AlphaCom system log

The AlphaCom system log provides technical events for monitoring the health of the AlphaCom system. The system log includes the following type of events:

AlphaPro log configuration

• Station Line error
• Board down
• Device/card cage error
• AGA line error
• Software error
• Remote input on/off
• Customized event logging

In AlphaPro (Exchange & System > System > Logs and Errors) it is possible to configure what events to include in the system log. By default all events are included.

It is also possible to configure customized events in the system log. This is done in the Event Handler by using the LOG command.

Description of log string

                  Common part                                    Log event
|---------------------------------------------------| |----------------------------------------|
Oct 11 14:06:21 src@Johnson AlphaLog: N001.D065:.Exch:@D65.B01-2 Line Down: CD Open St 2 "102 -"
--------------- ----------- --------  ---- ----- ---- ------------------------------------------
      |             |            |      |    |     |      |
      |             |            |      |    |     |      +- Log event
      |             |            |      |    |     +-------- Mandatory text
      |             |            |      |    +-------------- Source: Module number (65 is master module, 66-68 are slave modules)
      |             |            |      +------------------- Source: Node number (Here: node 1)    
      |             |            +-------------------------- Mandatory text
      |             +--------------------------------------- Source: Exchange name
      +----------------------------------------------------- Date and time of log event
 

Log events

Station line

Traditional (analog) stations

Line Down: The line monitoring feature of the AlphaCom will detect when there is a station line error. Stations are reported down only (not UP). Here line error is reported on station 102. The line board is located in positon 1, port 2:

Oct 11 14:06:21 src@Johnson AlphaLog: N001.D065:.Exch:@D65.B01-2 Line Down: CD Open St 2 "102 -"

The ASLT board reports a code value to pinpoint a problem. Note that only the first detected error is flagged, and that there may be additional errors on the same station.<br\> When a station is disconnected, CD Open is detected before AB Open.

• AB Shorted<br\>
• AB Open<br\>
• CD Shorted<br\>
• CD Open

Station down is also reported to the event handler "faulty station line" ON/OFF.

Off-Hook Timeout is reported if a station is left with the handset off-hook longer than a preprogrammed time. The time is by default 60 minutes, but can be set to much shorter value from AlphaPro (Exchange & System > System > Logs and Errors > Off-hook to long). When the timer times out, a log event is generated, but the station is not taken out of operation. When the handset is replaced the Handset OK is reported.

Oct 17 20:30:33 src@Johnson AlphaLog: N001.D065:.Exch:@D66.B01-6  Off-Hook Timeout St 144 "244 -"
Oct 17 18:20:35 src@Johnson AlphaLog: N001.D065:.Exch:@D66.B01-6  Handset OK St 144 "244 -"

Note: On stations without display the AlphaCom cannot see the difference betweeen handset off and a break in a- or b-wire. In both situations there is no current floating in the ab-wire loop. This means that a break in a single a- or b-wire will be reported as "Off-Hook Timeout" on non-display stations.

IP Stations

The IP substation is supervised in two different ways.

1. Each IP-sub-stations have its own unique TCP socket for data communication. This socket send TCP-alive frames every 5 second, thus a broken socket is discovered within 10 seconds and reported as line error from AlphaCom.
2. From the Application layer AlphaCom is sending a "PING" approximately every 90 second. The stations reply with a "PONG". If one PONG is missing the station is reported as line fault.

IP station down

IP station down is reported on the log port in the two following ways (Data communication is lost, no PING reply or socket closed):

930: Feb 13 16:17:58 src@Node1 AlphaLog: N001.D065:.Exch:@D65.B25-1  Line Down: IP ST Data Com St 20  "1001 -"

IP station down is also reported to the event handler "faulty station line" ON/OFF.

No license

If a new license key is entered with no IP station licenses or not enough licenses, then some stations will be out of business:

933: Feb 13 16:21:34 src@Node1 AlphaLog: N001.D065:.Exch:@D65.B25-1  Line Down: IP ST License St 20  "1001 -"

The system station will report like ordinary line faults with reference to master board and first port (B25-1) since the IP station is not related to any physical AMC board position.

Board

Board Down is reported when the AMC-board fail to communicate with a board inside the module. Board error is reported down only (not up). Here the board in position 9 is reported down:

Oct 11 16:15:15 src@Johnson AlphaLog: N001.D065:.Exch:@D65.B09 Board Down

Board error is also indicated by red light in the status LED in front of the cabinet (E20 and E26). The status LED can be reset by the 7871 code.

Device

Device Error is reported if the communication between the AlphaCom and the device fails. A "device" is normally a RIO unit). Here there is an error communicating with device #1:

Oct 10 17:51:36 src@Johnson AlphaLog: N001.D065:.Exch:@D01        Device Error

Device OK is reported when the communication becomes OK, and also after restart of the AlphaCom exchange:

Oct 10 17:51:37 src@Johnson AlphaLog: N001.D065:.Exch:@D01        Device OK

Device Missing is reported if the device is not responding after AlphaCom startup:

Oct 11 16:16:54 src@Johnson AlphaLog: N001.D065:.Exch:@D02        Device Missing

Card Cage

Card Cage OK is reported after system startup when all boards in the module are up and running, i.e. the module is operational. Card Cage OK is also reported when communication becomes OK after "Card Cage Error".

