Getting a Quick Start with NerveCenter - Working with Behavior Models - Enabling the IfData_LogToFile Behavior Model -
Importing the IfData_LogToFile Behavior Model      Enabling the IfLoad Behavior Model

Enabling the IfData_LogToFile Behavior Model

The IfData_LogToFile behavior model repeatedly logs interface attribute values that help you track bandwidth and data-flow levels over a period of time. You can use these values to establish baselines, identify user patterns, determine network utilization, and anticipate potential problems. Because you can change the attributes that are logged, you can use this behavior model to identify and log a variety of information about your network.

Viewing the IfData_LogToFile Alarm

The IfData_LogToFile alarm -- a key element of the behavior model -- is instantiated when a node returns values for all the attributes that are polled. To see how the alarm accomplishes this, open the alarm's definition window.

 
  To open the IfData_LogToFile Alarm Definition window:

1. From the client's Admin menu, choose Alarm Definition List.

   The Alarm Definition List window is displayed. All alarms are turned off by default when you install NerveCenter.

   

2. Select the IfData_LogToFile alarm and select Open.

   The Alarm Definition window is displayed. Below is a picture of the alarm's finite state diagram.

   IfData_LogToFile Alarm State Diagram

   

As you can see from the diagram, the alarm contains two states:

• Ground -- NerveCenter has not received any of the specified interface values from a node.
• Logging -- NerveCenter has received the specified interface values and has logged these values in a file.

The alarm also contains two ifData transitions. The name assigned to a transition is based on the name of the trigger that causes the transition to occur.

In this alarm, the first ifData trigger instantiates the alarm, which transitions to the Logging state and automatically writes alarm data to a file. Subsequent ifData triggers continue the logging action.

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   To see where either logging action is stored, double-click on the respective ifData transition. From the Transition Definition dialog box that is displayed, double-click the Log to File action to see its properties.

Click Cancel when you're done viewing the action and transition. Later, when you work with behavior models, you'll learn how to change, delete, and add actions.

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Both states in the diagram have green icons. The color of a state icon indicates the severity level associated with that state. In this case, both states have a severity of Normal.

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   To find out what severity is associated with an alarm state, double-click the state.

Severities help you quickly identify alarm instances that are urgent. If you will be working with a network management platform, NerveCenter's severities can be mapped to those of your platform. The Designing and Managing Behavior Models book provides a more detailed discussion of severities.

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Select Notes to see a description of the alarm, including its severities, any polls or masks that trigger the alarm, any actions associated with a transition, and other useful information.

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   Notes provide an easy way to obtain information about NerveCenter objects. In addition to using the Notes button here, you can access notes about an alarm from the Alarm Definition List window. Notes are available for most NerveCenter objects.

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Poll that Triggers the Alarm

Only one poll is associated with this alarm -- the IfData poll. This poll is configured to solicit attribute values for certain base object attributes belonging to the interfaces MIB-II group. The poll fires the ifData trigger when these values are detected in a node.

To see how the poll accomplishes this, open the poll's definition window.

 
  To open the IfData Poll Definition window:

1. From the client's Admin menu, choose Poll List.

   The Poll List window is displayed. All polls are turned on by default when you install NerveCenter.

   

2. Select the IfData poll and select Open.

   The IfData Poll Definition window is displayed.

   

The Designing and Managing Behavior Models book shipped with NerveCenter describes polls in detail. For now, however, you will take only a cursory look at the IfData poll. Note specifically the following poll attributes:

• Property -- The poll is not assigned any particular property. However, because the IfData poll detects ifEntry MIB object values, a node's property group must include these attributes before the node can be polled. For this reason, you assigned the MIB-II property group to your nodes.

  If you were to assign a property to the poll, you could further restrict the poll to an even more limited set of nodes.

• Poll Rate -- The polling period is set to 15 minutes by default. This means that, when you enable the alarm, you must wait that long between polls.
• Poll Condition -- The poll condition contains the interfaces (ifEntry) MIB objects that the poll is configured to detect.
• Trigger -- The poll condition also includes a FireTrigger() command that fires the ifData trigger when the MIB objects are detected.

The data-entry fields in the definition window are unavailable when the poll is on. If you want to make changes, for example by changing the poll rate, you must do the following:

 
  To make changes to a poll:

1. In the Poll Definition window, select the Enable Off radio button.
2. Make the changes you want to the poll.
3. Select Save.
4. Select the Enable On radio button and then select Save.

   This turns the updated poll back on.

The ifData poll solicits information for MIB values found in the Interfaces group in MIB-II. Each value represents one instance of the Interfaces ifEntry base object. MIB Values Detected by the ifData Poll contains a brief description of these MIB values:

MIB Values Detected by the ifData Poll

Turning on the Alarm

You enable the IfData_LogToFile behavior model by turning on its alarm and poll. In our case, because all polls are turned on by default when you install NerveCenter, you need only turn on the alarm.

 
  To turn on the IfData_LogToFile alarm:

1. From the client's Admin menu, choose Alarm Definition List.

   The Alarm Definition List window is displayed.

2. Select the IfData_LogToFile alarm and select Open.

   The Alarm Definition window is displayed.

3. Select the Enabled On radio button.
4. Select Save.

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      You can also turn on an alarm from the Alarm Definition List window. Right-click the alarm in the list and choose On from the pop-up menu.

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The IfData_LogToFile alarm is now enabled and will transition when the defined MIB attributes are detected on one of the nodes you defined.