Managing Cisco Devices with CiscoView

Table Of Contents

Managing Cisco Devices with CiscoView

Starting CiscoView

Starting CiscoView From the CiscoWorks for Windows Desktop

Starting CiscoView From WhatsUp Gold

Navigating in CiscoView

Main Menu Buttons

Status Bar and Icons

Setting Preferences

Making Selections and Displaying Menus

Configuring Devices

Monitoring Devices

Selecting Multiple Components

Maintaining Device Packages

Understanding Device Packages

Using the Package Support Updater

Adding Device Packages Using the CiscoWorks for Windows Desktop

Getting CiscoView Help

Managing Cisco Devices with CiscoView

CiscoView is a graphical SNMP-based device management tool that provides real-time views of networked Cisco Systems devices. These views deliver a continuously updated physical picture of device configuration and performance conditions, with simultaneous views available for multiple device sessions.

This chapter familiarizes you with the following tasks:

• Starting CiscoView

• Navigating in CiscoView

• Setting Preferences

• Making Selections and Displaying Menus

• Configuring Devices

• Monitoring Devices

• Selecting Multiple Components

• Maintaining Device Packages

• Getting CiscoView Help

Starting CiscoView

You can start CiscoView from:

•CiscoWorks for Windows desktop

•WhatsUp Gold console

Starting CiscoView From the CiscoWorks for Windows Desktop

You can start CiscoView from the CiscoWorks for Windows desktop on either the server in which CiscoWorks for Windows was installed, or from a remote client. The procedure is the same in both cases. (Refer to "Starting CiscoWorks for Windows" section on page 1-4).

Starting CiscoView From WhatsUp Gold

The procedures for starting CiscoView from WhatsUp Gold are slightly different, depending on whether you are launching from the server or a remote client. Refer to "Launching the WhatsUp Gold Application from the Server" section on page 2-29 and "Launching the WhatsUp Gold Application from a Remote Client" section on page 2-30.

Navigating in CiscoView

When you start CiscoView, the CiscoView main window appears, see Figure 3-1.

Figure 3-1 CiscoView Main Window

Table 3-1 lists CiscoView Navigation options.

Table 3-1 CiscoView Navigation Options

Option

Description

Select Device Drop-Down List Box

Use the Select Device drop-down list box to select and display a device. Either enter a device name or IP address, or select from the recently displayed devices listed.

Device Commands Buttons

Use the Device Commands buttons to activate device commands unique to the displayed device.

The Device Command buttons are described in the online help for each device package.

Main Menu Buttons

Use the Main Menu buttons to perform various CiscoView tasks.

Refer to Table 3-2 for more information.

Graphical Device Display Window

Use the Graphical Device Display window to view a graphical display of the device's back or front panel once you select a device. The display shows all device components color-coded (refer to Table 3-3) according to their current status and refreshed according to your polling frequency. If a hot swap is detected, the device is rediscovered and the display redrawn at the next poll.

Status Bar and Buttons

Use the Status Bar and buttons to display the progress and result of device polling, selections, and so on.

Refer to Table 3-3 for more information.

Main Menu Buttons

Table 3-2 describes the Main Menu buttons for all Cisco devices.

Table 3-2 Main Menu Buttons

Menu Button

Description

Telnet

Launches a Telnet command-line session to the managed device.

CCO

Launches a separate browser containing the Cisco Connection Online (CCO) web page.

Cisco Support

Opens the TAC Mailer dialog box for sending reports to the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC). To proceed with this option, you must provide a Case number. You can describe your device problem using the available options and the comment field. You then click the Send button to send information about the runtime device package and operating environment to the specified mail recipients.

Preferences

Opens the User Preferences dialog box where you can specify SNMP, community strings, look and feel, and debug parameters. Preference settings are preserved for all CiscoView sessions.

For a description of the preference parameters, see Setting Preferences.

