---
title: Testing alerts and alarms
description: After alarms and alert handlers are configured, verify that the server takes the appropriate action when an alarm state changes by manually increasing the severity of a gauge. Alarms and alerts can be verified with the status tool.
component: pingdirectory
version: 11.0
page_id: pingdirectory:pingdatasync_server_administration_guide:pd_sync_test_alerts_alarms
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingdirectory/11.0/pingdatasync_server_administration_guide/pd_sync_test_alerts_alarms.html
revdate: September 13, 2023
section_ids:
  about-this-task: About this task
  steps: Steps
---

# Testing alerts and alarms

## About this task

After alarms and alert handlers are configured, verify that the server takes the appropriate action when an alarm state changes by manually increasing the severity of a gauge. Alarms and alerts can be verified with the `status` tool.

## Steps

1. Configure a gauge with `dsconfig` and set the `override-severity` property to critical. The following example uses the CPU Usage (Percent) gauge.

   ```shell
   $ dsconfig set-gauge-prop \
     --gauge-name "CPU Usage (Percent)" \
     --set override-severity:critical
   ```

2. Run the `status` tool to verify that an alarm was generated with corresponding alerts. The `status` tool provides a summary of the server's current state with key metrics and a list of recent alerts and alarms. The sample output has been shortened to show just the alarms and alerts information.

   ```shell
   $ bin/status
   ```

   ```
                           --- Administrative Alerts ---
   Severity : Time           : Message
   ---------:----------------:-----------------------------------------------
   Error    : 11/Aug/2016    : Alarm [CPU Usage (Percent). Gauge CPU Usage
   (Percent)
            : 15:41:00 -0500 : for Host System has
            :                : a current value of '18.583333333333332'.
            :                : The severity is currently OVERRIDDEN in the
            :                : Gauge's configuration to 'CRITICAL'.
            :                : The actual severity is: The severity is
            :                : currently 'NORMAL', having assumed this
   severity
            :                : Mon Aug 11 15:41:00 CDT 2016. If CPU use is
   high,
            :                : check the server's current workload and make
   any
            :                : needed adjustments. Reducing the load on the
   system
            :                : will lead to better response times.
            :                : Resource='Host System']
            :                : raised with critical severity
   Shown are alerts of severity [Info,Warning,Error,Fatal] from the past 48
   hours
   Use the --maxAlerts and/or --alertSeverity options to filter this list
   ```

   ```
   --- Alarms ---
   Severity : Severity   : Condition : Resource    : Details
            : Start Time :           :             :
   ---------:------------:-----------:-------------:-------------------------
   Critical : 11/Aug/2016: CPU Usage : Host System : Gauge CPU Usage
   (Percent) for
            : 15:41:00   : (Percent) : : Host System
            :  -0500     :           :             : has a current value of
            :            :           :             : '18.785714285714285'.
            :            :           :             : The severity is
   currently
            :            :           :             : 'CRITICAL', having
   assumed
            :            :           :             : this severity Mon Aug 11
            :            :           :             : 15:49:00 CDT 2016. If
   CPU use
            :            :           :             : is high, check the
   server's
            :            :           :             : current workload and
   make any
            :            :           :             : needed adjustments.
   Reducing
            :            :           :             : the load on the system
   will
            :            :           :             : lead to better response
   times
   Shown are alarms of severity [Warning,Minor,Major,Critical
   Use the --alarmSeverity option to filter this list
   ```