def alertStart(severity, gid, sid, message, sf_flags, sf_unset, ent_flags, ent_unset)
if @preamble == 0
puts "FATAL: Failed to start response XML"
exit
end
@alert_preamble = 1
puts "\t\t<verdict priority=\"#{severity}\" gid=\"#{gid}\" sid=\"#{sid}\">"
puts "\t\t\t<flags>"
puts "\t\t\t\t<sourcefire>"
puts "\t\t\t\t\t<set>#{sf_flags}</set>"
puts "\t\t\t\t\t<unset>#{sf_unset}</unset>"
puts "\t\t\t\t</sourcefire>"
puts "\t\t\t\t<enterprise>"
puts "\t\t\t\t\t<set>#{ent_flags}</set>"
puts "\t\t\t\t\t<unset>#{ent_unset}</unset>"
puts "\t\t\t\t</enterprise>"
puts "\t\t\t</flags>"
puts "\t\t\t<message>#{message}</message>"
puts "\t\t\t<metadata>"
end