Investigating Network Errors and Trends › Database Review Menu

Database Review Menu

The Database Review Menu lets you display details about all CNM records that have been logged to the NEWS database. For example, if you specified either B or R in the Results field of a NEWS : Generic Device Support menu option, records are logged to the NEWS database.

 PROD---------------------- NEWS : Database Review Menu ------------------NET001
 Select Option ===>

    1   - Device Information
    2   - Events
    3   - Attentions
    4   - Statistics
    5   - RTM Data
    X   - Exit

 Node Name  ===>          (full or partial name, blank for selection list,
                           ignored for Option 3)

 LU Locaddr ===>          (2...255, if specific LU, else null, option 5 only)

This menu contains the following options:

1 Device Information

Certain devices accumulate error information. It is possible to retrieve this information. Some devices can forward this information on an unsolicited basis. Each time this information is received, NEWS records it on the database.

2 Events

Reviews the events that have been recorded.

The term events is applied to various conditions detected in the network. An event can arise in two ways after a record is received by NEWS. Either the condition causing the record to be sent is interpreted as an event itself, or, alternatively, the data content of the record is examined and, depending on the current system threshold values for that record type, NEWS may generate an event. Some examples of NEWS events are:

• A PU failing, or a link (line) failing.
• An alert generated by a device in response to a detected condition.
• A hardware error in a communications controller.
• A statistics RU yields an error/traffic ratio above a threshold value.

As events occur NEWS invokes event filtering to determine the processing option for the event from installation defined values (see option C). It may be ignored, simply recorded, or perhaps produce an attention message.

3 Attention Messages

Displays a list of the most recent events producing attention messages.

When NEWS event filtering decides an event should produce an attention message it is logged in chronological order in the attention message category. It also appears on the Alert Monitor.

4 Statistics

Lets you review the statistical information that NEWS has recorded about the nodes owned by this VTAM. A statistics summary appears that also acts as a node selection list. A subsequent selection of one of these nodes displays details about the current statistics records in the database.

5 RTM Data

(For 3174s and 3274s with the Response Time Monitor feature) Lets you review the RTM data recorded by NEWS. RTM data can be solicited and reviewed by using /DEVSUPP.R.2.

This menu contains the following fields:

Node Name

Specifies the node name you want to review.

If you are interested in a group of nodes or are unsure of the exact node name, you need only enter any number of leading characters of the node name, or no node name at all. NEWS displays a selection list of the nodes that match your criteria. In the first case, NEWS displays only the events for the selected node. This field is ignored for option 3 (Attentions) because they are not stored by node name but in chronological order across all nodes.

LU Locaddr

Specifies the local address number. Restricts the RTM data displayed to a particular LU.

Limits: Applies to Option 5 only.