Discussion:
What does System Status: RED mean on Hercules console?
Robert Hodge
2010-09-09 20:31:57 UTC
Permalink
I did a build of Hercules today after downloading the current SVN source.  When
I go to test it, I am seeing this message in the Windows title bar: System
Status: RED.

I've never seen this before.  Is this a new message, or have I broken
something?  I restored my CCKD shadow files just in case, but that didn't make
any difference.

Thanks for any help.

Regards, Robert
Paul G
2010-09-10 15:35:49 UTC
Permalink
System Status:

RED - System is not operational
YELLOW - It is running but one or more engines are in a disabled wait, or not started
GREEN - everything is normal
Post by Robert Hodge
I did a build of Hercules today after downloading the current SVN source.  When
I go to test it, I am seeing this message in the Windows title bar: System
Status: RED.
I've never seen this before.  Is this a new message, or have I broken
something?  I restored my CCKD shadow files just in case, but that didn't make
any difference.
Thanks for any help.
Regards, Robert
Robert Hodge
2010-09-10 17:27:42 UTC
Permalink
I assume this is new feature for the Hercules console.

I wanted to pass along an interesting idea.  Have a look at this web site:

    http://www.codeproject.com/KB/GDI/customcaption.aspx

The guy has some code for changing the color of the Windows title bar, including
the fonts.  You could use this to make more apparent what the system state is. 
Instead of just using the word RED, you could actually have a title bar with a
red background.  RED and GREEN would work well with a white font, but a white
font on YELLOW would be too hard to read, so I'd say you would want a black font
on a yellow background for the YELLOW state.

Just an idea to think about.

Regards, Robert




________________________________
From: Paul G <pfg504-/***@public.gmane.org>
To: hercules-390-***@public.gmane.org
Sent: Fri, September 10, 2010 11:35:49 AM
Subject: [hercules-390] Re: What does System Status: RED mean on Hercules
console?

 
System Status:

RED - System is not operational
YELLOW - It is running but one or more engines are in a disabled wait, or not
started
GREEN - everything is normal




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Paul G
2010-09-11 00:33:43 UTC
Permalink
Thanks... there is a Windows system call for this... I am looking up the Linux/Unix versions...

Paul G
Post by Robert Hodge
I assume this is new feature for the Hercules console.
    http://www.codeproject.com/KB/GDI/customcaption.aspx
The guy has some code for changing the color of the Windows title bar, including
the fonts.  You could use this to make more apparent what the system state is. 
Instead of just using the word RED, you could actually have a title bar with a
red background.  RED and GREEN would work well with a white font, but a white
font on YELLOW would be too hard to read, so I'd say you would want a black font
on a yellow background for the YELLOW state.
Just an idea to think about.
Regards, Robert
________________________________
Sent: Fri, September 10, 2010 11:35:49 AM
Subject: [hercules-390] Re: What does System Status: RED mean on Hercules
console?
 
RED - System is not operational
YELLOW - It is running but one or more engines are in a disabled wait, or not
started
GREEN - everything is normal
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Paul G
2010-09-11 21:20:32 UTC
Permalink
Altering the color of the console title bar is not a simple task...

I'll keep researching it...

Paul G
Post by Paul G
Thanks... there is a Windows system call for this... I am looking up the Linux/Unix versions...
Paul G
Post by Robert Hodge
I assume this is new feature for the Hercules console.
    http://www.codeproject.com/KB/GDI/customcaption.aspx
The guy has some code for changing the color of the Windows title bar, including
the fonts.  You could use this to make more apparent what the system state is. 
Instead of just using the word RED, you could actually have a title bar with a
red background.  RED and GREEN would work well with a white font, but a white
font on YELLOW would be too hard to read, so I'd say you would want a black font
on a yellow background for the YELLOW state.
Just an idea to think about.
Regards, Robert
________________________________
Sent: Fri, September 10, 2010 11:35:49 AM
Subject: [hercules-390] Re: What does System Status: RED mean on Hercules
console?
 
