Alerts and events

An event is an occurrence in the metadata server or cluster, such as a change in state from online to offline. Events are recorded as messages in the metadata server logs. You can view these messages using the SAN File System console or by using administrative commands.

An alert is a message that can be generated for an event. It warns you about certain conditions, such as a fileset or a storage pool reaching or exceeding its threshold.

A Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) trap is a notification mechanism to convey the occurrence of an event. You can set configuration parameters that determine whether SNMP trap messages are generated for events. SNMP trap messages notify you about events asynchronously, eliminating the need for you to frequently view messages in the metadata server logs to determine the state of the cluster.

The first configuration parameter determines where SNMP trap messages are sent. An administrator specifies a list of SNMP managers that are the recipients of any SNMP trap messages. The list includes the IP address, port number, version of SNMP, and community string for one or two managers. If no SNMP managers are specified, no SNMP trap messages are sent.

The second parameter specifies which types of event messages also generate SNMP trap messages. Event message types are informational, warning, error, or severe. You can specify any combination of message severities.

In addition, if the call home feature is activated, that feature generates a specific type of SNMP trap whenever a metadata server encounters an event that requires notification to the IBM® Support Center. When a metadata server encounters such an event, the following steps are taken by the call-home feature:
  1. It sends an SNMP trap Protocol Data Unit (PDU) to the master console
  2. It parses and converts the trap into a Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) e-mail message.
  3. The e-mail message is sent to a known SMTP mail server.
  4. The e-mail message is forwarded to the IBM RETAIN® system for processing by support personnel.
All of the SNMP-related configuration parameters must be set correctly for the call-home feature to work.
Table 1. Alerts, events, and traps
  Description Delivery
Alert Warns of a significant event on a metadata server or cluster. Also informs about condition changes such as a change in state to offline, or storage is approaching capacity A generated message is sent to the terminal
Event Identifies an occurrence in the metadata server or cluster The event is recorded in the metadata server logs.
Trap Optionally, notifies the administrator of events asynchronously A generated message is sent to the administrator directly, either locally or remotely

Parent topic: Concepts

Related tasks
Adding SNMP managers
Setting up SNMP traps

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