About

Displays the following:

•CiscoView release version and copyrights

•Active device package, if applicable

•All installed device package information

Help

•Opens CiscoView help if no device is selected.

•Opens context-sensitive help if a device or a component is selected.

Status Bar and Icons

Table 3-3 describes the Status Bar and icons.

Table 3-3 Status Bar and Icons

Item

Description

Status Bar

Displays the progress and result of device polling, selections, and so on.

System Info Icon

Displays system MIB information (name, description, location, contact, and up-time) for a displayed device.

Print Icon

Prints the current graphical display.

Color Legend Icon

Describes the significance of the colors on the graphical display. Color schemes are:

•Blue—the port is dormant

•Orange—the port is down

•Red—the port failed

•Yellow—the port has a minor failure

•Purple—the port is being tested

•Green—the port is active

Setting Preferences

When you click on the Preferences button on the CiscoView main menu, a User Preferences dialog box appears. From this dialog box, you can set SNMP, community strings, and debug parameters.

Table 3-4 describes the preference options.

Table 3-4 Preference Options

Options

Description

SNMP

Sets polling frequency, SNMP timeout and retries, default read and write community strings, and Show MIB label.

Use the Default Read Community and the Default Write Community fields if you want CiscoView to automatically assign default community strings.

Community

Deletes and modifies the read and write community strings in the device list.

Debug

Sets SNMP trace, activity trace, and show trace window.

Making Selections and Displaying Menus

When you select a device in CiscoView, a graphical representation of the device appears. You can view the front or back panel, and select different components (cards, ports, power supply) and menu options to configure and monitor status. You can also display a logical view of the device such as the modems in an access server.

To make selections and display menus, use these methods:

•Left-click on the device or component to select it. A yellow border appears around the selection. To select the device, point to an area that does not contain a component before clicking.

•Right-click (after making a selection) to display popup menu options specific to the selection. The default menu option (usually configure) appears in bold type.

The popup menu options vary by the components you select, but usually contain those described in Table 3-5.

Table 3-5 Popup Menu Options

Select this...

To perform this task...

Configure

Configure device categories, such as Management, Physical, ARP Table, TCP, and so on.

Monitor

View and monitor a set of dynamic charts for selected device categories such as Management, Physical, and so on.

Clears All Counters

Clear all counters on the device.

Front and Rear

Display either the front or back device panel. A logical view can also appear as defined by the device package.

Resize

Resize the graphical display.

Refresh

Trigger component polling and display update.

System Info

Display system MIB information (name, description, location, contact, and up-time) for a displayed device.

•Double-click on the device or component to display the default dialog box (usually configure).

•Hold down the left mouse button and drag to select several similar components at once, or hold down the control key and click on more than one component. A yellow border appears around the selected components.

Configuring Devices

Configuration is a process that establishes the characteristics of the device and its connections and components on the network, and records this information in appropriate files. After detailed aspects of the device are configured, the system can identify the device and dynamically monitor its performance. You can use the CiscoView GUI device displays, tables, and statistical/status windows, to manage, monitor, and troubleshoot the device and its components on an ongoing and automatically updated basis.

CiscoView enables you to configure a device by defining its characteristics, connections, and components (such as cards and ports). You can configure and display multiple categories of information such as Interface, Management, Physical, and ARP Table simultaneously.

When you select Configure from the popup menu options, CiscoView displays the Configure dialog box. Each display provides information about MIB variables. Depending on the category you select, the Configure dialog box will either display the MIB variables in a list format ( Figure 3-2), or in a table format ( Figure 3-3).

The Configure dialog box is device-specific, it varies depending on the type of device or port you have selected to configure. Depending on your device, you might not see the Category menu, or different options in the Category menu.

For information about the Configure dialog box, click the Help button on the dialog box.

Figure 3-2 shows a device specific Configure dialog box with the MIB variables in a list format.

Figure 3-2 Configure Dialog Box with the MIB Variables in a List Format

Table 3-6 describes the action buttons available within the Configure dialog box with the MIB variables in a list format.

