Issue
Alarm Forward and Log settings with enhanced alarm logging causes unnecessary network traffic
Product Line
Andover Continuum
Environment
Continuum Workstation
Cause
There has been some confusion about whether to select forwarding and logging on the recipient editor located within the eventnotification editor.
Resolution
In 1.5 and later versions of Continuum, a new alarm engine was introduced. To use the new alarming engine, select the enhanced alarming check box located in the database initialization editor. The enhanced alarming feature will perform both the forwarding and logging of an alarm. If the enhanced alarming feature IS SELECTED, then the forwarding and logging of a specific PC will not need to be checked ***. If enhanced alarming IS NOT SELECTED, then you will need to specify a forwarding and logging workstation.
**IMPORTANT: Intrinsic alarms of type Controller Status, Fault Status and Logon Status still need their corresponding Event Enrollment object configured for logging and/or forwarding as before.
If enhanced alarming, forwarding and logging are selected, there will be no duplication of alarms, but will cause unnecessary traffic on the network. If all three are selected and are on a very busy network, you may experience workstations appearing as offline. This can be intermittent depending on the amount of network traffic generated on your site.
To check the settings of your enhanced alarming features, open up the database initialization editor and select either the server or stand alone button to view your settings. If your setting is not selected and you want to use the new alarming engine then select the feature. Make sure you restart ALL workstations when you change this feature.
In 1.7 and later versions of continuum there is also an enhanced alarm delivery selection. This selection uses Microsoft's Messaging Queuing Service to deliver alarms. This feature allows multiple workstations to share the load of delivery of alarms to the recipients of an eventnotification. Thus reducing the work load of just one workstation to handle the delivery. The enhanced alarm delivery feature, will be best utilized when working with multiple workstations.
