Abstract: A Network Alarm Monitoring System for monitoring messages generated by network elements that provides for a great degree of configuration and reliability. Via a display interface, e.g., Web-based or otherwise, clients may create and configure text-based rules for monitoring alarms. These rules are applied to specify which actions are to be taken on which messages, based on designated field values of alarm messages. Actions include writing messages to an alarm database, sending messages to downstream network management systems, triggering an e-mail or page. Furthermore, remote access to the network element being monitored is provided.