RED - System is not operational
YELLOW - It is running but one or more engines are in a disabled wait, or not
started
GREEN - everything is normal
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Robert Hodge
2010-09-11 23:32:58 UTC
Permalink
You could have 3 different Hercules "H" icons, each a different color.  Instead
of changing the entire title bar, you could reload the application's icon
resource.  That way, a red, green or yellow H would appear in the upper left
corner of the window frame.  For platforms where you can't do that, well, don't
do that, and let the RED, YELLOW and GREEN title bar words suffice.




________________________________
From: Paul G <pfg504-/***@public.gmane.org>
To: hercules-390-***@public.gmane.org
Sent: Sat, September 11, 2010 5:20:32 PM
Subject: [hercules-390] Re: What does System Status: RED mean on Hercules
console?

 
Altering the color of the console title bar is not a simple task...

I'll keep researching it...

Paul G
Post by Paul G
Thanks... there is a Windows system call for this... I am looking up the
Linux/Unix versions...
Paul G
Post by Robert Hodge
I assume this is new feature for the Hercules console.
    http://www.codeproject.com/KB/GDI/customcaption.aspx
The guy has some code for changing the color of the Windows title bar,
including
Post by Robert Hodge
the fonts.  You could use this to make more apparent what the system state
is. 
Post by Robert Hodge
Instead of just using the word RED, you could actually have a title bar with
a
Post by Robert Hodge
red background.  RED and GREEN would work well with a white font, but a white
font on YELLOW would be too hard to read, so I'd say you would want a black
font
Post by Robert Hodge
on a yellow background for the YELLOW state.
Just an idea to think about.
Regards, Robert
________________________________
Sent: Fri, September 10, 2010 11:35:49 AM
Subject: [hercules-390] Re: What does System Status: RED mean on Hercules
console?
 
RED - System is not operational
YELLOW - It is running but one or more engines are in a disabled wait, or not
started
GREEN - everything is normal
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Robert Hodge
2010-09-11 23:56:22 UTC
Permalink
Paul,

In my humble opinion, the RED/YELLOW/GREEN notation is not going to be a good
idea.  Even though I noticed this wording right way, even I couldn't remember
what YELLOW meant.  I believe using this terminology is going to confuse people
more than it is going to help them.

I would like to suggest an alternative, as follows:

1.  If you want to use my idea about red/yellow/green "H" icons as a 'hint' of
the system's current condition, that's ok but not critical.

2.  Instead of RED, YELLOW, GREEN, use:

    CPU STATUS: 2 INACTIVE                 instead of RED   
    CPU STATUS: 1 INACTIVE 1 ACTIVE        instead of YELLOW
    CPU STATUS: 2 ACTIVE                   instead of GREEN

or something like that.  If you wish to make the display less technical when all
CPUs are running or not running, you could use this for a single-CPU
configuration:


    CPU STATUS: INACTIVE                 instead of RED   
                         (YELLOW state cannot occur)
    CPU STATUS: ACTIVE                   instead of GREEN
 
 and this for a multi-CPU configuration:

    CPU STATUS: ALL INACTIVE               instead of RED   
    CPU STATUS: 1 INACTIVE 1 ACTIVE        instead of YELLOW
    CPU STATUS: ALL ACTIVE                 instead of GREEN


Instead of forcing users to guess what the precise active/disabled situation is
based on the color coded activity level, you are telling them in plain english
exactly what the situation is.



--[snip]--
 
Post by Robert Hodge
________________________________
Sent: Fri, September 10, 2010 11:35:49 AM
Subject: [hercules-390] Re: What does System Status: RED mean on Hercules
console?
 
RED - System is not operational
YELLOW - It is running but one or more engines are in a disabled wait, or not
started
GREEN - everything is normal
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Paul G
2010-09-12 02:17:50 UTC
Permalink
The colors picked were from the IBM HMC.

