Alerts

An alert is a message that has several benefits.

An alert is automatically sent from any system in the network to the system that is designated to manage problems.

An alert provides a quick, initial assessment of a problem and gives the network operator guidance on corrective actions. For those problems that a network operator cannot correct, the alert provides information that a specialist can use to isolate the source of the problem.

Alerts inform the operator of problems with hardware resources, such as local devices or controllers, communications lines, or remote controllers or devices. Alerts can also notify the operator of software errors that are detected by the system or application programs. If the system is part of a communications network, alerts can be created and sent through the network to the problem-managing system.

You can use alerts to perform the following management activities:

Monitor systems and devices that operate unattended.
Manage situations in which the local operator does not know how to handle the problem.
Maintain control of system resources and expense.

Benefits of alerts

Use alerts to manage your network and systems more effectively.

The following situations are examples of when you might use alerts.

To reduce your system and network costs. Because the system automatically controls the capabilities of alerts, you can automate common responses to system problems without operator intervention.
To monitor your network status. Alerts provide information about specific network problems that can help you track and monitor your system.
To monitor unattended remote systems. Alerts can notify a central site about a problem on an unattended system.
To have all your technical people at one location. When you use alerts, you can staff all of your technical support at one central site.
To make your own applications have the same error-reporting capabilities as the system functions. Alerts give you the capability to define your own alertable messages.
To provide the ability to choose where your technical support is located. When you use alerts, you can select which of your systems receive central technical support.
When you manage a network with either homogeneous or heterogeneous systems. Because alerts are designed to be independent of the system architecture, alerts from one system are readable on other systems.