Fore-SSM-MIB

Description: Fore Systems SSM (Switch Switching Module) MIB providing configuration and status objects for the ForeRunner switch fabric module.

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Fore-SSM-MIB is a Fore Systems (later Marconi/FORE) proprietary MIB implementing the Synchronization Status Message (SSM) function for the ForeRunner ATM/SDH switch fabric, used to manage timing/clock reference quality signaling between network elements. It exposes a table of synchronization status objects per interface, including received and transmitted SSM values, forced quality/reference overrides, and SDH-specific timing options. Its monitoring purpose is centered on hardware timing/clock health rather than general system status, letting an operator detect degraded or lost timing references, forced synchronization overrides left enabled, or mismatched SSM values between adjacent network elements that could cause clock slips. It is an extension layered on top of SDH/SONET timing standards and would typically be used alongside SONET-related MIBs on the same platform. It is deployed on Fore Systems ATM switches carrying SDH/SONET-timed interfaces in carrier or large enterprise transport networks. Engineers can download the Fore-SSM-MIB file directly to load it into their MIB browser.

An operator would poll syncStatusMsgRxMessage and syncStatusMsgTxMessage per interface via the syncStatusMsgTable/syncStatusMsgEntry to compare received vs. transmitted synchronization quality levels, and check syncStatusMsgPrevRxMessage to see if the reference quality recently degraded. Finding syncStatusMsgForceRxSsm or syncStatusMsgForceDus set unexpectedly would reveal an engineer had manually overridden automatic clock reference selection, a condition worth flagging since syncStatusMsgAutomaticRefSwitching would normally handle this.

Monitors synchronization status messages and clock quality indicators on Fore Systems ATM switches.