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Sun Management Center 3.6.1 User's Guide

Chapter 3 Manually Adding Objects to the Topology Database

This chapter describes how to manually create objects that are added to the Sun Management Center topology database. For information about using the Discovery Manager to automatically populate the topology database, see Chapter 4, Adding Objects to the Topology Database Using the Discovery Manager.

This chapter discusses the following topics:

Managed Objects Concepts

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

Note –

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

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

You can create and one or more administrative domains that contain nodes for multiple objects, such as the workstations and other devices that are connected to the server. Once these administrative domains exist, you can monitor or manage them. For information about administrative domains, see Chapter 2, Using Sun Management Center Administrative Domains.

Managed Object Categories

Sun Management Center supports the following object categories:

Agents and Monitors

When you create a node, you can choose from the following types of monitoring approaches.

Sun Management Center 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.

Sun Management Center Agent – Platform

For more information, see your platform supplement.

Sun Management Center 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, Module Browser, and Alarms 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. See To Load a Module.) 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, SNMPv2, or SNMPv3, depending on the proxy module. The Proxy Monitoring module data are displayed. 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 the SNMP ping command. The Sun Management Center Topology manager communicates with the device using SNMPv1. No management capabilities are provided for devices that are 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. No management capabilities are provided for devices that are 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. The node 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.

Creating Objects

The general process that you follow to create objects is similar for all categories. The specific steps differ as described.

ProcedureTo Create a Node

You create nodes through the Create Object function on the Edit menu in the main console window.

Note –

An administrative domain must exist before you can create a node. For information about how 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 to create the new object.

    Select the lowest level group of the administrative domain where the new object should be created. For example, to create a node in a building that is in one of the campuses of a administrative domain, select the building in the administrative domain as the lowest level group.

  2. In the main console window, choose Create Object from the Edit menu.

    The Create Object window is displayed. By default, the Node tab is selected.

  3. In the upper half of the Create Object window, set up the new node.

    1. Use the Monitor Via combo box to select the software or agent to monitor the new node.

      There are seven categories of agents and monitors. 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. The following choices are available:

      • Sun Management Center Agent – Host

      • Sun Management Center Agent – Platform

      • Sun Management Center Agent - Module

      • SNMP Proxy

      • SNMP Ping

      • ICMP Ping

      • Non-Monitored

      Note –

      To create an agent object, the MIB-II module must be loaded. If it is not, the agent can be created only as a ping host or as an SNMP host.

      For more information about these monitoring choices, see Agents and Monitors. For information about creating an object for your specific platform, see the appropriate platform supplement.

    2. 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.

      The following Type choices are available:

      • Server

      • Workstation

      • PC

      • Router

      • Printer

      • Concentrator

    3. If applicable, scroll and select an object in the Create Object window.

      For some types of monitoring, the right side of the Create 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.

    4. (Optional) Create a unique name in the Node Label field.

      The default label is the host name.

    5. (Optional) Type a description of the node.

  4. In the lower half of the Create 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 a. The Non-Monitored selection does not require further information, but most agent or monitor selections ask you to provide the following information:

    • Node host name

    • Node IP address

    You can provide 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 might also ask for one or more of the following items:

    • Sun Management Center agent port number (default is 161)

    • Proxy host name and IP address if Monitor Via is SNMP Proxy

    • Read and write SNMP communities if Monitor Via is SNMP Ping (The default read community is public; The default write community is private.)

    • Module name

  5. To add the new node to your topology and close the Create Object window, click the OK button.

    The following message is displayed at the bottom of the Create Object window:


    Creating Node... Please Wait.

    • If the request is completed successfully, the main console window is updated, and the new node is displayed.

    • If the creation fails, an error message is displayed at the bottom of the Create Object window. The cause of the error might be one of the following reasons:

      • You do not have permission to create this node.

      • You must start a Sun Management Center agent on the node.

      • You provided incorrect agent host or port information.

      Note –

      When you create a node on the current Sun Management Center server context, ownership of that node defaults to your login identity. When you create a node on a remote server context, ownership of that node defaults to a general user identity. This situation is normal. The general user identity is imposed for security of transactions between Sun Management Center server contexts. For more information, see Sun Management Center Remote Server Access.

    For information about how to change the new node, see Changing Objects.

ProcedureTo Create a Module Object

To monitor several module objects on several hosts, you might create module objects for each host and put the module objects in a common location. For example, you might put the module objects in the same group or administrative domain. The procedure for creating a module object is similar to the procedure for creating a node.

  1. In the hierarchy view of the main console window, select the administrative domain in which to create the new object.

  2. In the main console window, choose Create Object from the Edit menu.

  3. Select the Node tab in the Create Object window.

  4. Select Sun Management Center Agent – Module in the Monitor Via field.

  5. (Optional) Type a node label.

  6. (Optional) Type a description.

  7. Type a host name or IP address.

    You can provide 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. Verify or change the port number.

  9. Click the Get Modules button to view a list of modules that are currently loaded on the host.

    The module list is displayed.

