How to read config.ini

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-30

Hello. I am new in charge of my company's UPS management including APC Management Cards. After making some changes to config.ini file through management card interface we still receive alerts that I think should be disabled. I ftp into management card and download the config file. I open it up and go to EventActionConfig and see the settings. I believe my main problem is that I do not know how to read the information properly. For instance:

; System: Warmstart.
E0002=ES,E[-:::],T[:::::],P[:::]
; System: Lost communications event manually cleared.
E0044=E,E[:::],T[:::::],P[:::]
; UPS: Lost the local network management interface-to-UPS communication.
E0102=E,E[-+05M-02M-1:::],T[:::::],P[:::]
; UPS: A main relay fault exists.
E013E=ES,E[++05M-02M-1:::],T[:::::],P[:::]
; UPS: A bypass power supply fault no longer exists.
E013D=ES,E[:::],T[:::::],P[+:+:+:+]

This first part (E0002) I belive is the event ID.
The second part (ES or E) I am not sure what it is.
The third part (E[xxxx]) I do not know how to read. It appears that a - would disable the alert, but some alerts that begin with a - are still sending messages. The other portions such as ++05M-02-1 I would believe are delay, repeat, interval, duration, but I might not be right.
The next part (T[:::::]) I do not know how to read. I have looked through my config.ini files and do not see any variation in this part at all.
Finally the last section (P[:::] or P[+:+:+:+]) I do not know what it means.

I am very much a beginner in these things and am trying to get solid understandings of them. If anyone can help I would be thankful.

Truly,
Olimar

BillP · ‎2021-06-30

what is quirky about the self event is that by default, it will email you when a self test passes or a self test fails. i imagine, you dont care if the self test passes, and may want to disable that event. that event isnt configurable by default to disable so you'd have to do a work around.

you'd find the initial event, so in this case "UPS: Failed a self-test." under any event, you will find the clearing event and its hex code:

UPS: Failed a self-test. [ 0x0106 ]

Category: Power | Diagnostics
Clearing Event: UPS: Passed a self-test. [ 0x0105 ]

so i take the clearing event hex code 0x0105 and then go to the address of that instead of the failed self test event ->http://159.215.4.183/eventdtl.htm?code=0x0106 (i replace the 0x0106 with 0x0105 so http://159.215.4.183/eventdtl.htm?code=0x0105 gets me to the notification page for UPS: Passed a self-test)

upon opening http://159.215.4.183/eventdtl.htm?code=0x0105, i can disable any notifications on that event of UPS passed a self test since I dont really care when it passes. its just that you wont find the UPS passed a self test event by looking at the list of events by group or anything like you can for the "UPS: Failed a self test."

not sure if this is the particular scenario you are talking about but maybe you want to check it out and see and double check these particular events.

hope it helps!

See Answer In Context

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-30

So, my research on this topic and then my question.

How can I mass configure an AP9617 or AP9617 cards? http://nam-en.apc.com/cgi-bin/nam_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=8979

Configuring clearing events with APC Network Management Cards http://nam-en.apc.com/cgi-bin/nam_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=8673

The ini file is parsed when you upload it and included into the existing file on the card and will not include your comments.

"System Events" such as "; System: Coldstart" are off/on only. You can't specify extended options such as delay or repeat notifications because they don't exist. Look at the event in the GUI to see what I mean. You can upload sections of the file and not the whole thing. Also, if you look at the log on your card as you upload, it tell you which lines of the ini have errors.

