Alarm Classifications

Alarms are classified depending on their effect on system operation:

• MAJOR alarms identify failures that cause a critical degradation of service. These alarms require immediate attention.
• MINOR alarms identify failures that cause some service degradation but that do not render a crucial portion of the system inoperable. Minor alarms require attention. However, typically a minor alarm affects only a few trunks, stations, or a single feature.
• WARNING alarms identify failures that cause no significant degradation of service or equipment failures external to the switch. These failures are not reported to INADS or to the attendant console.
• ON-BOARD problems originate in the circuitry on the alarmed Media Module.
• OFF-BOARD problems originate in a process or component that is external to the Media Module.