Whenever a vital changes status, mod_response executes response handlers provided by the administrator to handle the change and take any necessary, predefined action.

Handlers for the network are arranged in a specially designed file tree. It's basic structure involves a directory for each node, with sub directories for each vital and then the response handler executables. As an example, here is a simple response handler tree:

/192.168.0.2/http/normal
/192.168.0.2/http/warning
/192.168.0.2/http/fatal
/192.168.0.2/ping/alive
/192.168.0.2/ping/dead
/192.168.0.7/ping/alive
/192.168.0.7/ping/dead
    

Each of the handlers are executes whenever that vital enters the status with the handlers name. All text in these cases is lower case, to avoid any ambiguities. It's up to you, as the administrator, what goes on inside of these. Oh, and please don't send e-mails from them.