This variable represents the Distinguished Name (DN) (refer X.720) of the component object against which the particular alarm is raised. The entire component hierarchy should be presented in the category-value information model to unambiguosly identify the specific component object instance. Here category refers to the type of the component and value refers to the instance identifier, both are represented as strings. The format of the string is NEtype=NEname;component class=component instance Id;.... The root component is always the NE and the NE is identified via its type as the category and the value as the NE name. The managed element class for the NE is implicitly assumed. The NE type is based on NortelNMIneType textual convention. With NE as the root, the entire containment with the list of Relative Distinguished Names (RDNs) is presented upto the point where the alarming component is clearly identified. Semicolon is the delimiter between a 'category=value' pair. The string can only contain alphanumeric characters and underscores. No commas, spaces, slashes, hyphens, or dollar signs is allowed.