Patent ID: 7447147

Claim:
An Ethernet switch comprising: a plurality of ports operable to receive and transmit Ethernet traffic; system monitoring software embodied in a computer-readable medium and operable, when executed, to: receive an indication from a user of a plurality of fault conditions for which generation of an alarm is desired; monitor the Ethernet switch for the plurality of fault conditions; and generate a signal indicating a particular one of the plurality of fault conditions has occurred; and at least one relay responsive to the generated signal and that is operable to turn on a respective alarm indicating the particular fault condition has occurred; wherein the system monitoring software is further operable, when executed, to receive an indication from the user of: for a first one or more ports of the plurality of ports, only a first one or more fault conditions of the plurality of fault conditions for which generation of an alarm is desired; and for a second one or more ports of the plurality of ports, only a second one or more fault conditions of the plurality of fault conditions for which generation of an alarm is desired, the first one or more fault conditions being different from the second one or more fault conditions.