is done, click on the "OK" button. To the verification, you need to accept the facts that shown on the window that shows up. Click on the "Yes" option.

enter login details
Figure 15 - Enter login details

The following part of the process, you need to wait to load the Virtual Machine on your computer. If it is done, a server manager page will appear that you can close. Now, load the ozeki-sms-gateway.com page in your browser and download the Ozeki SMS Gateway. Choose the download option from the enumeration of headlines. Then click on the " OzekiSMSGateway" link for Windows.

download sms gateway
Figure 16 - Download SMS Gateway

To start the Ozeki SMS Gateway installation, open your downloads folder. At the folder extract the compressed .zip file then run the Ozeki SMS Gateway application.

start sms gateway installation
Figure 17 - Start SMS Gateway installation

For finishing the installation, allow the terms about changes by clicking on the "Yes" button. The Welcome page of the Ozeki SMS Gateway will show up. There, you need to click on the "Next" button.

installer welcome page
Figure 18 - Installer welcome page

Accept the terms and policies by clicking on the "I Agree" button at the bottom of the window.

accept license
Figure 19 - Accept license

Finish the process of installation by clicking on the "Finish" button. When the installation is ready, the Ozeki SMS Gateway starts to run. (https://localhost:9515)

installation finished
Figure 20 - Installation finished

To get started, choose the SMS Gateway icon from the desktop.

sms gateway started
Figure 21 - SMS Gateway started

The Ozeki SMS Gateway home screen will appear. There you must change your password. At the Ozeki Start Menu choose the "Change Password" option from the "Help" menu item.

change default password
Figure 22 - Change default password

It is needed to create a password for your user profile. Enter a unique password that is hard to figure out. In order to make sure that it is correct, you need to confirm the new password. If you are ready with entering it, click on the "Save" button.
Now, you need to log in to your Ozeki SMS Gateway account, by using the name and password that has been set previously.

create new admin password
Figure 23 - Create new admin password

In the following step, you need to open the Server Manager on your PC. There, you need to choose the "Windows Defender Firewall".

open windows firewall
Figure 24 - Open Windows firewall

Select "Advanced Settings" from the control panel.

select advanced settings
Figure 25 - Select advanced settings

Choose the "Inbound Rules" option from the control panel, then select the "New Rule" option that can be found at the upper right side of the page.

create new inboud rule
Figure 26 - Create new inbound rule

Create new inbound rule the following part you need to load the Google Cloud Virtual Machine, where you have to find the "VPC network" item in the control panel. Then select the "Firewall" option from the drop-down list.

open vpc network firewall
Figure 27 - Open VPC network firewall

Now, choose "CREATE A FIREWALL RULE" option.

create new rule
Figure 28 - Create new rule

Under the firewall rules control, you have to add a name, "ozekismsgatewayfw". Then scroll down to the Target tags part of the page.

define rule name
Figure 29 - Define rule name

At the Target tags part you need to define target tag, that is "smsgateway".

define target tag
Figure 30 - Define target Tag

Set source IPv4 ranges, by entering at the "Source IPv4 ranges" box: "0.0.0.0/0"

set source ip
Figure 31 - Set source IP

Define protocol and ports by ticking the TCP option and writing to the "Ports" box: "9515-9516".

defince protocol and ports
Figure 32 - Define protocol and ports

When you are ready with them, click on the "Create" button to run with these rules.

create rule
Figure 33 - Create rule

At the end of the process, you can see that the firewall rule has been created successfully.

new firewall rule created
Figure 34 - New firewall rule created

Now, you need to open the "VM instances" from the drop-down list, that can be found under the "Compute Engine" item of the Google Cloud control panel. Click on the "ozekismsgateway" named link to show the details.

open virtual machine details
Figure 35 - Open virtual machine details

It is possible to make changes at the Virtual Machine by choosing the "EDIT" option from the headlines.

edit virtual machine
Figure 36 - Edit virtual machine

Under the Edit option, you have to scroll down the page and enter a network tag: "smsgateway" to the "Network tags" box.

add network tag
Figure 37 - Add network tag

When you are ready, click on the "Save" button at the bottom of the page, highlighted in blue.

save virtual machine
Figure 38 - Save virtual machine

Scroll down at the details page to the Network Interfaces part and copy the external IP address to the clipboard.

copy external ip address
Figure 39 - Copy external IP address

Log in the Ozeki SMS Gateway remotely, by pasting into your browser's search field the copied external IP address. Then enter in front of it the "https://" expression and after the ":9515" numeric code. Click on the "Advanced" option then the "Continue" link to the Ozeki SMS Gateway.
After that, log into your Ozeki SMS Gateway account using your unique data.

login sms gateway remotely
Figure 40 - Login SMS Gateway remotely

Finally, as you log into your account remotely, you will see that the SMS Gateway page is accessible for you.

sms gateway gui accessible
Figure 41 - SMS Gateway GUI accessible

Conclusion

The guide demonstrates the installation and utilization of Ozeki SMS Gateway with Google Cloud to enhance SMS communication. Google Cloud is explained as an on-demand computing resource platform over the internet. The installation process is briefly outlined, including creating a virtual machine, installing Ozeki SMS Gateway, and configuring firewall rules. The guide provides step-by-step instructions for each stage of the installation process. Overall, it serves as a comprehensive guide to help businesses improve their SMS communication capabilities with Ozeki SMS Gateway on Google Cloud.

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