Designing and Managing Behavior Models - Contents -
Designing and Managing Behavior Models      Understanding NerveCenter

Designing and Managing Behavior Models

Understanding NerveCenter

What is NerveCenter?
How NerveCenter Manages Nodes
Defining a Set of Nodes
Detecting Conditions
Correlating Conditions
Detecting the Persistence of a Condition
Finding a Set of Conditions
Looking for a Sequence of Conditions
Responding to Conditions
Notification
Logging
Causing State Transitions
Corrective Actions
Action Router
Main NerveCenter Components
The NerveCenter Server
The NerveCenter Database
Objects in the Database
Behavior Models
Predefined Behavior Models
The NerveCenter User Interface
The NerveCenter Administrator
The NerveCenter Client
The NerveCenter Web Client
The Command Line Interface
Role in Network Management Strategy
Standalone Operation
Using Multiple NerveCenter Servers
Integration with Network Management Platforms
Integration with NMPs for Node Information

Behavior Models and Their Components

Behavior Models
Detecting Conditions
Tracking Conditions
Monitoring a Set of Nodes
NerveCenter Objects
Nodes
Property Groups and Properties
Polls
Trap Masks
Alarms
Alarm Scope
Constructing Behavior Models
How the Pieces Fit Together
An Example of a Behavior Model

NerveCenter Support for SNMP v3

Overview of NerveCenter SNMP v3 Support
NerveCenter Support for SNMP v3 Security
NerveCenter Support for SNMP v3 Digest Keys and Passwords
SNMP v3 Operations Log
Signing a Log for SNMP v3 Errors Associated with Your Client
Signing a Log for SNMP v3 Errors Associated with a Remote Client or Administrator
Viewing the SNMP v3 Operations Log
SNMP Error Status
Using the SNMP Test Version Poll
Testing SNMP v1 and v2c Agents
Testing SNMP v3 Agents
How To Use the Test Version Poll

Getting Started with NerveCenter Client

Starting the Client
Connecting to a Server
Connecting to a Server Manually
Connecting to a Server Automatically
Sharing MIB Information from Multiple Servers
Selecting the Active Server
Deleting a Server from the Server List
Changing the Client's Server Port
Setting Up Alarm-Instance Filters
Filtering Alarms by IP Range
IP Subnet Filter Exclusion Rules
IP Subnet Filter Examples
Filtering Alarms by Severity
Filtering Alarms by Property Groups
Associating a Filter with a Server
Rules for Associating Filters with Alarms
Multiple Filters are ORed Together
Multiple Conditions in a Single Filter are ANDed Together
Specifying Heartbeat Messaging
Modifying the Heartbeat Message Interval
Deactivating Heartbeat Messaging
Disconnecting from a Server

Discovering and Defining Nodes

Discovering Nodes
Using a Network Management Platform's Discovery Mechanism
Using NerveCenter's IPSweep Behavior Model
Modifying the IPSweep Alarm
Enabling the IPSweep Alarm
Defining Nodes Manually

Configuring SNMP Settings for Nodes

Manually Changing the SNMP Version Used to Manage a Node
Changing the Security Level of an SNMP v3 Node
Changing the Authentication Protocol for an SNMP v3 Node
Classifying the SNMP Version Configured on Nodes
Classifying the SNMP Version for One or More Nodes Manually
Classifying the SNMP Version for All Nodes Manually
Confirming the SNMP Version for a Node
When NerveCenter Classifies a Node's SNMP Version
How NerveCenter Classifies a Node's SNMP Version

Defining Property Groups and Properties

Listing Property Groups and Properties
Listing Property Groups
Listing Properties
Creating a Property
Creating a New Property Group
Based on an Existing Property Group
Based on the Contents of MIBs
Adding Properties Manually
Assigning a Property Group to a Node
Using the Node Definition Window
Using the Node List Window
Using the AssignPropertyGroup() Function
In a Poll Condition
In a Trigger Function
In a Perl Subroutine
Using the Set Attribute Alarm Action
Using OID to Property Group Mappings
Tips for Using Property Groups and Properties
Categorizing Nodes
Move from the General to the Specific
MIB Objects

Using Polls

Listing Polls
Defining a Poll
Writing a Poll Condition
The Basic Procedure for Creating a Poll Condition
Functions for Use in Poll Conditions
NerveCenter Functions for Poll Conditions
DefineTrigger() Function
FireTrigger() Function
AssignPropertyGroup() Function
in( ) Function
String-Matching Functions
Using the Pop-Up Menu for Perl
Examples of Poll Conditions
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
Example 5
Documenting a Poll
How to Create Notes for a Poll
What to Include in Notes for a Poll
Enabling a Poll

