Working with Network Fault Records


Overview

Tasks

Included with

Tivoli Service Desk

Overview

The Work with Network Faults dialog box The Work with Network Faults dialog box is a convenient tool for working with network fault records in TPM NSM Gateway. The columns in the Work with Network Faults dialog box enable you to see the following details for network faults:
  • Node Name shows the name of the NSM platform.
  • Problem ID shows the identification numbers assigned to a network fault.
  • Fault Impact shows the name of the node that experienced the fault.
  • External Problem ID shows the ID that the NSM platform assigned to the fault before the fault was passed to the Gateway Module.
Opening the Work with Network Faults dialog box If you are using the Tivoli Network Management Administrator profile, from the Edit menu, choose Network Faults.

From the Help menu, choose Your System Profile and follow the instructions under Network Faults.

Editing node fault impact descriptions You can edit the fault impact description for a network fault record by either of the following methods:
  • Saving edits in a fault impact description permanently saves the description in the node information record. Each time the network fault is triggered, the fault impact description is displayed in the fault impact box.
  • Applying edits temporarily enables you to temporarily override the saved fault impact description for a particular occurrence of a network fault. When you apply edits temporarily to a fault impact description, the edits stay in effect only for the currently displayed network fault. The next time that the node fails, the fault record does not display the temporary fault impact description. Instead, the fault record displays the saved fault impact description (if any) from the node information record.
Logical operators for searches Choose one of the following logical operators for your search:

Logical operator

Case-sensitive?

Description

= no

Searches for node records that match the value that you specify

> no

Searches for node records with values that alphanumerically follow the value you specify

< no Searches for node records with values that alphanumerically precede the value you specify
>= no Searches for node records with values that alphanumerically match or follow the value you specify
<= no Searches for node records with values that alphanumerically match or precede the value you specify
<> no Searches for node records that do not match the value you specify
= = yes A case-sensitive version of =
>> yes A case-sensitive version of >
<< yes A case-sensitive version of <
>>= yes A case-sensitive version of >=
<<= yes A case-sensitive version of <=
<<>> yes A case-sensitive version of <>
IS NULL n/a Searches for records with no value
IS NOT NULL n/a Searches for records with any value

Tasks

Viewing a fault impact description In the Work with Network Faults dialog box, you can view network/system fault impact descriptions. A fault impact description explains the consequences of a node's failure.

To view the fault impact description for a network/system fault:

  • In the Work with Network Faults dialog box, select the network/system fault record for which you want to view a fault impact.
    Result: The Fault Impact box displays the consequences of that network/system fault.

If you select a network/system fault record and the Fault Impact box does not display any text, then no information about the fault's consequences has been specified.

Saving edits in a fault impact description This is one of two methods for editing node fault impact descriptions.

To save edits in a fault impact description:

  1. In the upper half of the Work with Network Faults dialog box, select the fault record in which you want to edit and save the fault impact description.
    Result: When you select the network fault record, the Fault Impact box displays the fault impact description.
  2. In the fault impact box, type your revised description of the fault's consequences.
  3. Choose Save.
    Result: A warning message appears, asking you to verify this change.
  4. Choose Yes.
    Result: The Gateway Module saves the revised fault impact description in the node information record.
Applying edits temporarily to a fault impact description This is one of two methods for editing node fault impact descriptions.

To apply edits temporarily to a fault impact description:

  1. In the upper half of the Work with Network Faults dialog box, select the fault record in which you want to temporarily override the fault impact description.
    Result: When you select the network fault record, the Fault Impact box displays the full text of the Fault Impact description.
  2. In the Fault Impact box, type your revised description of the fault's consequences for the current occurrence of the network fault.
  3. Choose Apply.
    Result: A warning message appears, asking you to verify this change.
  4. Choose Yes.
    Result: The Gateway Module temporarily applies the revised fault impact description to the network fault record during the current instance of that fault.

When the node returns to service, the temporary fault impact description is deleted. The next time that the network fault occurs, that node record's permanent fault impact description is used. See Saving edits in a fault impact description.

Deleting a network fault record To delete a network fault record:
  1. In the upper half of the Work with Network Faults dialog box, select the fault record that you want to delete.
  2. Choose Delete.
    Result: A warning message appears, asking you to verify this change.
  3. Choose Yes.
    Result: The Gateway Module deletes the selected network fault record. The deleted record no longer appears in the Work with Network Faults dialog box.

Note: The TPM NSM Gateway does not automatically close the associated problem. Instead, you must close the problem manually.

Performing an inquiry on a list of network fault records The Work with Network Faults dialog box may contain several network fault records. You can use the Inquiry function to search for the following:
  • Network faults associated with specific nodes
  • Network faults with specific Problem IDs

This section describes how to use the Inquiry function for the Work with Network Faults dialog box. Performing an inquiry on the list of network faults does not alter the network fault records in any way. The Inquiry function is merely a technique for viewing a selected list of network fault records.

To perform an inquiry on the list of network faults:

  1. In the Work with Network Faults dialog box, choose Inquiry.
    Result: The Faults Inquiry dialog box appears.
  2. From the Node Name list, choose the logical operator you want to use for your search. Choose from these logical operators.

    Tip: To successfully use the Faults Inquiry dialog box, you only need to specify one search criterion. However, by specifying multiple search criteria, you can narrow the list of faults that the Work with Network Faults dialog box displays.

  3. In the Node Name box, type the name of the node for which you want to search.
    You can enter any alphanumeric characters for the value. For best search results, specify as much of a complete value as possible.

    Also, if you select the = logical operator, you can use wildcard characters to perform a more general search:

    • ? is a wildcard character that substitutes for a single character. For example, M?KE matches MIKE but not MOOSE.
    • * is a wildcard character that substitutes for a single character or a string of consecutive characters. For example, M*E matches both MIKE and MOOSE.
  4. From the Problem ID list, choose the logical operator you want to use for your search. The Problem ID list contains the same logical operators as the Node Name list.
  5. In the Problem ID box, type the ID of the problem for which you want to search.
  6. Choose OK.
    Result: The Work with Network Faults dialog box reappears and lists the network faults that meet your inquiry criteria.
    If no network faults meet your inquiry criteria, then the Work with Network Faults dialog box is empty.