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Chapter 3

Objects



This chapter describes how to create and monitor objects.

This chapter discusses:

Sun Management Center objects represent parts (or nodes) of a network and include hardware and software components such as hosts (workstations and servers), printers, routers, modules, and so on. A segment of the network itself can even be an object.

Note - For additional information, refer to your supplement. The supplement contains important hardware-specific information about creating an object.

To monitor or manage an object, you create a node to represent it in an administrative domain or group. If the group does not yet exist, you must first create the group.

You can create and monitor or manage one or more administrative domains containing nodes for multiple objects (such as the workstations and other devices connected to the server). For information about administrative domains, see Chapter 2.

Creating a Node

You create nodes through the Edit pull-down menu in the main console window.


 

To Create a Node

Note - An administrative domain must exist before you can create a node. To create an administrative domain, see "To Create Administrative Domains".
  1. In the hierarchy view of the main console window, select the administrative domain in which you want to create the new object.
  Select the lowest level group of the administrative domain where the new object should be created.
  For example, if you want to create a node in a building that is in one of the campuses of a administrative domain, then select the building in the administrative domain as the lowest level group.
  2. In the main console window, select Edit Create an Object.
  The Create Topology Object window is displayed. By default the tab is set to Node (FIGURE 3-1).

FIGURE  3-1 Create Topology Object Window--Node Tab

  3. In the upper half of the Create Topology Object menu, set up the new node:
  a. Click the Monitor Via button to see the pull-down menu, then select the software or agent to monitor the new node.
There are seven categories of agents and monitors (TABLE 3-1). If an agent is not available for your selected object, SNMP Ping usually works. If you do not select an available agent or ping command, the creation fails.

TABLE  3-1   Types of Sun Management Center Monitoring 
Type
 Description
 Effect

Agent - Host  

Monitor and manage a host that has an active agent that is installed and running.  

The status of the agent on the host can be monitored. The Details window of the Sun Management Center agent host contains tabs such as Info, Browser, Alarms, and so forth. The Entity Polling Type in the Info tab is ahost.  

Agent - Platform  

For more information, see your supplement.  

 

Agent - Module  

Monitor and manage a module that has an active Sun Management Center agent that is installed and running.  

The status of the Sun Management Center Module on the agent host can be monitored. The Details window contains Info and Browser tabs. The Entity Polling Type in the Info tab is amod.  

SNMP Proxy  

Monitor and manage the device through a Sun Management Center agent that is running a Sun Management Center proxy module for that device. (The proxy module must have been previously loaded into the agent by using the Load Module dialog. See Chapter 11.) Communication between the Sun Management Center Topology manager and the agent is SNMPv2 usec. Communication between the Sun Management Center agent and the remote device is SNMPv1 or SNMPv2, depending on the proxy module.  

The Proxy Monitoring module data can be seen. The Details window contains the Info and Browser tabs. The Entity Polling Type in the Info tab is aprox.  

SNMP Ping  

Monitor the device by using SNMP ping command. The Sun Management Center Topology manager communicates with the device using SNMPv1. (There are no management capabilities provided for devices monitored by the SNMP ping command.)  

The availability of the SNMP agent on the device can be monitored. The Details window contains only the Info tab. The Entity Polling Type in the Info tab is snmp.  

ICMP Ping  

Monitor the device by using the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) ping command. (There are no management capabilities provided for devices monitored by the ICMP ping command.)  

The accessibility of the device can be monitored. The Details window contains only the Info tab. The Entity Polling Type in the Info tab is ping.  

Non-Monitored  

Created node is for display only. Its status is not monitored.  

No aspects of the device are monitored. The Details window contains only the Info tab. The Entity Polling Type in the Info tab is dummy.  

Note - For information about creating an object for your specific platform, see the supplement.
  b. If applicable, select a type from the pull-down menu in the Type field. The Type field displays only if SNMP Ping, ICMP Ping, or Non-monitored is selected in the Monitor Via field.