    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.

  10. Select the module to monitor.

    The module list closes.

  11. To add your module to the topology and close the Create Object window, click the OK button.

ProcedureTo Create a Group

You can create two types of groups: General and IP-based. General groups are based on geography, such as 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 for more information.

  1. In the hierarchy view of the main console window, select the administrative domain in which you want the new group.

    For example, to create a group in a building that is in a campus of an administrative domain, click the building icon in the administrative domain.

  2. In the main console window, choose Create Object from the Edit menu.

    The Create Object window is displayed.

  3. In the Create Object window, click the Group tab.

  4. Change the Type field, if desired (General or IP-Based).

    General groups are based on geography, such as campus or building. IP-based groups are based on networks or subnets.

  5. Select the object type (Building, Campus, or General).

    The right side of the window is updated with an icon corresponding to the object type.

  6. Create a new group Label.

  7. (Optional) Type a description in the Description field.

  8. For an IP-based group, specify the IP address and the subnet mask.

    The creation of an IP-based group results in the creation of an empty network or subnet “container.” You can populate the container as explained in Step 10.

  9. To add the group to your topology view and close the Create Object window, click the OK button.

    The following message is displayed at the bottom of the Create 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 Object window. The cause of the error might be that you do not have permission to create this group.

    For information about how to change the new group, see Changing Objects.

  10. Add components to your group using one of the following methods:

ProcedureTo Create a Composite Object

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

  1. In the hierarchy view of the main console window, select the Sun Management Center administrative domain in which to create the 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, choose Create Object from the Edit menu.

    The Create Object window is displayed. By default, the Node tab is selected.

  3. Click the Composite tab in the Create Object window.

    The window changes to display the settings that are available for composite objects.

  4. Select an object in the Create Object window.

    For some types of monitoring, the right side of the Create 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 name in the Label field.

  6. (Optional) Type a description for the composite object.

  7. In the lower half of the Create Object window, type the requested information.

    • Agent Hostname

    • Agent IP Address

    • Sun Management Center agent port number (the default is 161)

    You can provide 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. To add this composite object to your topology and close the Create Object window, click the OK button.

    The following message is displayed at the bottom of the Create Object window:


    Creating Composite Object... Please Wait.

    • If the request is completed successfully, the main console window is updated and the new composite object is displayed.

    • If the creation fails, an error message is displayed at the bottom of the Create Object window. The cause of the error might be one of the following reasons:

      • You do not have the permission to create this object.

      • You must start a Sun Management Center agent on the object.

      Note –

      When you create a node on the current Sun Management Center server context, ownership of that node defaults to your login identity. When you create a node on a remote server context, ownership of that node defaults to a general user identity. This situation is normal. The general user identity is imposed for security of transactions between Sun Management Center server contexts. For more information, see Sun Management Center Remote Server Access.

    For information about how to change the new composite object, see Changing Objects.

ProcedureTo Create a Segment

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

  1. In the main console window, in the left window pane, select a location in the administrative domain where the new segment should be created.

    The segment is created at the selected level. For example, to create a segment in a building that is in a campus of an administrative domain, select the building in the administrative domain.

  2. In the main console window, choose Create Object from the Edit menu.

    The Create Object window is displayed.

  3. In the Create Object window, click the Segment tab.

  4. Change the Type field, if desired (Bus or Ring).

  5. Select the object type.

    The list of choices (Ethernet or IPX) changes with your selection in the Type field.

    A panel in the Create Object window displays large and small icons that correspond 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.

  6. Type a new segment label.

  7. (Optional) Type a description in the Description field.

  8. Type the IP address for this segment.

  9. Type a subnet mask for this segment.

  10. To add the segment to your topology and close the Create Topology window, click the OK button.

    The following message is displayed at the bottom of the Create Object window:


    Creating segment... Please Wait

    • If the request is completed successfully, the Create 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 Object window.

    For information about how to change the new segment, see Changing Objects.

ProcedureTo Connect Objects in the Topology View

To make the view in Sun Management Center more closely resemble the real-world network, you can 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.

  2. Choose Create a Connection from the Edit menu.

    A link is displayed between the objects.

Changing Objects

To move an object from one location in the topology view to another location, use the Edit commands: Cut and Paste. To copy an object into other topology views and leave the original object in its current location, use Copy instead of Cut. 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 mouse button 3 (typically the right mouse button) on the object.

Note –

Sun Management Center 3.6.1 software does not support drag and drop as an operation for moving objects.

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 as explained in Creating Administrative Domains. Then, copy existing objects into the new administrative domain as described in To Copy an Object.

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

For more information about the main console window, see Chapter 5, Managing Objects in Sun Management Center.

ProcedureTo Copy an Object

This procedure is for a single object. For information about how to copy a group, see To Copy a Group of Objects.

  1. In the main console window, select the object to copy in the topology view.

    Tip –

    To select multiple objects, hold down the Shift key while using the mouse button.

