Enterasys Networks 6000, Matrix E7 Basic Alarm Configuration

Alarm Configuration

Using the Advanced Alarms feature, you can define custom alarms for almost any MIB-II

or RMON object, as long as it is present in the device firmware and its value is defined as

an integer (including counters, timeticks, and gauges). All aspects of these alarms are

user-selectable: thresholds can be established on either the absolute or delta value for a

variable; events can be configured to create a log, generate a trap, or both; and for devices

that support the Actions MIB, events can also be configured to perform any defined

SNMP SET or series of SETs on device objects. The Advanced Alarms feature also allows

you to configure any events you wish to use in conjunction with the Packet Capture

functionality. (For more information on using the Packet Capture feature, see the RMON

User’s Guide.)

The Basic Alarms feature allows you to assign alarms to any interface type; using the

Advanced Alarms feature, you need only be sure to select variables appropriate to the

interface — e.g., Ethernet for Ethernet — when defining your alarms.

Basic Alarm Configuration

Using the Basic Alarm Configuration application, you can define both rising and falling

alarm thresholds for three selected MIB-II objects: ifInOctets, ifInNUcastPkts, and

ifInErrors. Because these pre-selected objects are not RMON-specific, you can configure

alarms for all interfaces installed in your SmartSwitch 6000 or Matrix E7 series module —

including those, like FDDI, for which no specific RMON statistics currently exist.

In addition to configuring separate rising and falling thresholds, you can also configure

your device’s response to an alarm condition. When a threshold is crossed, the RMON

device can create a log of alarm events, send a trap notifying your management

workstation that an alarm condition has occurred, or both. You can even configure an

alarm to enable or disable bridging on the offending port in response to a rising or falling

alarm condition.

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As long as there is at least one Ethernet or Fast Ethernet module installed in your

SmartSwitch 6000 or Matrix E7 chassis, you can use the RMON Alarms feature to

configure alarms for MIB objects on FDDI, ATM, and other interfaces that don’t

specifically support RMON: the Basic Alarms window provides MIB II objects as alarm

variables; Advanced Alarm configuration allows you to select any object as an alarm

variable, as long as its value is defined as an integer and you assign the correct instance

value. See step5 on page 4-19 and the Note which follows it for more information on

assigning the correct instance value to an advanced alarm.

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If you are familiar with the RMON MIB and/or with the original Alarm and Event

functionality provided by NetSight Element Manager (now known as the Advanced Alarm

functionality), you will note that the Basic Alarm Configuration window combines the

three parts of creating a working alarm — configuring the alarm itself, configuring an

event that will announce the occurrence of an alarm (including assigning any actions),

and linking the two — into a single step, and handles the details transparently. For more

information about the individual steps involved in creating an alarm, see Advanced

Alarm Configuration, on page4-11.