Using Trap Masks

About Trap Masks
How NerveCenter Decodes SNMP v2c/v3 Traps
Listing Trap Masks
Defining a Trap Mask
Writing a Trigger Function
Functions for Use in Trigger Functions
Variable-Binding Functions
Variables for Use in Trigger Functions
Examples of Trigger Functions
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
Example 5
Example 6
Documenting a Trap Mask
How to Create Notes for a Trap Mask
What to Include in Notes for a Trap Mask
Enabling a Trap Mask

Using Other Data Sources

NerveCenter's Built-In Triggers
SNMP Requests
Ping Requests
Multiple Errors Examples
Built-in Trigger Firing Sequence
Matching Errors with Pending SNMP and Ping Requests
Multi-homed Nodes
A List of Built-In Triggers
An Example Using Built-In Triggers
Another NerveCenter
Creating a Trap Mask
Variable Bindings for NerveCenter Informs
An Example Trigger Function
HP OpenView IT/Operations
Listing OpC Masks
Defining an OpC Mask
Writing an OpC Trigger Function
Functions for Use in OpC Trigger Functions
Variables for Use in OpC Trigger Functions
Examples of OpC Trigger Functions
Documenting an OpC Mask
How to Create Notes for an OpC Mask
What to Include in Notes for an OpC Mask
Enabling an OpC Mask

Using Alarms

Listing Alarms
Defining an Alarm
Alarm Scope
Defining States
Defining a State
Changing the Size of the State Icons
Deleting a State
Defining Transitions
Defining a Transition
Associating an Action with a Transition
Changing the Size of Transition Icons
Deleting a Transition
Documenting an Alarm
How to Create Notes for an Alarm
What to Include in Notes for an Alarm
Enabling an Alarm
Correlation Expressions

Alarm Actions

Action Router
Alarm Counter
Beep
Clear Trigger
Command
Delete Node
EventLog
Fire Trigger
Inform
Inform OpC
Inform Platform
Inform Specific Numbers
Log to Database
Log to File
Microsoft Mail
Notes
Paging
Perl Subroutine
Defining a Perl Subroutine
Functions for Use in Perl Subroutines
Counter() Function
Node Relationship Functions
NerveCenter Variables
Perl Subroutine Example
Send Trap
Set Attribute
SMTP Mail
SNMP Set

Performing Actions Conditionally

Listing Existing Action Router Rules
Creating an Action Router Rule
Defining a Rule Condition
Functions for Use in Action Router Rule Conditions
Using Action Router's Object Lists
Defining a Rule Action

Creating Multi-Alarm Behavior Models

IfUpDownStatusByType
IF-IfStatus Alarm
IF-SelectType Perl Subroutine
Interface-type Alarms
IF-IfFramePVC
IfColdWarmStart Alarm
IfNmDemand Alarm

Managing NerveCenter Objects

Enabling Objects
Copying Objects
Copying a Property Group
Copying Other Objects
Deleting Objects
Using a Delete Button
Using a Pop-Up Menu
Changing an Object's Property or Property Group
Changing a Poll's or an Alarm's Property
Changing a Node's Property Group
Changing an Alarm's Scope
Suppressing Polling
Suppressing a Node
Making a Poll Suppressible
Changing Other Node Attributes

NerveCenter Severities

Definition of a Severity
Severity Attributes Used by NerveCenter
Severity Attributes and Network Management Platforms
Level
Platform Name
Default Severities
Creating a New Severity
Creating Custom Colors

Importing and Exporting NerveCenter Nodes and Objects

Exporting Behavior Models to Other Servers
Exporting Behavior Models to a File
More About Exporting Behavior Models
Exporting NerveCenter Objects and Nodes to Other Servers
Exporting NerveCenter Objects and Nodes to a File
More about Exporting Objects
Importing Node, Object, and Behavior Model Files

Communications and Data

Debugging a Behavior Model

Enabling a Behavior Model's Components
Checking Properties and Property Groups
Checking a Poll's Property
Checking a Poll's Poll Condition
Checking an Alarm's Property
Matching Triggers and Alarm Transitions
Identities of Triggers and Transitions
Rules for Matching
Name Rule
Subobject Rule
Node Rule
Property Rule
Examples of Matching Triggers and Transitions
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Auditing Behavior Models

Error Messages

User Interface Messages
Error Messages
Action Manager Error Messages
Alarm Filter Manager Error Messages
Deserialize Manager Error Messages
Flatfile Error Messages
Inform NerveCenter Error Messages
Inform OV Error Messages
LogToDatabase Manager Error Messages
LogToFile Manager Error Messages
OpC Manager Error Messages
Poll Manager Error Messages
Protocol Manager Error Messages
PA Resync Manager Error Messages
Server Manager Error Messages
Trap Manager Error Messages
NerveCenter installation Error Messages (UNIX)
OpenView Configuration Error Messages (UNIX)

Index

Designing and Managing Behavior Models Understanding NerveCenter
29 July 2003