Table 3-6 Action Buttons within the Configure Dialog Box—List Format

Buttons

Descriptions

OK

Writes modification of all categories to the managed device then terminates the dialog box.

Apply

Writes modification of the current category to the managed device.

Cancel

Aborts changes and exits the catalog.

Print

Prints the current category.

Help

Opens context-sensitive help for the Configure dialog box.

Figure 3-3 shows a device-specific Configure dialog box with the MIB variables in a table format.

Figure 3-3 Configure Dialog Box with the MIB Variables in a Table Format

You can add, modify, or delete entries from a configuration table. Read-only configuration information is displayed in read-only format. Configuration information that require your input, and is subsequently modifiable, is displayed in read-write format.

Table 3-7 describes the action buttons available within the Configure dialog box with the MIB variables in a table format.

Table 3-7 Action Buttons within the Configure Dialog Box

Buttons

Descriptions

OK

Writes modification of all categories to the managed device then terminates the dialog box.

Apply

Writes modification of the current category to the managed device.

Cancel

Aborts changes and exits the catalog.

Create

Adds an entry to the configuration table.

Delete

Deletes the entry from the configuration table.

Print

Prints the current category.

Help

Opens context-sensitive help for the Configure dialog box.

Monitoring Devices

CiscoView enables you to monitor the performance of different categories of information such as Ethernet collisions, Management, Physical, and so on. When you select Monitor from the popup menu options, a Monitor window appears and displays a summary of performance charts ( Figure 3-4). The charts are device-specific, they vary depending on the type of device or port you have selected to monitor. Each display represents information provided by a MIB variable, with the common meaning indicated below the display. CiscoView supports pie, strip, x-y, dial, and bar charts.

For information about the Monitor dialog box, click the Help button on the Monitor window.

Figure 3-4 shows a device-specific Monitor window.

Figure 3-4 Device-Specific Monitor Window

Table 3-8 describes the buttons available within the Monitor window.

Table 3-8 Buttons Within the Monitor Window

Buttons

Description

Print

Prints the current category

Help

Opens context-sensitive help for the Monitor window

Cancel

Exits the dialog box

Selecting Multiple Components

You can display configuration or performance information for multiple components in one window. When you select multiple components of a device, and then select configure or monitor from the popup menu options, a table appears ( Figure 3-5).

Figure 3-5 shows a device-specific configuration table.

Figure 3-5 Device-Specific Configuration Table

You can modify entries from a configuration table. Read-only configuration information is displayed in read-only format. Configuration information that require your input, and is subsequently modifiable, is displayed in read-write format.

All entries in a monitor table are displayed in read-only format.

The table entries use the following color scheme to distinguish between read-only and read-write entries ( Table 3-9).

Table 3-9 Table Entries Color Scheme

Color Scheme

Format

Grey

Read-only

White

Read-write

Maintaining Device Packages

CiscoView provides you with the ability to perform the following device support tasks:

•Integrate new Cisco device information asynchronously with the CiscoView engine.

•Uninstall device packages.

•Install new device packages.

•Upgrade existing installed packages.

•Schedule downloads of device packages to occur regularly. If you schedule downloads, the new device packages are automatically downloaded from CCO to a staging area. For detailed information about scheduling downloads and using the staging area, refer to the CiscoView context-sensitive online help.

•View a list of currently installed device packages and their versions.

Understanding Device Packages

Cisco routers and switches are referred to as network devices. To manage these devices using CiscoView, you must verify:

•The devices are physically installed and connected to the network.

•CiscoView contains the appropriate device software.

Device software is installed as a device package; for example, the Catalyst 5000 software is installed as the CAT5000.zip. CiscoView uses the device package to display a dynamic panel view of the physical device and all its modules, submodules, ports, and so on.

You can install device packages directly from the CiscoWorks for Windows CD-ROM package, or download device packages from Cisco Connection Online (CCO), a Cisco World Wide Web location for software upgrades. The device packages are available in the D:\install\jars\devpkgs directory (assuming that the D drive is your CD-ROM drive).

