Configure message attributes

This tab allows you to set the message attributes for a specific message (or for the message defaults). These attributes are visible in the message browser and help the operator to organize and evaluate the messages. Note that not all message attributes can be set for the default message and that some attributes are not supported by some policy types .

• Service ID: A service ID is a unique identifier for a service in your service hierarchy. When a message with a service ID is sent to the management server, the severity of that message will be included in the status calculation for the service that has the matching service ID.

  Type the ID of the service that you want to associate with this message. (The service IDs are assigned to services in the Service Editor.) To find and insert a service ID, you can click the browse button (), browse to the service to which this message will belong, and select OK. This action will also fill in the Hosted on text box (if the service is not a virtual service). Generally, it is best to use this method to fill in these two text boxes. Changing the node name in the Hosted on text box is only recommended if you are writing a policy that will be used for more than one service hierarchy, when you could use a variable instead of a node name.

• Message Key: A message key is an identifier that you can assign to messages so that other processes can identify them. Note that the message key is different from the message ID: while every message has a unique message ID, all messages produced by a particular rule will have the same message key. The same message key can also be used by more than one policy or rule.

  Since you assign the message keys, you know in advance what key a particular message will have, and can set up other processes to look for this key. If you use messages keys, it is important to develop naming conventions that allow you to specifically identify an event or sets of events.

  You can incorporate HP Operations variables into the message key. For example, if you want to ensure that messages generated on one computer have a different key from messages generated on another computer, you can include the variable <$MSG_NODE_NAME> as a part of the message key. A useful message key could look like this:

  <$NAME><$MSG_NODE_NAME><$MSG_OBJECT>:START<$THRESHOLD>

• Message Type: Use this box if you want to provide another organizational category for this message, for example, if you want to indicate two types of messages that belong to the same message group.
• Message Group: Type the message group that you want to assign to messages generated by this rule. Message filters in the console and web console limit the message group length to 32 characters (the same length limit of the field in messages).

  Every message that the management server receives is assigned to a message group. Message groups organize messages belonging to the same policy or having some logical connection, for example, messages from backup and output tasks.

• Application:Type the name of the application which generated the message.
• Object:Type the name of the object which generated the message.

  NOTE:
  Although, application generally refers to a general program name and object generally refers to a process or sub-program, you should use these values to assist your own organizational scheme.

• Node: Type the name of the node to which the message will be assigned. You can also use the default <$MSG_NODE> (Local Node), or use the variable <$OPC_MGMTSV> for the management server node. For agentless monitoring, type the name of the originating node.
• Severity: Choose the severity that you want the message to have. The severity indicates to the operator the importance of the event which triggers this message.
• Message Text: Type the text that the message should have. You can use HP Operations variables to construct messages that are specific to the event that causes the message. See HP Operations Policy Variables and User-defined variables.

  You can add hyperlinks to URLs in your message or instruction text. Insert your cursor in the text of an active message on the Text tab and type the required URL. Apply and save your changes. This feature is useful for linking to external sites of all types, such as support sites, documentation repositories, troubleshooting information, and similar sites.

To configure message attributes:

1. Right-click the policy and select All Tasks Edit....
2. Select Rules.
3. Select the rule for which you want to change the message attributes.
4. Select Modify.
5. Select Actions.
6. Select Message.
7. Select Message attributes.