TABLE  3-2   Choices Available in the Type Pull-Down Menu
Monitor by
 Agent - Host
 Agent - Platform
 Agent - Module
 SNMP Proxy
 SNMP Ping
 ICMP Ping
 Non-monitored
Type
 

 

 

 

 

Server

Workstation

PC

Router

Printer

Concentrator  

Server

Workstation

PC

Router

Printer

Concentrator  

Server

Workstation

PC

Router

Printer

Concentrator  

  c. If applicable, scroll and select an object in the Create Topology Object window.
For some types of monitoring, the right side of the Create Topology Object window displays the set of icons for the object you have selected. The icons are displayed in the hierarchy and topology views in the main console window when the node is created.
  d. (Optional) Create a unique new name in the Node Label field.
The default label is the host name.
  e. (Optional) Type a description of the node.
  4. In the lower half of the Create Topology Object window, type the requested information.
  The questions in the lower half of the window vary with the agent or monitor that you selected in Step 4a, above. The Non-Monitored selection does not require further information, but most agent or monitor selections ask you to enter:
  You can enter either the host name, the IP address, or both. If there is a conflict between the host name and the IP address, the host name takes precedence.
  Other agent or monitor selections may also ask for one or more of the following:
  5. Complete this procedure with one of the following actions:
  This message is displayed at the bottom of the Create Topology Object window:

Creating Node... Please Wait.

Note - If you are connected to one Sun Management Center server context and create a node on another Sun Management Center server context, ownership of the new node on the second server context defaults to the espublic identity instead of your login identity. This situation is normal. The espublic identity is imposed for security of transactions between Sun Management Center server contexts. For more information, see "Sun Management Center Remote Server Access".
  If you want to make any changes to the new node, see "Modifying Objects".

Creating a Monitored Module Object

If you want to monitor one or more module objects on a number of hosts, you may find it useful to create module objects for each host and place all of the modules in a common location (that is, in the same group or administrative domain). The procedure for creating a module object is similar to that for creating a node.


 

To Create a Module Object

  1. In the hierarchy view of the main console window, select the administrative domain in which you want to create the new object.
  2. In the main console window, select Edit Create an Object.
  3. Select the Node tab in the Create Topology Object window.
  4. Select Sun Management Center Agent - Module in the Monitor Via field (FIGURE 3-2).

FIGURE  3-2 Create Topology Object Window for Sun Management Center Agent - Module

  5. (Optional) Type a node label.
  6. (Optional) Type a description.
  7. Type a host name or IP address.
  You can enter either the host name, the IP address, or both. If there is a conflict between the host name and the IP address, the host name takes precedence.
  8. If necessary, change the port number.
  9. Click the List Modules button to display a list of modules that are currently loaded on the host.
  If the module that you want to use is not loaded, see "To Load a Module". If the module that you want to use is not enabled, see "To Enable a Module".
  The module list is displayed (FIGURE 3-3).

FIGURE  3-3 Module List

  10. Select the module that you want to monitor and click OK.
  The module list closes.
  11. Complete this procedure with one of the following actions:

Creating Groups

You can create two types of groups, General and IP-based. General groups are based on geography (campus or building). IP-based groups are based on networks or subnets.

Note - To create a group, you must have esdomadm privileges. See "Sun Management Center Groups" in for more information.

 

To Create a Group

  1. In the hierarchy view of the main console window, click the administrative domain in which you want the new group.
  Select (by clicking) a location in the administrative domain where the new group should be created.
  For example, if you want to create a group in a building that is in one of the campuses of an administrative domain, then click the building icon in the administrative domain.
  2. In the main console window, select Edit Create an Object.
  The Create Topology Object window is displayed.

FIGURE  3-4 Creating a Group in the Create Topology Object Window

  3. In the Create Topology Object window:
  a. Click the Group tab (FIGURE 3-4).
  b. Change the Type field, if desired (General or IP-Based).
  c. Select the object type (Building, Campus, or General).
The right side of the window is updated with an icon corresponding to the object type.
  d. Create a new group Label.
  e. (Optional) Type a description in the optional Description field.
  f. For an IP-based group, specify the IP address and the subnet mask.
Note - The creation of an IP-based group results in the creation of an empty network or subnet "container" which you can populate using the Create Topology Object window.
  4. Complete this procedure with one of the following actions:
  If you selected OK or Apply, this message is displayed at the bottom of the Create Topology Object window:

Creating group... Please Wait.

  If the request ends successfully, the main console window is updated and the group is displayed.
  If the request fails, an error message is displayed at the bottom of the Create Topology Object window. The cause of the error may be that you do not have the right permission to create this group.
  If you want to make any changes to the new group, see "Modifying Objects".
  5. Add components to your group:

Creating a Composite Object

A composite object is a group of related objects that you want to monitor together. This term refers to hardware with multiple instances of the Solaris operating environment running inside a single chassis.

You create composite objects through the Edit pull-down menu in the Create Topology Object window.


