Cisco ME3400E Ethernet Access Switch Software Configuration Guide, Rel 12.2(60)EZ

Configuring the Switch Alarms

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On the ME 3400E switch, you can configure external alarm inputs, as well as alarms to identify a missing or malfunctioning power supply or a power supply with no input.

• Configuring External Alarms
• Configuring Power Supply Alarms

Configuring External Alarms

You can connect up to four alarm inputs from external devices in your environment, such as a door, a temperature gauge, or a fire alarm, to the alarm input port on the switch front panel. Figure 6-1 shows the location of the alarm pinouts.

Figure 6-1 Alarm Input Port Pinouts

For each alarm input, you can configure an open or closed circuit to trigger an alarm and configure the severity of the alarm. A triggered alarm generates an system message. If you enter a descriptive name for the alarm, that name is included in the system message. A triggered alarm also turns on the LED display (the LED is normally off, meaning no alarm). See the Cisco ME-3400E Hardware Installation Guide for information about the LEDs.

The alarm trigger setting is open or closed. If not set, the alarm is triggered when the circuit closes.

• Open means that the normal condition has current flowing through the contact (normally closed contact). The alarm is generated when the current stops flowing.
• Closed means that no current flows through the contact (normally open contact). The alarm is generated when current does flow.

You can set the alarm severity to minor, major, or critical. The severity is included in the alarm message and also sets the LED color when the alarm is triggered. The LED is amber for a minor alarm, red for a major alarm, and blinking red for a critical alarm. If not set, the default alarm severity is minor.

Beginning in privileged EXEC mode, follow these steps to configure alarm contacts.

To delete the alarm description, enter the no alarm-contact contact-number description privileged EXEC command. To set the alarm severity to minor (the default), enter the no alarm-contact { contact-number | all } severity. To set the alarm contact trigger to closed (the default), enter the no alarm-contact { contact-number | all } trigger.

To see the alarm configuration and status, enter the show env alarm-contact privileged EXEC command.

For more detailed information about the alarm commands, see the command reference for this release.

Note The switch supports the CISCO-ENTITY-ALARM-MIB for these alarms.

This example configures alarm input 2 named door sensor to assert a major alarm when the door circuit is closed and then displays the status and configuration for all alarms:

Configuring Power Supply Alarms

Some switch models have two power supply slots that contain either AC- or DC- power supplies. The status and type of power supplied to each slot is shown by the switch LEDs. AC power supplies have corresponding AC-power inputs (AC 1 and AC 2), and DC-power supplies have two DC inputs (DC A and DC B).

The default power supply configuration is to have one power supply installed in slot 1 and the software configured for no power-supply dual. This suppresses any alarms triggered by not having two power supplies installed. When the switch is operating with two power supplies, we recommend you enter the power-supply dual global configuration command to trigger an alarm when one is missing or inoperable.

If you are using DC-power supplies, the most common practice is to have both DC inputs connected.

Note The Cisco ME 3400EG-2CS-A switch does not support removable power supplies.

When the switch detects a power supply fault, it triggers an LED indicator and sends a system message. Power-supply alarm indications are sent when a power supply is missing, has no input, has insufficient output, or has a malfunctioning fan. Some of these alarm conditions are configurable.

Note When a Cisco ME 3400E switch is loaded with a metrobase image and supplied with a single AC power supply, the system LED status turns amber. However, this behavior is not seen with the switch is loaded with the metroaccess or metroipacess images.

Power-Supply-Missing Alarms

If you are operating the switch with a single power supply (AC or DC), you can suppress any alarm conditions associated with a missing power supply. Entering the no power-supply dual global configuration command (the default) specifies that only one power supply is expected to be present. Then the switch does not generate an alarm that a power supply is missing.

The no power-supply dual command controls only the sending of messages about the absence of a second power supply or the absence of input to the second power supply. The software detects whether a power supply is present and if there is an input voltage. When there is input, the software can detect if there is output voltage and if the fan is operating. These are possible conditions and results when only one power supply is expected:

• If only one power supply is present, no alarm is sent. However, if this power supply is connected to the AC input and is not receiving or sending power, a power supply fault message is sent.
• If two power supplies are present, and both are receiving and sending power, no message is sent.
• If two power supplies are present, and one is connected and operating and the other is not connected to the AC input, no message is sent.
• If two power supplies are present and both are connected to AC inputs, but only one is receiving or sending power, a power supply fault message is sent.

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Note The switch always sends an error message when an AC-power supply connected to an AC input is not receiving or outputting power.

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If you operate the switch with two power supplies, enter the power-supply dual global configuration command to configure the switch to send a message when one power supply is missing.