My question is how do I disable repeat notifications using the ini utility? Here is my example:

; UPS: Graceful shutdown in progress.
E0125=E,E[+-05S-02M-1:-:-:-],T[-:-:-:-:-:-],P[-:-:-:-]

This should send email notifications to my first recipient, have no delay and have no repeating notifications. This WON'T TAKE. The card simply stays at the defaults of Repeat "Yes" Interval "2 min" and Duration "until cleared". The only solution I have found is to set no repeating notifications through the GUI (Administration - Notifications - Event Actions - By Event - and so forth). If I then download the ini file after setting it through the GUI, the code looks correct:

; UPS: Graceful shutdown in progress.
E0125=E,E[+-05S-02M-1:-:-:-],T[-:-:-:-:-:-],P[-:-:-:-]

But if I then upload this back to the card, it defaults to setting repeating back on:

; UPS: Graceful shutdown in progress.
E0125=E,E[+-05S+02M-1:-:-:-],T[-:-:-:-:-:-],P[-:-:-:-]

Any help is appreciated!

BillP · ‎2021-06-30

That's strange... I performed the same test on my network card (it's an AP9619) and the changes stuck as demonstrated both by the web interface and the config file - and I modified the same event as you.

; UPS: Graceful shutdown in progress.
E0125=ES,E[+-05S-02M-1:::],T[:::::],P[:::]

Web interface is in the attached screenshot.

I also downloaded the config file again after seeing the changes were applied appropriately to make sure it was consistent.

Just out of curiosity, did you reboot the network card after uploading the new config.ini file? Are you using the 9619?

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-30

No, I'm using the 9630 so maybe this only applies to them? (Meaning that errors in an uploaded file reset the card to it's default EventActionConfig settings).

I found a solution, not if sure if it's THE solution but it worked for me: All fields in the the file you upload must contain data. I'm not sure if all the data must match but this is what worked for me.

Here I just wanted to disable email notifications:

[EventActionConfig]

; Environment: Lost the local network management interface-to-external Environmental Monitor input contact {number} ({name} at {location}) communication.
E0349=ES,E[--05S-30S00:--05S-30S00:--05S-30S00:--05S-30S00],T[--05S-30S00:--05S-30S00:--05S-30S00:--05S-30S00:--05S-30S00:--05S-30S00],P[--05S-30S00:--05S-30S00:--05S-30S00:--05S-30S00]

Here I wanted to enable email notifications but without any notification delay and with no repeating notifications:

[EventActionConfig]

; Environment: Lost the local network management interface-to-external Environmental Monitor input contact {number} ({name} at {location}) communication.
E0349=ES,E[+-05S-30S00:+-05S-30S00:+-05S-30S00:+-05S-30S00],T[+-05S-30S00:+-05S-30S00:+-05S-30S00:+-05S-30S00:+-05S-30S00:+-05S-30S00],P[+-05S-30S00:+-05S-30S00:+-05S-30S00:+-05S-30S00]

As you can see, some of the data is simply ignored (like 30S00) since I have a "-" in front which turns off repeating notifications.

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-30

from doing some testing, here is what i have found...

i will disect the line item from the config.ini for the following event...
-----
; UPS: On battery power in response to an input power problem.
E0109=E,E\[:::\],T\[+-05S-02M-1:+-05S-02M-1:-:-::\],P\[:::\]
-----
"E0109="E,E\[:::\],T\[+-05S-02M-1:+-05S-02M-1:-:-::\],P\[:::\]
E0109 - event number, (of course); the '=' sign is self evident

E0109="E",E\[:::\],T\[+-05S-02M-1:+-05S-02M-1:-:-::\],P\[:::\]
this first 'E' denotes having the event sent to the 'Event Log'

E0109=E,"E\[:::\]" -> email section -- room for four (4) recipients, delimited by ':'

T\[+-05S-02M-1:+-05S-02M-1:-:-::\] -> trap section -- room for six (6) recipients, delimited by ':'

\\\\\\\\\

trap section further explained...

