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Working with notifications

Defining a notification involves the following steps:

  1. Create the notification. This step defines the name and the type of a notification.

  2. Edit the notification. This step associates triggers, specifies the action, and for email actions, specifies the list of recipients.

  3. Set a schedule for the notification, if desired. This optional step defines a time window during which a notification is active.

Best practice recommendations

Use the Count property in triggers and the delay and repeat options in notifications to calibrate the sensitivity of a notification.

  • Typically, configuring a notification to initiate its action the very first time one of its triggers matches an event results in false alarms. Services send events in response to temporary conditions frequently, so a delay, a count, or both can reduce frustrating false alarms.

  • Set delays at a minimum of one polling cycle plus 10%. This provides enough time to determine whether the observed conditions are temporary or symptoms of an issue that needs attention. The default polling cycle is 300 seconds (5 minutes) and is defined by the zPropertyMonitorInterval property.

  • The repeat option has priority over other options, except delay. So even if the Send only on Initial Occurrence option is checked, the notification action is repeated until the trigger no longer matches an event.

  • The Send only on Initial Occurrence option is useful for all events except intermittent, out-of-band events.

For more information about notifications, take a look at this video. It features a different version of Collection Zone technology, but all the steps are identical.

Creating a notification schedule

Follow these steps:

  1. Navigate to EVENTS > TRIGGERS.

  2. In the left column, click Notifications.

  3. In the NOTIFICATIONS area, click the name of the notification to schedule.

    notifications-createschedule.png

  4. In the NOTIFICATION SCHEDULES area, click the Add icon.

    notifications-addschedule.png

  5. In the Id field, enter a name for the schedule.

    Tip

    Schedules are bound to notifications, so the name can just describe the schedule.

  6. Click Submit.

Editing a notification schedule

Follow these steps:

  1. Navigate to EVENTS > TRIGGERS.

  2. In the left column, click Notifications.

  3. In the NOTIFICATION SCHEDULES area, double-click the name of the schedule to edit.

    notifications-editschedule.png

  4. In the Edit Notification Schedule dialog box, configure the schedule.

    Field Description

    Enabled Activate or deactivate the schedule. Start Date The first date and time at which the schedule is active. Repeat The schedule frequency, one of the following options: Never Daily Every Weekday Monthly First Sunday of the Month Duration (minutes) The length of time for the schedule.

  5. Click Submit.

Setting a notification schedule

A notification schedule defines the time window when a notification is active. When a notification is inactive, the event processing service does not initiate its action. Typical use cases for notification schedules include scheduling production hours, managing service level agreements, and configuring after-hours procedures.

Defining a notification schedule includes the following steps:

  1. Create the notification schedule. This step associates a specific notification with a schedule object.

  2. Edit the notification schedule. This step configures the schedule.

Creating a notification schedule

Follow these steps:

  1. Navigate to EVENTS > TRIGGERS.

  2. In the left column, click Notifications.

  3. In the NOTIFICATIONS area, click the name of the notification to schedule.

    notifications-createschedule.png

  4. In the NOTIFICATION SCHEDULES area, click the Add icon.

    notifications-addschedule.png

  5. In the Id field, enter a name for the schedule.

    Tip

    Schedules are bound to notifications, so the name can just describe the schedule.

  6. Click Submit.

Editing a notification schedule

Follow these steps:

  1. Navigate to EVENTS > TRIGGERS.

  2. In the left column, click Notifications.

  3. In the NOTIFICATION SCHEDULES area, double-click the name of the schedule to edit.

    notifications-editschedule.png

  4. In the Edit Notification Schedule dialog box, configure the schedule.

    Field Description

    Enabled Activate or deactivate the schedule. Start Date The first date and time at which the schedule is active. Repeat The schedule frequency, one of the following options: Never Daily Every Weekday Monthly First Sunday of the Month Duration (minutes) The length of time for the schedule.

  5. Click Submit.

Notification permissions

You can set global or individual notification permissions. By establishing permissions, you can control which users have the ability to view, manage, and update notifications.

Setting global permissions

You can set global permissions for viewing, editing, and managing triggers. Global permissions are given to any user with "manage" permission, which includes:

  • Users with the ZenManager role

  • The trigger owner

Edit global permissions from the Users tab on the Edit Trigger dialog.

Global options are:

  • Everyone can view - Global view permission.

  • Everyone can edit content - Global update permission.

  • Everyone can manage users - Global manage permission.

Setting individual notification permissions

You can grant permissions to individual users or groups.

  • Write - Select this option to grant the user or group permission to update the notification.

  • Manage - Select this option to grant the user or group permission to manage the notification.

You can manually enter in the name of a user or group, or select one from the list of options.

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