Cisco Headend System Release 2.7 User Guide
Chapter 17 Monitor DHCT Sign-on Activity with the signonCount Utility
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When to Use the signonCount Utility
The signonCount utility enables system operators and engineers to monitor the rate
at which DHCTs sign on to the network. This monitoring is required in the following
circumstances:
at which DHCTs sign on to the network. This monitoring is required in the following
circumstances:
When DHCTs download new software-DHCTs lose the contents of their volatile
memory when the DHCT downloads new software for the operating system and
resident application. DHCTs reconnect to the network after the download, and
the memory that contained information about the DHCT network connection (IP
address, transmit timing and level) is re-loaded. For systems that are forced to
rapidly load DHCT software, the signonCount utility is useful in determining
when to trigger the next group of DHCTs to load code.
memory when the DHCT downloads new software for the operating system and
resident application. DHCTs reconnect to the network after the download, and
the memory that contained information about the DHCT network connection (IP
address, transmit timing and level) is re-loaded. For systems that are forced to
rapidly load DHCT software, the signonCount utility is useful in determining
when to trigger the next group of DHCTs to load code.
When the QPSK modulator and demodulator software is upgraded-In this case,
the signonCount utility is used in the following two situations:
the signonCount utility is used in the following two situations:
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The first situation is to determine if the system is healthy enough to be
upgraded. If it is not, the signonCount utility also provides a secondary
mode of operation that can dramatically improve the health of the system
prior to moving forward with the upgrade.
upgraded. If it is not, the signonCount utility also provides a secondary
mode of operation that can dramatically improve the health of the system
prior to moving forward with the upgrade.
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The second situation is to use the signonCount utility to provide more
meaningful guidance regarding when you can move forward with upgrading
the next QPSK modulator. Previous upgrade guides instructed you either to
wait a little while between upgrading units or to monitor the log file, but they
offered no real tools to help in this effort.
meaningful guidance regarding when you can move forward with upgrading
the next QPSK modulator. Previous upgrade guides instructed you either to
wait a little while between upgrading units or to monitor the log file, but they
offered no real tools to help in this effort.
Two Modes of Operation
You can run the signonCount utility in two modes: Fix Mode Off and Fix Mode On.
Both modes help system operators monitor the rate at which DHCTs are trying to
sign on to the network. When run in Fix Mode Off mode, the utility takes no
corrective action regarding DHCTs that are having difficulty signing on. When run
in Fix Mode On mode, however, the utility reboots those DHCTs that have tried to
sign on more than three times during a 10-minute period.
sign on to the network. When run in Fix Mode Off mode, the utility takes no
corrective action regarding DHCTs that are having difficulty signing on. When run
in Fix Mode On mode, however, the utility reboots those DHCTs that have tried to
sign on more than three times during a 10-minute period.
Note: By forcing DHCTs that are having trouble signing on to reboot, the memory
in the DHCT is refreshed and the sign-on process is made easier.
in the DHCT is refreshed and the sign-on process is made easier.
Important: By default, the utility runs in Fix Mode Off mode. Because the utility
interacts with the database when run in Fix Mode On mode, our engineers
recommend that you contact Cisco Services before switching modes.
interacts with the database when run in Fix Mode On mode, our engineers
recommend that you contact Cisco Services before switching modes.