E0109=E,E\[:::\],T\["+"-05S-02M-1:+-05S-02M-1:-:-::\],P\[:::\]
the first '+' sign denotes send to the first defined station
having a '-' sign here denotes DO NOT send to defined station

E0109=E,E\[:::\],T\[+"-05S"-02M-1:+-05S-02M-1:-:-::\],P\[:::\]
delay notification section
the '-' sign disables any delay in notification
conversely the '+' sign would enable a delay
'05S' is a configuration for a delay of 5 seconds

E0109=E,E\[:::\],T\[+-05S"-02M"-1:+-05S-02M-1:-:-::\],P\[:::\]
repeat notification section
'-' disables repeat
'+' enables repeat
'02M' is repeat every two minutes

E0109=E,E\[:::\],T\[+-05S-02M"-1":+-05S-02M-1:-:-::\],P\[:::\]
number of repeats section
'-1' denotes continue until event is cleared
'02' would denote repeat up to '02' times 'after initial notification'

the number fields have a two-digit limit, in effect they are bounded by 01 - 99.

as far as i know, the email and pager fields utilize the sub-fields in the same method.

knowing the above certainly helps to script updates. having to GUI for 400+ devices would drive me insane.

hope that helps.

Message was edited by: pg

BillP · ‎2021-06-30

i believe the beginning is event ID as you mentioned. The "E:::" i believe is email settings, T is for traps (SNMP), and P I think is for paging (even though your card may not have that ability)

we don't have any documentation readily available on what to type in there to get it to those types of notifications the way you want.

are you not able to view this through the web interface so we can see what it says in there, which will help us read the config.ini.

maybe Cap1 (another user on the forum) or anyone else for that matter can chime in and shed some light on this. Cap1 wont be able to until monday though.

i'd recommend configuring one the way you like it through the web interface, if possible because i think this way will give you a headache 🙂 just my personal opinion though.

hope t his helps.

TheNotoriousKMP_apc · ‎2021-06-30

I've also seen some instances with the new firmware where it's picky about the actual event. You may be thinking that you've configured the correct event for notification, or not for notification after individually selecting to not notify for specific events. But then you run a test and the email gets sent anyways. Turns out it's a different event that you're receiving an email on than you thought you were editing.

BillP · ‎2021-06-30

yes i dealt with that just the other day. good times.

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-30

Thank you for your replies. The reason I am asking about how to read these is because I have configured management cards and they are deployed, yet I still receive alerts that appear to be disabled through the web interface.

For an example: I go to web interface and have self-test messages disabled to emailing, but enabled to write to event log. It shows this to be true. However I receive alerts about system self-test from this device still. I am not sure how this is happening, so I hoped to get more information from the config.ini file. When I try to read it though, I am unable to get the meaning of what it is I am reading.

Thank you again for your help, I appreciate it. If anyone is able to provide more information it would be appreciated too.

Truly,
Olimar

BillP · ‎2021-06-30

what is quirky about the self event is that by default, it will email you when a self test passes or a self test fails. i imagine, you dont care if the self test passes, and may want to disable that event. that event isnt configurable by default to disable so you'd have to do a work around.

you'd find the initial event, so in this case "UPS: Failed a self-test." under any event, you will find the clearing event and its hex code:

UPS: Failed a self-test. [ 0x0106 ]

Category: Power | Diagnostics
Clearing Event: UPS: Passed a self-test. [ 0x0105 ]

so i take the clearing event hex code 0x0105 and then go to the address of that instead of the failed self test event ->http://159.215.4.183/eventdtl.htm?code=0x0106 (i replace the 0x0106 with 0x0105 so http://159.215.4.183/eventdtl.htm?code=0x0105 gets me to the notification page for UPS: Passed a self-test)

upon opening http://159.215.4.183/eventdtl.htm?code=0x0105, i can disable any notifications on that event of UPS passed a self test since I dont really care when it passes. its just that you wont find the UPS passed a self test event by looking at the list of events by group or anything like you can for the "UPS: Failed a self test."

not sure if this is the particular scenario you are talking about but maybe you want to check it out and see and double check these particular events.

hope it helps!

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-30

Thank you, I believe this resolves the problem. You have been very helpful! Best wishes in all that you do.

BillP · ‎2021-06-30

not a problem! same to you 🙂