diff --git a/EcAlarm.h b/EcAlarm.h
index 7e31d6b..ad91d83 100644
--- a/EcAlarm.h
+++ b/EcAlarm.h
@@ -461,6 +461,8 @@ EcMakeManagedObject(NSString *host, NSString *process, NSString *component);
 
 /** <init/>
  * Initialises the receiver as an alarm for a particular event.<br />
+ * The managedObject argument may be nil if the alarm should use the
+ * default managed object value for the current process.<br />
  * The eventDate argument may be nil if the alarm should use the current
  * timestamp.<br />
  * The managedObject, eventType, probableCause, and specificProblem
diff --git a/EcProcess.h b/EcProcess.h
index 5b66fe7..e664c79 100644
--- a/EcProcess.h
+++ b/EcProcess.h
@@ -345,10 +345,35 @@ extern NSString*	cmdVersion(NSString *ver);
  */
 @interface EcProcess : NSObject <CmdClient,EcAlarmDestination>
 
+/** Convenience method to produce a generic configuration alarm and send
+ * it via the -alarm: method.<br />
+ * The managed object may be nil (in which case it's the current process).<br />
+ * The implied event type is EcAlarmEventTypeProcessingError.<br />
+ * The implied probable cause is EcAlarmConfigurationOrCustomizationError.<br />
+ * The implied severity is EcAlarmSeverityMajor unless isCritical is YES.<br />
+ * The implied trend is EcAlarmTrendNone.<br />
+ * The implied proposed repair action is to check/correct the config.<br />
+ * The specific problem and additional text should be used to suggest
+ * what is wrong with the config and where the config error should be
+ * found/corrected.
+ */
+- (EcAlarm*) alarmConfigurationFor: (NSString*)managedObject
+                   specificProblem: (NSString*)specificProblem
+                    additionalText: (NSString*)additionalText
+                          critical: (BOOL)isCritical;
+
 /** Returns the array of current alarms.
  */
 - (NSArray*) alarms;
 
+/** Convenience method to clear an alarm as produced by the
+ * -alarmConfigErrorFor:specificProblem:perceivedSeverity:additionalText:
+ * method.
+ */
+- (void) clearConfigurationFor: (NSString*)managedObject
+               specificProblem: (NSString*)specificProblem
+                additionalText: (NSString*)additionalText;
+
 /** Return a short copyright notice ... subclasses should override.
  */
 - (NSString*) ecCopyright;
diff --git a/EcProcess.m b/EcProcess.m
index 662e574..3764124 100644
--- a/EcProcess.m
+++ b/EcProcess.m
@@ -1310,14 +1310,61 @@ static NSString	*noFiles = @"No log files to archive";
   return started;
 }
 
+- (oneway void) alarm: (in bycopy EcAlarm*)event
+{
+  [alarmDestination alarm: event];
+}
+
+- (EcAlarm*) alarmConfigurationFor: (NSString*)managedObject
+                   specificProblem: (NSString*)specificProblem
+                    additionalText: (NSString*)additionalText
+                          critical: (BOOL)isCritical
+{
+  EcAlarmSeverity       severity;
+  NSString              *action;
+  EcAlarm               *a;
+
+  if (YES == isCritical)
+    {
+      severity = EcAlarmSeverityCritical;
+    }
+  else
+    {
+      severity = EcAlarmSeverityMajor;
+    }
+  action = @"Check/correct configuration";      // FIXME ... localize
+  a = [EcAlarm alarmForManagedObject: managedObject
+                                  at: nil
+                       withEventType: EcAlarmEventTypeProcessingError
+                       probableCause: EcAlarmConfigurationOrCustomizationError 
+                     specificProblem: specificProblem
+                   perceivedSeverity: severity
+                proposedRepairAction: action
+                      additionalText: additionalText];
+  [self alarm: a];
+  return a;
+}
+
 - (NSArray*) alarms
 {
   return [alarmDestination alarms];
 }
 
-- (oneway void) alarm: (in bycopy EcAlarm*)event
+- (void) clearConfigurationFor: (NSString*)managedObject
+               specificProblem: (NSString*)specificProblem
+                additionalText: (NSString*)additionalText
 {
-  [alarmDestination alarm: event];
+  EcAlarm       *a;
+
+  a = [EcAlarm alarmForManagedObject: managedObject
+                                  at: nil
+                       withEventType: EcAlarmEventTypeProcessingError
+                       probableCause: EcAlarmConfigurationOrCustomizationError 
+                     specificProblem: specificProblem
+                   perceivedSeverity: EcAlarmSeverityCleared
+                proposedRepairAction: nil
+                      additionalText: additionalText];
+  [self alarm: a];
 }
 
 - (oneway void) domanage: (in bycopy NSString*)managedObject