Technical information

RMS Resource Management Suite
10
RMS - Administrator’s Guide
All parameters must be registered by the NetLinx system. The administrator cannot add parameters from the
RMS application console. The administrator can modify Threshold Value, Comparison Operator, and Status
Type for any parameter. This provides the administrator with the ability to set their own threshold and re-
classify messages based on their facility.
For instance, an administrator can set the Video projector's "Lamp Hours" threshold to the expected lamp life
of a newly replaced lamp or change the "Device Communicating" parameter from a "Control System Error" to
a "Security" status if the projector is in danger of being stolen.
Status Types
The RMS application supports the following status types for device monitoring: "Help Request",
"Maintenance Request", "Room Communication Error", "Control System Error", "Network Error", "Security",
and "Equipment Usage."
While there are no firm rules for what these status types mean and how they are used, AMX provides the
following description of each status type and recommends that your usage is consistent with these
descriptions.
Notification Process
As NetLinx sends parameter updates to the RMS server, the RMS server checks to see if the parameter's
threshold value has been reached. This comparison is made by checking the previous value of the parameter
against the threshold and by checking the new version of the parameter against the threshold using the
threshold comparison operator. If the comparison for the old value is False and the comparison for the new
value is True, then the parameter triggers an Alert message. If the comparison for the old value is True and the
comparison for the new value is False, then the parameter triggers an Advise message. Therefore an Alert
message is generated when a parameter reaches its threshold and an Advise message is generated when a
parameter returns to its normal operating range.
Alert Messages
When an Alert message occurs, the RMS server first checks to see if the message should be logged to the
various log services.
A message is created for each log service using the Log Text of the parameter's Alert template, or the default
template if a custom template has not been assigned.
Next, the RMS server checks for any notifications in the Notification List matching the group, room and status
type for the parameter and dispatches any messages via SMTP or SNPP as needed using the appropriate text
from the template assigned to the parameter.
Parameter Values (Cont.)
• Enumeration List This value is used to restrict the range of the threshold and reset values that the
administrator can enter on the RMS application console.
This value would be used when the parameter represents a value with a bounded
list, Power On and Power Off.
Status Types
• Help Request A user generated help request such as a help button on the touch panel.
• Maintenance
Request
A user or monitored equipment generated maintenance request. Maintenance
issues would include items that require a technician to visit the room.
• Room Communication
Error
A loss of communication between the room and the RMS application server.
• Control System
Error
Any error that represents a control system error, such as a missing device or loss of
communication with a device.
• Network Error Any network related error. These would most commonly be associated with loss of
communication with devices that communicate via IP.
• Security Any security related issue. It might be appropriate to classify issues that might nor-
mally be classified as Control System or Network errors as Security issues instead.
This might include a touch panel going offline or loss of communication with a
projector depending on the physical security of these devices.
• Equipment Usage Any issue that does not require repair or maintenance and that is mainly used for
status.