(1) Alert information that is provided as text or is encoded using a method in which code points provide an index into short units of stored text. The use of generic alerts prevents the receiver from having to recognize and understand each unique problem for which an alert is sent. See also nongeneric alert.
(2) A Systems Network Architecture (SNA) Network Management Vector that enables a product to signal a problem to the network. CICSPlex SM uses generic alerts as part of its interface to NetView.