def METHOD_NAME(self):
    self.alert_filename = os.path.join(self.options.tmpdir, "alert.txt")
    # Open and close to create zero-length file
    with open(self.alert_filename, 'w', encoding='utf8') as _:
        pass
    self.extra_args = [["-debug", "-logtimemicros=1", "-alertnotify=echo %s >> \"" + self.alert_filename + "\""]]
    self.nodes = start_nodes(self.num_nodes, self.options.tmpdir, self.extra_args)