Additional devices can be added to CiscoView any time after the initial product release or installation. When new device packages become available, they are placed on CCO. Check this site to ensure that you have the latest device release.

Using the Package Support Updater

Note Only one client can add or delete device support at a time. After adding or deleting device support, all active users must close their browsers and log back in.

Refer to the Package Support Updater online help for more information.

Downloading Device Packages

This section provides a quick reference for downloading device packages from CCO.

For detailed description about downloading from CCO, see the software library Web page at http://www.cisco.com/public/library.

To download device packages from CCO:

Step 1 Create a temporary location for the cv_pkgs directory, for example, c:\cv_pkgs.

Step 2 Log into CCO:

a. Launch a browser and enter the following URL:

http://www.cisco.com

b. Click the Log In link.

c. Enter your CCO user ID and password, and then click OK.

Step 3 Launch the CiscoView Planner page by entering the following URL:

http://www.cisco.com/cgi-bin/Software/CiscoView/cvplanner.cgi

Note This URL will launch only after you log into CCO.

Step 4 Select the product type.

Step 5 Select the product (device package).

Step 6 Select the CiscoView version (CiscoView 5.0), and then click Submit.

Note It may take a few minutes for the CiscoView Planner page to update.

Step 7 Download the .zip file for the device, cv5packages.zip, into the cv_pkgs directory.

Step 8 Any prerequisite files will automatically be added to your device file and zipped for download.

Step 9 Unzip the cv5packages.zip file.

This will extract multiple .zip and readme files. Do not unzip these individual files.

Step 10 Add the device packages to CiscoView:

a. Start the Package Support Updater.

For instructions about starting the CiscoView Package Support Updater, see "Starting the Package Support Updater."

b. Select Install Device.

For instructions about installing device packages, see "Installing Device Packages."

Starting the Package Support Updater

To start the CiscoView Package Support Updater:

Step 1 To start the Package Support Updater, do one of the following:

a. Click the task bar Start menu, then select Programs > CiscoWorks for Windows 6.1 > Package Support Updater.

or

b. Select Tasks >Package Support Updater from the CiscoWorks for Windows desktop. Then select the required function (such as Add Device Support).

The CiscoView Package Support Updater dialog box appears.

Installing Device Packages

Note Any existing sessions of CiscoWorks for Windows 6.1 terminate when you install device packages. Before installing or uninstalling device packages, it is recommended that you close any open CiscoView sessions.

To install new device packages or upgrade existing device packages:

Step 1 Start the CiscoView Package Support Updater.

The CiscoView Package Support Updater dialog box appears.

Step 2 Click Install.

The Install Device Packages dialog box appears.

Step 3 Click Browse, navigate to the device package directory, then click Select.

Note The device package directory could either be the cv-pkgs directory that you created to download device packages from CCO or the \install\jars\devpkgs directory on the CiscoWorks for Windows 6.1 CD.

A list of available device packages is displayed. Each entry provides the package name, the .zip file name, the version number of the device packages in the ZIP file, and the version numbers of any installed device packages.

Step 4 To install one or more device packages, click the Select to Install check box.

Note If a given selection does not result in a consistent package repository even with the base packages, that particular section is not allowed. Also, the Package Support Updater will not allow you to select a package whose superceding version has already been installed in the package repository.

Step 5 If the Network Management Integration Data Bundle (NMIDB) files are available in the current source file location, you can add new device support to the NMS with which CiscoWorks for Windows 6.1 is integrated.

When you download a device package, the NMIDB is also downloaded in the current source file location.

Step 6 Click Install.

The CiscoView Package Support Updater verifies that there is sufficient disk space. If there is not enough disk space, an error message is displayed.

If sufficient disk space exists, a Confirm Install Operation dialog box appears.

Step 7 Click Yes.