 

To Create a Composite Object

  1. In the hierarchy view of the main console window, select the Sun Management Center administrative domain in which you want to create the new composite object.
  Select the lowest level group of the administrative domain where the new composite object should be created.
  2. In the main console window, select Edit Create an Object.
  The Create Topology Object window is displayed. By default the tab is set to Node.
  3. Click the Composite tab in the Create Topology Object window.
  The window changes to display settings available for composite objects (FIGURE 3-5).

FIGURE  3-5 Create Topology Object Window--Composite Tab

  4. Select an object in the Create Topology Object window.
  For some types of monitoring, the right side of the Create Topology Object window displays the set of icons for the object you have selected. The icons are displayed in the hierarchy and topology views in the main console window when the composite object is created.
  5. Create a unique new name in the Label field.
  6. (Optional) Type a description of the node.
  7. In the lower half of the Create Topology Object window, type the requested information.
  You can enter either the host name, the IP address, or both. If there is a conflict between the host name and the IP address, the host name takes precedence.
  8. Complete this procedure with one of the following actions:
  This message is displayed at the bottom of the Create Topology Object window:

Creating Composite Object... Please Wait.

Note - If you are connected to one Sun Management Center server context and create an object on another Sun Management Center server context, ownership of the new object on the second server context defaults to the espublic identity instead of your login identity. This situation is normal. The espublic identity is imposed for security of transactions between Sun Management Center server contexts. For more information, see "Sun Management Center Remote Server Access".
  If you want to make any changes to the new object, see "Modifying Objects".

Creating Segments

To complete your view of an administrative domain, you can include segments of the networks linking the nodes in the administrative domain. A segment object is a line in the hierarchy of the topology view.


 

To Create a Segment

  1. In the main console window:
  a. In the left window, select a location in the administrative domain where the new segment should be created.
The segment is created at the selected (highlighted) level.
For example, if you want to create a segment in a building that is in one of the campuses of an administrative domain, then select the building in the administrative domain.
  b. In the main console window, select Edit Create an Object.
The Create Topology Object window is displayed (FIGURE 3-1).
  2. In the Create Topology Object window:
  a. Click the Segment tab (FIGURE 3-6).

FIGURE  3-6 Segment Tab in the Create Topology Object Window

  b. Change the Type field, if desired (Bus or Ring).
  c. Select the object type.
The list of choices (Ethernet or IPX) changes with your selection in the Type field.
At the right in the Create Topology Object window is a window that displays large and small icons corresponding to the type of object you have selected. The icons are displayed in the topology view in the main console window when the segment is created.
  d. Type a new segment label.
  e. (Optional) Type a description in the Description field.
  f. Type the IP address for this segment.
  g. Type a subnet mask for this segment.
  3. Complete this procedure with one of the following actions:
  This message is displayed at the bottom of the Create Topology Object window:

Creating segment... Please Wait

  If the request is completed successfully, the Create Topology Object window closes. The main console window is updated and the view is displayed.
  If the request fails, an error message is displayed in the Create Topology Object window.
  If you want to make any changes to the new segment, see "Modifying Objects".

Connecting Objects

You can connect objects in the topology view.


 

To Connect Objects

  1. Select two objects in the topology view.
  To select two objects, select the first object in the topology view. Hold down the Shift key and click the second object using the mouse button.
  2. Select Edit Create a Connection.
  A link is displayed between the objects.

Copying Objects

To move an object from one location in the topology view to another, use the Edit commands, Cut and Paste. (Sun Management Center 3.0 software does not support drag and release as an operation for moving objects.) To copy an object into other topology views (leaving the original object in its current location), use Copy instead of Cut.

For example, you can create an administrative domain that contains some of the objects that already exist in another administrative domain. To do this, create a new administrative domain (see Chapter 2), then copy existing objects into the new administrative domain as described in the following procedure.

You can also copy a group (an object that contains other objects). In this case, the software does not create an independent, completely new group. Rather, it creates a symbolic link to the existing group. Thus every copy is a different "view" of the same group.

Note - You can select multiple objects by using the mouse button while holding down the Shift key.

For more information on the main console window, see Chapter 5.

Note - The copy, cut, and paste functions are available in the topology view. The copy and cut functions are also available in a pop-up window by clicking your right mouse button on the object.

 

To Copy an Object

This procedure is for a single object. To copy a group, see "To Copy a Group of Objects".

