INTRODUCTION
Using Site Management systems to help operate your remote sites can generate large amounts of alarm and status data. Having a network of sites further compounds the problem.
The solution to this problem is to use a Network Operations Center (NOC) software with data-basing capabilities.
DavNet is our NOC & data storage software that allows you to keep track of events that occur on your Network of Davicom Cortex units. DavNet is installed on a central computer that runs 24/7 and must have visibility of the Cortex hardware via IP networking, dial-up telephone lines or even over low data-rate serial links (VHF point-to-point radios, for example).
This article presents a summary of DavNet’s log-reception and databasing capabilities.
DavNet Data Collection types
DavNet can collect four types of data from your remote network of sites.
Spontaneous Events
These are spontaneous alarms (either minor or major) that can be sent to DavNet as soon as they happen. Every time you receive an alarm, DavNet will connect to the unit to take a system status of every active I/O in the unit (see more on the System Status in paragraph 2.2 below). This extra step may help you to quickly diagnose the cause of the alarm when you are notified.
Site icons will appear as colored dots on the DavNet Map and also on the site alarm buffer shown in the 2 screenshots below.
- Major Alarms are RED
- Minor Alarms are YELLOW
- Normal is GREEN
- Regular Site Status information is indicated with a BLUE dot.
System Status
A system status report is a snapshot of all the readings in the unit at a specific moment in time.
This log can be set in the Cortex to send periodically as a failsafe method or it can be requested by DavNet based on a scheduler that you can configure on the NOC end.
History Log
This log, also called the System log, is a list of every event that has occurred in the Cortex unit during a specific period of time.
Since the Cortex has a circular buffer that can accept up to 1024 entries, you can configure the unit to send the history log to DavNet whenever the buffer reaches a specific percentage of maximal capacity. For example, if you set the Cortex to send the log every day at 8 AM and the buffer reaches 90% capacity by 11 PM the evening before, it will send the data that was logged between 8 AM and 11 PM to DavNet, at 11 PM. It will then send any extra data that was accumulated between 11 PM and 8 AM, at 8 AM the next morning.
This type of log transfer is pre-configured in the Cortex unit.
Custom Logs
The Custom log contains up to 32 user-selectable I/O points or Virtual channels and the logging can be configured for Events (alarms) only, or for periodic sampling. Just as in the history log, these samples are contained in a circular buffer with 1024 entries.
The sampling can be performed on any physical or virtual I/O. including status, math functions, relays or even SNMP inputs.
Log transfers work the same way as for the History Log. Transfers can be scheduled at the rate you want and they will be sent anyway if the buffer capacity reached a certain % of 1024. This type of log transfer can be configured in the Cortex unit.
Fun Fact: The unit’s logs can also be saved to a local USB-memory stick connected to the back of the Cortex.
Exporting/Viewing:
All 4 of the types of data listed above are archived in a database managed by DavNet. You can either visualize or extract the logs using the built-in database viewer. Data can be sorted using multiple filters such as time, ID, Site name, etc.
Every archived System or Custom log can be saved to your computer if you would like to further analyze the data using Excel or any other type of platform.
Cortex Logs are also available for download formatted as HTML files.
Fun Fact: MS Excel imports HTML files directly, with the added benefit of automatically formatting into an elegant display format.
Conclusion
This article presented DavNet’s log-storage and database query capabilities for the 4 types of Log data produced by Cortex units.
About Davicom
In the mid 1990’s, Davicom started producing and commercializing the first generation of its Remote Monitoring and Control Systems. From the very beginning, these unique systems were designed, developed and maintained with a single objective in mind: to provide the broadcast and telecommunications industries with an efficient, intelligent and trusted monitoring and control system for their remote transmission sites.
Over the years, new capabilities were added to maintain the product’s position as an industry innovator. From initial VT-100 terminal communications, through the addition of fax & voice capabilities, the units have evolved to the present secure-Internet version with SNMP V3 functionality, iOS/Android App support and smart-functions for reduced false alarm rates.
Davicom systems are used worldwide by industry leaders in broadcast, public safety and land mobile radio to help maintain the integrity and operational efficiency of their networks.
