Kannel SMPP Alternative: How to move your SMPP connections from Kannel to Ozeki

This guide shows how to migrate an existing SMPP connection from Kannel to Ozeki SMS Gateway without changing your SMS provider. You will verify the working Kannel configuration, reproduce its SMPP settings in Ozeki, test message delivery, and use connection logs to confirm a reliable transition before moving production traffic.

How to setup Kannel to send SMS through SMPP

Open the Kannel configuration file on the current gateway server. Locate the SMSC connection section that defines the existing SMPP provider connection. Record the host, port, system ID, password, and any routing parameters before migration.

Open Kannel config
Figure 1 - Open Kannel config

Configure the Kannel SMPP connection using the provider’s endpoint and authentication credentials. Confirm that the connection mode, source address, and destination-address settings match the provider requirements. Save the configuration and reload or restart Kannel to apply the changes.

Configure SMPP connection
Figure 2 - Configure SMPP connection

Submit a test SMS through the configured Kannel route to a controlled destination number. Use a known sender ID and a short, identifiable message body for straightforward tracing. Verify that Kannel accepts the message and assigns it to the intended SMPP connection.

 Send test sms
Figure 3 - Send test sms

Review the Kannel logs after the test submission. Confirm successful SMPP binding, message submission, and the provider response code or message ID. Resolve authentication, network, or routing errors before reproducing the configuration in Ozeki.

Check SMPP logs
Figure 4 - Check SMPP logs

How to setup Ozeki to send SMS through SMPP

Log in to Ozeki SMS Gateway and add a new SMPP Client connection. This connection will replace Kannel’s outgoing SMPP SMSC configuration. Choose the SMPP client option so Ozeki initiates the bind to your provider.

Install SMPP client connection
Figure 5 - Install SMPP client connection

Enter the SMPP provider hostname, TCP port, system ID, password, and bind type in Ozeki. Transfer relevant settings from Kannel, including TON/NPI values, source address, and optional TLS settings. Save the connection and verify that the selected parameters match the provider’s SMPP specification.

Configure connection details
Figure 6 - Configure connection details

Enable detailed logging for the Ozeki SMPP Client connection before testing. Logging makes the SMPP bind, submit_sm requests, provider responses, and delivery-report traffic visible. Use it to compare Ozeki behavior with the successful Kannel test and diagnose any differences.

Enable logging
Figure 7 - Enable logging

Enable the configured SMPP Client connection in Ozeki SMS Gateway. Wait until its status confirms that the gateway has successfully connected and bound to the SMSC. If the bind fails, check network reachability, firewall rules, credentials, and provider IP restrictions.

Enable connection
Figure 8 - Enable connection

Send a test SMS from Ozeki through the new SMPP Client connection. Use the same test recipient and comparable sender settings used during the Kannel validation. Confirm that the provider accepts the submission and that the recipient receives the message.

Send test SMS
Figure 9 - Send test SMS

Open the Ozeki SMPP logs and inspect the complete transaction for the test message. Verify the bind result, submitted message ID, provider acknowledgement, and any available delivery report. After successful validation, redirect production SMS routes from Kannel to Ozeki and monitor the first live traffic closely.

Check SMPP logs
Figure 10 - Check SMPP logs


More information