Why have Both?
ToS is an 8 bit field that includes DSCP which is a 6 bit field. This being said, I could not find a Flexible NetFlow document that would make reference to both however, I know Cisco sometimes supports both in the same export.

Be aware that Cisco NetFlow v5 and traditional NetFlow v9 only export ToS. I’m sure you are aware that FnF is an extension of NetFlow v9 and supports both ToS and / or DSCP depending on the implementation.

* Cisco NBAR (requires FnF) for example, it will export both ToS = ipClassOfService (5) and DSCP ipDiffServCodePoint (195). See below.

* Cisco Performance Monitoring for Medianets (requires FnF) for example, it only allows for the export of DSCP ipDiffServCodePoint (195).
* The nBox exports ToS (5) even when exporting IPFIX however, it may export DSCP (195). I need to check.

Why did this Happen?

Cisco is a big company. My guess is that communication doesn’t always occur on every field that an engineer wants to export. Lets hope it is easy for them to address. In the mean time, what can you do?

Look for a Flexible NetFlow Reporting  solution that supports reporting on either but, you need to be using our beta release. See below.

Join NetFlow Developments on Linkedin to stay on top of issues like this.

I’ve wrote a lot lately about the expandability of the SecurityProbe line of products and getting the most out of your environmental monitoring system, but with the  idea of virtually unlimited expandability comes the problem of keeping track of the hundreds of dry contacts and sensors that are integrated into your monitoring system.  When you get a critical alert on temperature sensor 018, do you know where that is located?  This can be a be an especially big problem for larger facilities, like college campuses, where the sensors are gathering information from multiple buildings spread out over a large area.  Wouldn’t it be great to be able to see at a quick glance where individual sensors are located and if there is a problem.  That is exactly what the mapping feature on the SecurityProbe is designed to do.

The Maps Tab allows you to upload site plans, building floor plans, or diagrams and then locate your sensors on the map.  That way, you can instantly see that the critical problem being reported on Temp 018 is in the Math Lab and not in the cafeteria.  Below is a screen shot of what this looks like to the user.  Note that the sensor statuses are color coded, green=good, red=problem so you can pinpoint issues and their location at a glance.

The map feature is helpful if you are using sensors in more localized applications as well.  For example, if you are monitoring a data center you could upload a diagram of your server cabinet  layout and then locate the  sensors graphically.  This would be helpful especially if the responsibility for addressing certain issues falls to maintenance staff that might not be as familiar with IT equipment.   Below is a screen shot of the diagram we use for the sensors in the Ravica server room.

There is no limit to the number of maps that you can load into you web interface, so you can use whatever formats work best for your application.

The number one tip is raising the acceptable temperature in your server room.   Old school IT wisdom says to keep server rooms between 55°-60°F, however more recent research has stated that equipment can operate without any risk of damage at much higher temperature thresholds, more in the 70°-79°F range.   Given that a conservative estimate of energy savings due to lower cooling costs is 4% savings in energy cost per degree Fahrenheit that the thermostat is raised, dollars saved can add up fast.

If you are currently using a Ravica Sensor Probe to monitor and control the temperature in your server room or data center, you can easily adjust the warning thresholds in your web-interface. Within your online Ravica control panel, click on the Sensors Tab and adjust the High and Low thresholds to reflect the new temperature norms.

So go ahead, raise the temperature bar in your server rooms, and then keep track of the energy bills to find out how much money is staying in your pocket.  You never know, it may be enough to reinvest in some new equipment, update your network monitoring software, or hire a new employee to get those business development ideas off the shelf and making some profits.

1) No more annoying low-battery beeping. When the smoke detector is connected to the SecurityProbe or BitSight via one of the (8) RJ-45 port, the main power source is the probe and not the 9v battery. Like a typical smoke detector, the Ravica smoke detector still takes a 9v, but it is a back-up and is only used in the case of a major power outage that takes the probe offline.

2) Ravica smoke detectors can be programmed to automatically make the emergency call for you. The smoke detector can be connected to dry contact inputs and be programmed to call 911 automatically when an alarm goes off. This cuts down on response time and can potentially save thousands of dollars in property damage.

3) View the situation from an easy-to-use web interface. With a Ravica SecurityProbe, you can view and control up to 4 cameras from the web. If a smoke detector alarm goes off, you can instantly see exactly what is causing the alarm and be better equipped to resolve the situation quickly.

If a web-based smoke detector sounds like a good addition to the fire/safety plan for your facility, check out the Ravica website or give us a call at 207.324.8173.