  2. At the top of the main console window, choose Copy from the Edit menu, or press mouse button 3 on the object and choose Copy from the pop-up menu.

    The following 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, choose Paste from the Edit menu.

    The pasted object is displayed in the destination group or administrative domain. The following message is displayed at the bottom of the main console window: 


    Paste successful

ProcedureTo Copy a Group of Objects

  1. In the topology view, select the objects to be copied.

    To copy all objects in the topology view, choose Select All from the Edit menu in the main console window.

    To copy two or more objects selectively:

    1. Click the first object to select it.

    2. Hold down the Shift key, and click one or more additional objects.

  2. Choose Copy from the Edit menu in the main console window, or press mouse button 3 on one of the selected objects and choose Copy from the pop-up menu.

    When the objects are copied, the following message is displayed at the bottom of the main console window: 


    Copy Successful

  3. In the hierarchy view, select the new group or administrative domain where the group is to be placed.

  4. Choose Paste Into from the Edit menu in the main console window.

    Alternatively, you can press mouse button 3 on the destination administrative domain and choose Paste Into from the pop-up menu.

    Caution – Caution –

    If you select Paste instead of Paste Into, the objects might be pasted into the wrong group. If this occurs, select the duplicate objects and choose Delete Object/Connection from the Edit menu.

ProcedureTo Modify an Object

Once you have created or have 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.

  1. Select the object in the main console window.

  2. Choose Modify from the Edit menu in the main console window.

    The Modify Object window is displayed. The appearance of the window varies, depending on whether the object is a group, node, composite object, or segment.

  3. Edit the characteristics as needed.

    If you are modifying a group object, the following characteristics are available:

    • Type: General or IP-Based

    • Object: Building, Campus, or General

    • Group Label

    • Description

    • IP Address (for IP-Based only)

    • Subnet Mask (for IP-Based only)

    For a node, the following characteristics are available:

    • Monitor Via

      This field is described in more detail in To Create a Node.

    • Node Label

    • Description

    • Additional characteristics such as host name, IP address, or port might be listed, depending on the type of node

    For a segment, the following characteristics are available :

    • Type: Bus or Ring

    • Object: Ethernet or IPX for bus type, or FDDI for ring type

    • Segment Label

    • Description

    • IP Address

    • Subnet Mask

    For a composite object, the following characteristics are available:

    • Object

    • Label

    • Description

    • Agent host name

    • Agent IP address

    • Port

    See your hardware supplement for more information.

  4. Click the OK button to save your changes, or click the Cancel button to leave the characteristics unchanged.

ProcedureTo Rename an Object

If you have changed an object's name in the real world, you can easily modify the managed object name in the topology database to match.

  1. In the main console window, select the object name to change.

  2. Choose Rename Object from the Edit menu in the main console window, or press mouse button 3 on the object, then select Rename from the pop-up menu.

    The Rename Object window appears. The Current Label shows the existing managed object name.

  3. Type a new name in the New Label field.

  4. To apply the new name for this object in the topology database, click the OK button.

    To exit from the Rename Object window without changing the name, click the Cancel button.

ProcedureTo Cut and Paste Objects

You can cut and move, or permanently delete objects from the topology view in the main console window. An object that is cut is saved temporarily in memory. Then, the cut object can be pasted immediately into one or more areas. An object that is deleted cannot be recalled. For instructions on deleting objects, see To Delete Objects. For more information about the main console window, see Chapter 5, Managing Objects in Sun Management Center.

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

Note –

Sun Management Center 3.6.1 software does not support “drag and drop” as an operation for moving objects.

  1. Select an existing object in the topology view.

    If you have not selected an object, the Cut and Delete functions are unavailable and appear dimmed.

  2. Choose Cut from the Edit menu in the main console window, or press mouse button 3 on the object and choose Cut from the pop-up menu

    A dashed line is displayed around the selected object. The object does not immediately disappear, but remains active until it is pasted into a new location. This strategy protects objects, such as processes, that should not be interrupted. The object remains visible until it has been successfully pasted.

    Tip –

    To cancel a Cut operation, click the object again.

    When the Cut operation succeeds, the following message is displayed at the bottom of the main console window: 


    Cut successful

  3. Navigate to the destination location in the topology view.

  4. Choose Paste from the Edit menu.

    The object appears in the new location. The object disappears from the previous location.

ProcedureTo Delete Objects

The Delete function removes an object completely from the topology database. To move an object to another location, see To Copy an Object or To Cut and Paste Objects.

For more information about the main console window, see Chapter 5, Managing Objects in Sun Management Center.

Note –

To delete an administrative domain, use the Delete button in the Domain Manager window. See To Delete an Administrative Domain.

  1. Select an existing object in the topology view.

    If you have not selected an object, the Delete function is unavailable and appears dimmed.

  2. Choose Delete Object/Connection from the Edit menu in the main console window.

    You are prompted to confirm or cancel the deletion.

    If the Delete operation succeeds, the object is removed. The following message is displayed at the bottom of the main console window: 


    Delete successful