Yes, while we could use the "sysContact" field, we would need to parse each
sysContact and assume (and pray) that each "sysContact" MIB field followed
some assumed format with delimiters, etc... If it did not, some automated
actions may not occur.
However, if Cisco had separate commands to configure each parameter we would
like to set (e.g., "snmp-server notification e-mail
<email_address@XXXX.com>", "snmp-server notification pager <pager
notification address>", etc....).
It just seems like the Ciscos (and I assume other network vendors) do not
offer enough of these config. statements in their IOS to allow analysts to
get additional management fields configured locally on the router that
enterprise management systems could use for notification, etc...
I am reluctant an implementing such a method if the management system needs
to parse through a single MIB field, expecting a specific format,
delimiters, etc... to retrieve the necessary info. that the analyst needs
to configure. It would be better if Cisco provided additional commands that
would propagate this type of info into separate enterprise MIB variables
that NetView could then put into the database as separate and discrete
entities (i.e., no parsing!).
Joe Prokott - West Group
Network Architect
610 Opperman Drive
St. Paul, MN 55123
Phone: 651-687-4536
Fax: 651-687-6946
E-mail: joe.prokott@westgroup.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Leslie Clark [mailto:lclark@US.IBM.COM]
Sent: Friday, May 07, 1999 7:16 AM
To: NV-L@UCSBVM.UCSB.EDU
Subject: Re: Availability for Ciscos/Integration with NV automated
actions
What a good idea - using sysContact!
And keep in mind that Netview 5.1 gives you the nvdbimport
command for setting field values. Since the information has to
be administered external to the devices anyway, you can have
a tabular file with the field information and run nvdbimport on a
regular basis to set/update that field or any others.
Cordially,
Leslie A. Clark
IBM Global Services - Systems Mgmt & Networking
(248) 552-4968 Voicemail, Fax, Pager
---------------------- Forwarded by Leslie Clark/Southfield/IBM on 05/07/99
08:10 AM ---------------------------
Steve Francis <steve.francis@COMMSERV.UCSB.EDU> on 05/05/99 06:57:41 PM
Please respond to Discussion of IBM NetView and POLYCENTER Manager on
NetView
<NV-L@UCSBVM.UCSB.EDU>
To: NV-L@UCSBVM.UCSB.EDU
cc: (bcc: Leslie Clark/Southfield/IBM)
Subject: Re: Availability for Ciscos/Integration with NV automated actions
I have implemented a kind of similar thing.
At my last job, various groups were responsible for various classes of
devices:
one group of people for NT servers, one for Netware, one for Unix machines,
one
for routers, etc.
I use the SNMP syscontact field, which every SNMP agent supports. Then when
an
event occurs concerning a device that warrants a page or an email, the
management system runs a script or a rule (however you want to implement it)
that queries the database field for SNMP syscontact. (No use trying to
query
the device, as the page may be being generated by the device being down.)
If
the field contains the word "autocontact" then it is assumed that the rest
of
the field specifies the name of a group.
These group names are aliases for email addresses and pager IDs, so the
appropriate people get contacted for the appropriate device. If the alias
does
not exist, or the field does not contain autocontact, then a default group
is
notified.
You can set the snmp sys contact via SNMP or in the IOS, with the command
snmp-server contact autocontact router
I also have the script that pages/emails on interface changes collect the
local
interface description, which has english descriptions of the interface
affected,
and other helpful information (like circuit ID on WAN circuit.s)
You can set this in IOS with the interface subcommand
description Interface to LA, Sprint Ckt ID XXXXXXXX
"Prokott, Joe" wrote:
> Thanks for all the suggestions, but this is not exactly what I am looking
> for.
>
> I am aware of configuring/retrieving RMON and MIB values, but I am trying
to
> get notification info. specific to our environment into the Cisco by using
> Cisco commands (if such commands exist).
>
> I am trying to get into the router configuration values such as e-mail
> addresses or pager numbers, etc... directly into the Ciscos. The analyst
> would need to configure this themselves when they configure a new router.
I
> am thinking that NetView could then query for this info and place it into
> its database for future automatic actions (i.e., scripts executed by
> NetView). The concept we are trying to achieve here is creating a process
> and distributing the management of specific devices back to the analyst
that
> is configuring the device. Our network management group would define the
> process and it would be expected for the analysts to follow this process
in
> order to assure availability and proper notification for outages or
specific
> events.
>
> I do not think Cisco has such config. statements available in their IOS,
but
> it would be nice if they did. Nonetheless, I am wondering if anyone else
> has tried to do something similar to this by using other Cisco
> user-definable MIB variables such as the "locIfDescr" MIB, etc...?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Joe Prokott - West Group
> Network Architect
> 610 Opperman Drive
> St. Paul, MN 55123
> Phone: 651-687-4536
> Fax: 651-687-6946
> E-mail: joe.prokott@westgroup.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jeff Fitzwater [mailto:jfitz@PRINCETON.EDU]
> Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 1999 10:47 AM
> To: NV-L@UCSBVM.UCSB.EDU
> Subject: Re: Availability for Ciscos/Integration with NV automated
> actions
>
> The only things you can set and monitor are rmon events and alarms,
> which you set up. You can fire a trap on alarm treshold. Its under the
> rmon command. The event fires the trap when a corresponding alarm is
> triggered.
> Havn't tried it yet. Not sure what the limits are on the mib variables
> you can test.
>
> Jeff Fitzwater
> Princeton University
>
> "Prokott, Joe" wrote:
> >
> > Has anyone configured a system that would allow a Cisco router analyst
the
> > ability to configure availability times, notification methods, etc...
> > directly on the router and then have these propagated back to the NV
> > database on a regular interval for automated actions done on the
> management
> > system when certain conditions occur (interface down, interface link
down
> > trap, etc...)? Does Cisco have any specific config. commands that allow
> > such a configuration to be defined on the router? Perhaps there are
Cisco
> > integrated tools with NV that help do this (although I am not sure if
> Cisco
> > IOS supports such config. statements to allow for this?)?
> >
> > We have a mechanism in place today that does the notification, but it
does
> > not take into account any specific configuration defined by analysts on
> the
> > router interfaces themselves. Rather, it just uses the NV collections
to
> > determine notification. It has been requested by analysts configuring
the
> > routers here to allow them the ability to configure some of these
> parameters
> > on a per interface level and then send this info. back to the NV
database
> > for storage and retrieval when particular condtions arise.
> >
> > In doing this, it would offload some of the management functions to the
> > analysts configuring the Ciscos and define a more robust process used
for
> > the management of these devices.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Joe Prokott - West Group
> > Network Architect
> > 610 Opperman Drive
> > St. Paul, MN 55123
> > Phone: 651-687-4536
> > Fax: 651-687-6946
> > E-mail: joe.prokott@westgroup.com
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