var newvalue;
switch(value) {
  case "unknown":
	newvalue = 0;
	break;
  case "notpresent":
	newvalue = 1;
	break;
  case "down":
	newvalue = 2;
	break;
  case "lowerlayerdown":
	newvalue = 3;
	break;
  case "testing":
	newvalue = 4;
	break;
  case "dormant":
	newvalue = 5;
	break;
  case "up":
	newvalue = 6;
	break;  default:
	newvalue = "Problem parsing interface operstate in JS";
}
return newvalue;