The CiscoView Incremental Package Install dialog box appears. Installation progress is indicated by messages displayed in a new dialog box.

Table 3-10 describes error messages that might be displayed if the utility encounters problems.

Table 3-10 Installing Device Package Message Summary

Sample Message

Message Type

Explanation

Message Location

Path \tmp\dir2\x is invalid.

Error

Specified directory is not a valid directory.

Status bar

Found 2 CiscoView packages in the directory \tmp\dir\.

Info

Specified directory is a valid directory.

Status bar

Package C8500 cannot be downgraded to a lower version.

Error

User selected a package whose superceding version has already been installed.

Status bar

Cannot find base package CDPAddlet for C8500.

Error

Base packages are unavailable for selected package.

Status bar

Package IOS Addlet has been added to install list due to dependencies.

Info

Installer automatically selected a base package.

Status bar

Cannot proceed with install. Reason: Insufficient disk space.

Error

Not enough disk space.

Dialog box

When the installation is complete, a summary page displays the results.

Step 8 Click Done.

The device packages are installed.

Uninstalling Device Packages

Note Before installing or uninstalling device packages, it is recommended that you close any open CiscoView sessions.

To uninstall device packages:

Step 1 Start the CiscoView Package Support Updater.

The CiscoView Package Support Updater dialog box appears and displays the installed device packages, including package names, descriptions, and current version numbers.

Step 2 To uninstall one or more device packages, click the Select to Uninstall check boxes in the List of Installed Packages list.

If the file you want to uninstall is a prerequisite for another installed device package, that file is not selectable.

Step 3 Click Uninstall.

The Uninstall button is active only when one or more check boxes are selected.

The CiscoView Package Support Updater validates the selection and displays an error message if the selected set of device packages are not compatible.

If the selected device packages are compatible, the Confirm Uninstall Operation dialog box appears.

Step 4 Click Yes.

The CiscoView Device Package Uninstall dialog box appears and displays the uninstallation progress. When the uninstallation is complete, a summary page displays the results.

Step 5 Click Done.

The device packages are uninstalled.

Note Some device packages may have additional dependent packages. You must install these dependent packages first, before installing the device package. An error is reported if the dependent packages are not already installed and are not selected.

Tip For detailed information about adding and deleting device support in CiscoView, see the context-sensitive online help. This comprehensive help system provides procedures and overview material. Go to the Windows Start Menu, select Start > Programs > CiscoWorks for Windows 6.1 > Package Support Updater, then select Help.

Adding Device Packages Using the CiscoWorks for Windows Desktop

Device Packages can be added using the CiscoWorks for Windows desktop.

To add device packages:

Step 1 Open CiscoWorks for Windows. (Refer to "Starting CiscoWorks for Windows" section on page 1-4.)

Step 2 Click Add Packages from the CiscoWorks for Windows desktop menu, located in the left frame of the browser.

Getting CiscoView Help

For detailed information about CiscoView, see the context-sensitive online help. This comprehensive help system provides procedures, overview material, and links to related information.

You can access online help in CiscoView as follows:

•Click Help on the CiscoView main menu. If no device is displayed, CiscoView help is displayed. If a device is displayed, device-specific help is displayed.

•Click Help on a dialog box to display context-sensitive help for that dialog box.

•Select a device or component, then click Help on the CiscoView main menu to display information about that device.

•Click Main on the left frame of the help page. A navigation tree appears in the left pane.

–To view CiscoView help:

Select Device Manager > CiscoView > Basics.

–To view specific device package help:

Select Device Manager > CiscoView.

Select the device package.