In the past, some of the SecurityProbe advantages included; advanced notification options, great video capabilities and the ability to connect up to 8 sensor probes per unit. The newest SecurityProbe retains all of these great features and adds four RJ-45 expansion ports to the front of the box which allows the connection of up to four expansion units. There are two expansion units options available: the E-opto16 and the E-sensor8.

With the E-opto16, you get 16 isolated dry contact inputs. A typical application for this expansion module would be to connect the dry contact to alarm panels and create custom alerts for each of the alarms. For example, one could have a dry contact connected to the fire alarm, another to the security alarm, and another to the AED cabinet. Each dry contact could then be set up to automatically call the respective emergency operator, in these cases the fire department, police, or paramedics. An unlimited number of E-opto16’s can be daisy-chained to accommodate up to 600 different dry contact inputs.

If you are more interested in increasing the number of intelligent sensors that can be monitored, there is the E-sensor8 that adds 8 sensor ports. Like the E-opto16, the E-sensor8 can be daisy-chained to allow the monitoring of up to 600 sensors through a single SecurityProbe. The two expansion units are also compatible with each other , giving the user complete control in designing the combination of dry contacts and sensors that works for their unique needs.

If you’d like more information on these new expansion modules, give us a call at 207.324.8173. We’d love to help you design an environmental monitoring system that does just what you need it to do.

From these two examples, it’s clear that there are options out there for designing sustainable HVAC systems that can meet the massive demand for cooling in data centers and server rooms. There is still a long way to go for data centers to be completely environmentally sustainable, but the industry is moving in leaps and bounds in that direction.

Ravica has always supported voice notifications, but in the past you would be required to purchase an external USB modem in order to utilize this notification method. Using Skype as a call-out device is an inexpensive alternative to purchasing additional hardware like the USB modem or an auto-dialer. Skype is currently available only on the SecurityProbe and the one other requirement for using this feature is a PC on the network that has a Skype account.

To set up Skype notifications, simply log on to your unique SecurityProbe URL and click on the Notification tab. Next, click on Begin Notification Wizard and select Skype Call/SMS as the action type.

On the next few pages, you will be able to enter the IP address or URL of the Skype account holding PC, select the sensors and statuses that you want to be notified about, customize the voice or text message, and enter in the phone numbers that are to be called. It is so easy; you’ll be set up with voice/SMS notifications in less than five minutes!

Most car dealerships have the unique problem of needing to store very expensive inventory in outdoor lots, therefore theft and vandalism are major security concerns.  Some larger dealerships can contract outside security firms to remotely monitor their lots, but what about small, local dealerships?  With new car dealerships all over the country being hit hard by the financial problems of the major car makers, an affordable security option that can be monitored successfully by existing dealership staff is in order.

With a Ravica SecurityProbe, several motion detectors set up at key locations, and 4 Pan-Tilt cameras the dealership owner or manager can be notified via phone, email, or text message when activity occurs on the lot.  Because all Ravica products are linked into an easy-to-use web-interface, the camera can be controlled and viewed from any computer with internet access; whether that is the desktop in your manager’s office, laptop at your home, or smart phone in your car.  You can be informed instantly of any potentially malicious activity on your lot—day or night—giving you the opportunity to assess the situation and call law enforcement before your valuable inventory drives into the sunset.

He wanted to be able to provide a greater level of climate-control in a few of the higher priced units in his facility.  After he described the problem, it occurred to me that we could solve his problem with a relatively simple set-up and minimal cost to the customer.  With a BitSight2 outfitted with 2 dual temperature and humidity sensor remotes mounted in the hallway between two storage units, he could monitor both units with the same device.  That way if the temperature or humidity fluctuated into a critical stage in either unit, he would be alerted to the problem via an email back at the main office.  He felt that he would easily be able to charge at least an extra $10 per month for the rent on those units due to the extra protection the Ravica units would be able to provide.  We figured out that the SensorProbes would essentially pay for themselves in about 18 months.

That’s great news for the business owner and even better news for his tenants that want some assurance that their original manuscripts or baby grand piano will be protected even while they are in transition.

So,  instead of touting the virtues of our SensorProbes, I would just like to thank all of our wonderful customers for your business over the past year.   We look forward to providing you with quality products and service in the upcoming year!  And remember, the entire Ravica line of products come with unlimited lifetime support.  That is our holiday (and everyday) gift to you!

So Happy Holidays from all of us here at Ravica!  We wish you a very joyous and prosperous New Year!