RED - Problems
YELLOW - Warnings exists
GREEN - All Good

I'll look at your suggestion with respect to the code. It might be simple enough to do.

Paul G
Post by Robert Hodge
Paul,
In my humble opinion, the RED/YELLOW/GREEN notation is not going to be a good
idea.  Even though I noticed this wording right way, even I couldn't remember
what YELLOW meant.  I believe using this terminology is going to confuse people
more than it is going to help them.
1.  If you want to use my idea about red/yellow/green "H" icons as a 'hint' of
the system's current condition, that's ok but not critical.
    CPU STATUS: 2 INACTIVE                 instead of RED   
    CPU STATUS: 1 INACTIVE 1 ACTIVE        instead of YELLOW
    CPU STATUS: 2 ACTIVE                   instead of GREEN
or something like that.  If you wish to make the display less technical when all
CPUs are running or not running, you could use this for a single-CPU
    CPU STATUS: INACTIVE                 instead of RED   
                         (YELLOW state cannot occur)
    CPU STATUS: ACTIVE                   instead of GREEN
 
    CPU STATUS: ALL INACTIVE               instead of RED   
    CPU STATUS: 1 INACTIVE 1 ACTIVE        instead of YELLOW
    CPU STATUS: ALL ACTIVE                 instead of GREEN
Instead of forcing users to guess what the precise active/disabled situation is
based on the color coded activity level, you are telling them in plain english
exactly what the situation is.
--[snip]--
 
Post by Robert Hodge
________________________________
Sent: Fri, September 10, 2010 11:35:49 AM
Subject: [hercules-390] Re: What does System Status: RED mean on Hercules
console?
 
RED - System is not operational
YELLOW - It is running but one or more engines are in a disabled wait, or not
started
GREEN - everything is normal
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Gerhard Postpischil
2010-09-12 04:13:45 UTC
Permalink
Post by Paul G
The colors picked were from the IBM HMC.
RED - Problems
YELLOW - Warnings exists
GREEN - All Good
I'll look at your suggestion with respect to the code. It might be simple enough to do.
How about making it entertaining? Use a red H if all CPUs
problematic, green H if all good, and a vertical or horizontal
bar graph where the ratio of yellow/green is proportional to
bad/good status?



Gerhard Postpischil
Bradford, VT
kerravon86
2010-09-12 06:40:21 UTC
Permalink
Post by Gerhard Postpischil
Post by Paul G
RED - Problems
YELLOW - Warnings exists
GREEN - All Good
I'll look at your suggestion with respect to the code.
It might be simple enough to do.
How about making it entertaining?
If that's what you want ...

http://www.geekandproud.net/terror/

BFN. Paul.
broweo@yahoo.com [hercules-390]
2018-07-28 21:30:08 UTC
Permalink
I know this is an old thread but I'm looking at a red status bar and wondering how to cure it - I am stuffing instructions into memory and running them with start - that works fine but the status bar remains an angry red.
'\'Fish\' (David B. Trout)' david.b.trout@gmail.com [hercules-390]
2018-07-28 23:21:33 UTC
Permalink
Post by ***@yahoo.com [hercules-390]
I know this is an old thread but I'm looking at a red status
bar and wondering how to cure it - I am stuffing instructions
into memory and running them with start - that works fine
but the status bar remains an angry red.
There is nothing to cure. Everything is working as designed. Your red title bar is to be expected given the way you are using Hercules.

Ref:

- Section "4.2.1 Window Title" on page 15 of reference
manual: "Hercules Operations and Utilities Guide"
(http://hercdoc.glanzmann.org/V400/HerculesOperationsandUtilities.pdf_


- Section "5.60 PANTITLE (Console window title)" on page 135
of reference manual: "Hercules User Reference Guide"
(http://hercdoc.glanzmann.org/V400/HerculesUserReference.pdf)
--
"Fish" (David B. Trout)
Software Development Laboratories
http://www.softdevlabs.com
mail: ***@softdevlabs.com
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