  1. In the main console window, select the existing object in the topology view.
  2. At the top of the main console window, select Edit Copy in the pull-down menu.
  This message is displayed at the bottom of the main console window: 

Copy successful

  3. Open the destination group or administrative domain.
  The destination group is displayed in the topology view.
  4. At the top of the main console window, select Edit Paste.
  The pasted object is displayed in the destination group or administrative domain, and this message is displayed at the bottom of the main console window: 

Paste successful


 

To Copy a Group of Objects

To copy objects that are in one group and paste the copies into another group:

  1. In the topology view, select the objects to be copied.
  To copy all objects in the topology view, select Edit Select All in the main console window menu bar.
  To copy two or more objects selectively:
  a. Click the first object to select it.
  b. On the keyboard hold down the Shift key and click one or more additional objects.
  2. Select Edit Copy in the main console window menu bar.
  When the objects are copied, this message is displayed at the bottom of the main console window: 

Copy Successful

  3. In the hierarchy view, select (highlight) the new group or administrative domain where the group is to be copied.
  4. Select Edit Paste Into in the main console window menu bar.
  Alternatively, you can click with your right mouse button on the destination administrative domain and select Paste Into from the pop-up menu.
Caution - If you select Edit Paste (instead of Edit Paste Into), the objects may be pasted into the wrong group. If this occurs, highlight the duplicate objects and select Edit Delete Object/Connection.
Caution - When you copy a group in the Sun Management Center software, the new copy (a symbolic link) is labelled with italic font. The italic font is a reminder that this is a link. If you add or remove objects from this group, the original group and all copies of the group are affected.
Note - An object in the cut (pre-move) state remains visible--and selected with dashed lines--until it has been successfully pasted. If you change your mind and no longer want to paste the object, you can remove it from the cut state by clicking on it a second time.

Modifying Objects

Once you have created or copied an object, you can change the object through the Modify Object window. The changes affect only the description of the object (in the Sun Management Center server database) and do not modify the object itself.


 

To Modify an Object

  1. Select the object in the main console window.
  2. Select Edit Modify in the main console window.
  The Modify Object window is displayed (FIGURE 3-7). (The appearance of the window varies widely, depending on whether the object is a group, node, composite object, or segment.) The following example shows how to modify a node.

FIGURE  3-7 Modify Object Window--Example for a Node

  3. Edit the characteristics as needed.
  If you are modifying a group object, the available characteristics are:
  For a node, the available characteristics are:
  For a segment, the available characteristics are:
  For a composite object, the available characteristics are:

See your supplement for more information.

  4. Click OK to save your changes, or Cancel to leave the characteristics unchanged.
Note - If the object you are modifying is a host,

Cutting and Pasting Objects

Objects can be cut (to be moved) or deleted (permanently) from the topology view in the main console window. An object that is cut is temporarily saved in memory and can be immediately pasted into one or more areas. (Sun Management Center 3.0 software does not support drag and release as an operation for moving objects.) An object that is deleted cannot be recalled. For instructions on deleting objects, see "Deleting Objects". For more information about the main console window, see Chapter 5.

Cut and paste functions work the same for all kinds of objects (hosts, modules, and groups).

Caution - Do not use the cut function to delete objects. This function should only be used to move objects. To delete an object, use Edit Delete in the main console window. See "Deleting Objects".

 

To Cut and Paste Objects

  1. Select an existing object in the topology view.
  If you have not selected an object, the Cut and Delete functions are grayed out.
  2. Select Edit Cut in the main console window.
  A dashed line is displayed around the selected object. (The object does not immediately disappear. This allows objects, such as processes which should not be interrupted, to continue running until they are pasted into a new location.) The object remains visible until it has been successfully pasted.
Note - You can cancel a Cut operation by clicking on the object a second time.
  When the Cut operation succeeds, this message is displayed at the bottom of the main console window: 

Cut successful

  3. Navigate to the destination location in the topology view.
  4. Select Edit Paste. The object is displayed in this location and is removed from the previous location.

Deleting Objects

The Edit Delete command removes an object completely. To move an object to another location, see "To Copy an Object" or "To Cut and Paste Objects".

For more information on the main console window, see Chapter 5.


 

To Delete Objects

Note - To delete an administrative domain, use the delete command in the Domain Manager window; see "Deleting Administrative Domains".
  1. Select an existing object in the topology view.
  If you have not selected an object, the Delete function is grayed out.
  2. Select Edit Delete Object/Connection from the top of the main console window.
  You are prompted to confirm or cancel the deletion.
  If the Delete operation succeeds, the object is removed, and this message is displayed at the bottom of the main console window: 

Delete successful



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