Card Cage (module) adresses:

• 65 = Master
• 66 = Slave 1
• 67 = Slave 2
• 68 = Slave 3

Module 65 (Master) is operational:

Oct 10 12:54:45 src@Johnson AlphaLog: N001.D065:.Exch:@D65        Card Cage OK

Card Cage Error is reported when the communication between Master and Slave module fails.

Slave 1 (module 66) fails:

Jan  2 07:02:29 src@Johnson AlphaLog: N001.D065:.Exch:@D66        Card Cage Error

AGA

AlphaNet Line Down is reported if the AGA or AE1 audio link between two nodes in AlphaNet becomes faulty. The audio links are supervised by a test tone issued at regular intervals, default every 15 seconds in a rotating order. It is the node with the lowest node number which "owns" the line, and this node is doing the tone test and error reporting. E.g. between node 1 and 3 the node 1 is doing the testing and reporting.

In the example below the first line on board position 23 (B23-1) is reported faulty.

Oct 13 14:23:28 src@AlphaComE AlphaLog: N001.D065:.Exch:@D65.B23-1  AlphaNet Line Down:SL=  8 NL=  8

Signal Level (SL) is the level measured when there is supposed to be a tone, Noise Level (NL) is the measured level when there is no tone (silence). Signal level is normally in the range 80 - 90. If the signal level is below 40, the AGA error is reported.

AlphaNet Line Up is reported when the audio link becomes OK. Signal level is 86 in this example:

Oct 13 14:23:59 src@AlphaComE AlphaLog: N001.D065:.Exch:@D65.B23-1  AlphaNet Line Up:SL=86 NL=  8

The AGA Audio Ring in a MultiModule system is monitored by a test tone at regular intervals, and a log event is reported if an AGA audio link becomes faulty. The board and line number (B24-1 means board 24, line 1) is reported, as well as the signal level (EI1) and Silence Level (EI2) in hexadecimal notation:

Oct 13 15:24:59 src@AlphaComE AlphaLog: N001.D065:.Exch:@D65.B24-1  AudioRing 33  Audio (Tone) Test Failed. EI1=08h EI2=08h (STS=04h)
Oct 13 15:54:01 src@AlphaComE AlphaLog: N001.D065:.Exch:@D65.B24-1  AudioRing 33  Audio (Tone) Test OK. EI1=52h EI2=08h (STS=00h)

Remote Control Input RCI

ALARM xx ON: RCI's are reported ON and OFF. The number indicate the logical RCI number.

Oct 13 14:22:41 src@Johnson AlphaLog: N001.D065:.Exch:ALARM 1 ON.
Oct 13 14:22:39 src@Johnson AlphaLog: N001.D065:.Exch:ALARM 1 OFF.

System reports

AlphaPro log-in

AlphaPro is using port 60001. The system log will show the IP address of the AlphaPro PC that has logged on and off to the AlphaCom:

Oct 10 12:46:20 src@Johnson AlphaLog: N001.D065:.Exch:DP 33 CONN TCP-IP Server Port: 60001 IP:10.5.101.111
Oct 10 12:53:42 src@Johnson AlphaLog: N001.D065:.Exch:DP 33 DISC TCP-IP Server Port: 60001 IP:

TCP-IP connections

TCP-IP connections are logged. MultiModule over IP is using TCP port 50010 and shows connection between master and slave module. Below a device with IP address 10.5.101.42 has connected (and disconnected) to port 4001.

Oct  8 15:50:02 src@Johnson AlphaLog: N001.D065:.Exch:DP 03 CONN TCP-IP Client Port: 4001 IP: 10.5.101.42
Oct  8 15:49:48 src@Johnson AlphaLog: N001.D065:.Exch:DP 03 DISC TCP-IP Client Port: 4001 IP:

Serial port initialization

When serial ports are configured in AlphaPro, log events are reported when serial port 0 and 1 is initialized by the AlphaCom:

Oct 10 12:54:34 src@Johnson AlphaLog: N001.D065:.Exch:DP 39 CONN Uart /dev/tts/0      
Oct 10 12:54:37 src@Johnson AlphaLog: N001.D065:.Exch:DP 04 CONN Uart /dev/tts/1  

Temperature alarm

The AlphaCom monitors the temperature of the boards. If the temperature becomes too high, an internal RCI #8 is triggered, and the log event "Temperature Alarm" is generated:

Oct 10 12:54:35 src@Johnson AlphaLog: N001.D065:.Exch:ALARM 8 ON.
Oct 10 12:54:35 src@Johnson AlphaLog: N001.D065:.Exch:Temperature Alarm