•Select Help > About from the CiscoView main menu to display the following:

–CiscoView release version and copyrights

–Active device package, if applicable

–All installed device package information

Option	Description
Select Device Drop-Down List Box	Use the Select Device drop-down list box to select and display a device. Either enter a device name or IP address, or select from the recently displayed devices listed.
Device Commands Buttons	Use the Device Commands buttons to activate device commands unique to the displayed device. The Device Command buttons are described in the online help for each device package.
Main Menu Buttons	Use the Main Menu buttons to perform various CiscoView tasks. Refer to Table 3-2 for more information.
Graphical Device Display Window	Use the Graphical Device Display window to view a graphical display of the device's back or front panel once you select a device. The display shows all device components color-coded (refer to Table 3-3) according to their current status and refreshed according to your polling frequency. If a hot swap is detected, the device is rediscovered and the display redrawn at the next poll.
Status Bar and Buttons	Use the Status Bar and buttons to display the progress and result of device polling, selections, and so on. Refer to Table 3-3 for more information.

Menu Button	Description
Telnet	Launches a Telnet command-line session to the managed device.
CCO	Launches a separate browser containing the Cisco Connection Online (CCO) web page.
Cisco Support	Opens the TAC Mailer dialog box for sending reports to the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC). To proceed with this option, you must provide a Case number. You can describe your device problem using the available options and the comment field. You then click the Send button to send information about the runtime device package and operating environment to the specified mail recipients.
Preferences	Opens the User Preferences dialog box where you can specify SNMP, community strings, look and feel, and debug parameters. Preference settings are preserved for all CiscoView sessions. For a description of the preference parameters, see Setting Preferences.
About	Displays the following: •CiscoView release version and copyrights •Active device package, if applicable •All installed device package information
Help	•Opens CiscoView help if no device is selected. •Opens context-sensitive help if a device or a component is selected.

Item	Description
Status Bar	Displays the progress and result of device polling, selections, and so on.
System Info Icon	Displays system MIB information (name, description, location, contact, and up-time) for a displayed device.
Print Icon	Prints the current graphical display.
Color Legend Icon	Describes the significance of the colors on the graphical display. Color schemes are: •Blue—the port is dormant •Orange—the port is down •Red—the port failed •Yellow—the port has a minor failure •Purple—the port is being tested •Green—the port is active

Options	Description
SNMP	Sets polling frequency, SNMP timeout and retries, default read and write community strings, and Show MIB label. Use the Default Read Community and the Default Write Community fields if you want CiscoView to automatically assign default community strings.
Community	Deletes and modifies the read and write community strings in the device list.
Debug	Sets SNMP trace, activity trace, and show trace window.

Select this...	To perform this task...
Configure	Configure device categories, such as Management, Physical, ARP Table, TCP, and so on.
Monitor	View and monitor a set of dynamic charts for selected device categories such as Management, Physical, and so on.
Clears All Counters	Clear all counters on the device.
Front and Rear	Display either the front or back device panel. A logical view can also appear as defined by the device package.
Resize	Resize the graphical display.
Refresh	Trigger component polling and display update.
System Info	Display system MIB information (name, description, location, contact, and up-time) for a displayed device.

Buttons	Descriptions
OK	Writes modification of all categories to the managed device then terminates the dialog box.
Apply	Writes modification of the current category to the managed device.
Cancel	Aborts changes and exits the catalog.
Print	Prints the current category.
Help	Opens context-sensitive help for the Configure dialog box.

Buttons	Description
Print	Prints the current category
Help	Opens context-sensitive help for the Monitor window
Cancel	Exits the dialog box

Sample Message	Message Type	Explanation	Message Location
Path \tmp\dir2\x is invalid.	Error	Specified directory is not a valid directory.	Status bar
Found 2 CiscoView packages in the directory \tmp\dir\.	Info	Specified directory is a valid directory.	Status bar
Package C8500 cannot be downgraded to a lower version.	Error	User selected a package whose superceding version has already been installed.	Status bar
Cannot find base package CDPAddlet for C8500.	Error	Base packages are unavailable for selected package.	Status bar
Package IOS Addlet has been added to install list due to dependencies.	Info	Installer automatically selected a base package.	Status bar
Cannot proceed with install. Reason: Insufficient disk space.	Error	Not enough disk space.	Dialog box