Chapter 1 Product Description

This chapter describes the software packages, the Netra j administration interface, and how to access the interface. The chapter is organized as follows:

• "Netra j 3.0 Software"

• "Network Computers Supported "

• "Netra j Administration Interface"

• "Network Computing Environment"

• "Accessing the Netra Administration Interface"

• "To Access Netra j Documents"

For information on planning a network computer environment, see the JavaStation Client Software Guide.

Netra j 3.0 Software

Netra j 3.0 is a software-only Solaris application for booting and administering network computers (NCs). Netra j software includes NC client software, secure 3270/5250 web-to-host connectivity for any Java-enabled client, and browser-based management of complex network services such as DNS, NIS, and DHCP.

Netra j software can be added to new or existing SPARC(TM) systems running the Solaris 2.5.1 or 2.6 operating environment. There are some Solaris add-ons required to support NC systems. These are included in the Netra j software.

The Netra j 3.0 software is a graphical user interface (GUI) used to administer the NC network. Command-line administration is also supported, but it is not documented in this guide. For command-line administration, the see the JavaStation Client Software Guide.

The Netra j software includes several software packages that are required to set up and configure the network computing environment. The software packages include:

• Netra j administration software

• Network computer software

• Solaris 2.5.1 add-ons

• Open Connect Systems (OCS) software (3.2.4.1)

Netra j Administration Software

The Netra j administration software enables you to set up and configure the servers and clients needed in your network environment. It also contains the following additional software:

Sun WebServer 1.0 - Enables companies to publish and distribute information and deploy web-based applications across any network environment.

GO-Joe (2.01) - A thin client Java X server from GraphOn that provides access to all Solaris X Window applications.

Network Computer Software

These software packages provide the operating system, boot images, and client applications for the NC:

• JavaOS(TM) 1.1.1

• HotJava Views 1.1.3

• HotJava Views Demo Support

• HotJava Views Documentation

• HotJava Browser (server) 1.1.2

• HotJava Browser (client) 1.1.4

Solaris 2.5.1 Add-ons

Netra j also includes the following Solaris 2.5.1 add-on software packages. These packages are required to support NC clients on systems running the Solaris 2.5.1 operating environment.

• Sun Internet Mail Server

• PPP/IP asynchronous PPP daemon

• Networking UUCP utilities

• System localization

• PPP/IP and IP dialup

• X Windows optional fonts

• NIS Kit 1.2

• Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)

• Sun WebServer 1.0

OCS Software

Open Connect Software (OCS) provides a development tool to create applets for SNA/AS400 legacy systems, and software for enabling legacy connectivity to mainframes, AS400, and VT220 hosts. The following OCS software is included with Netra j:

• Netra j OpenVista 1.0

• OC://WebConnect(TM) 3.2.4.1

Network Computers Supported

The Netra j software supports a number of NCs.

• JavaStationq(TM) - Brick model

• JavaStation - Tower model (flash memory)

• Java Engine 1

• JavaPC(TM)

Network Computing Environment

Unlike traditional workstations and PCs, NCs download all their software from a server. To run properly, these clients require a boot server, a domain name service (DNS) server, a network information service (NIS) server, an NFS(TM) server, a web server, a DHCP server, and a home directory for each user.

NCs can be integrated into an existing network.

The boot server "listens" on the network for a NC booting up and supplies the NC with its boot image (JavaOS) and a main application (usually either the HotJava Browser or HotJava Views). In Netra j Administration, you select which application a particular NC runs.

The Netra j software sets up a basic Netra j server, which includes a boot server with DHCP, TFTP, NFS, and web services. The DNS server and NIS server can be on the Netra j server or on other machines in the network.

Netra j Administration Interface

The Netra j software uses a web-based interface for its administration. A browser running on a client or on the Netra server accesses this interface.

Each administration function in the Netra interface is called a module. Each module comprises a set of related tasks. For example, the User Accounts module contains tasks to add user accounts, modify them, or delete them.

These administrative modules are grouped in five categories. The modules are displayed as hypertext links on the main administration page of the user interface. Clicking a link takes you to the module associated with the task.

This book provides system administration information for the Netra j administration interface (web-based administration). It describes the GUI and how to use it to perform administration tasks. The GUI is organized as follows:

• Network Computer Administration

  • Chapter 2, Network Computer Server

  • "Network Computer Application Management"

  • Chapter 5, Monitoring and Debugging Tools

• Network Services Administration

  • Chapter 3, Using Network Services

  • "Mail Administration"

  • "Name Service Administration "

  • Chapter 6, Printer Administration

  • Chapter 10, Using Proxy Cache Services

  • "Sun WebServer Administration"

• Chapter 7, Using Network Connection Administration

• Chapter 8, Using Security Administration

• Chapter 9, Using System Administration

For JavaStation specific command-line administration see the JavaStation Client Software Guide.

Accessing the Netra Administration Interface

As part of installation, Netra j creates a Solaris user account called setup that automatically launches HotJava Browser.

When you login to the Netra j server as userid: setup; password: setup, the Hot Java Bowser provided with Netra j starts up. Login to Netra j Administration as userid: setup; password: setup.

If you login to the Netra j server with any other userid or password, start a browser and use the URL http://hostname:81, to access the Netra j Administration. Login to Netra j Administration as userid: setup; password: setup.

You can login to the Netra j Administration from any computer on the network that has access to the Netra j server. Start a browser and use the URL http://hostname.domainname:81. Login to Netra j Administration as userid: setup; password: setup.

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Note -

The HotJava Views Administration pages require the HotJava Browser (HJB) provided with the Netra j software. All other Netra j Administration pages can be accessed with any other industry-standard browser. The path to the HJB is /opt/SUNWnhjb/bin/hotjava.

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You access the web-based Netra administration interface through a dedicated administration web server using one of the following methods.

To Use a Netra Server from the System Console

1. At the console prompt, log in as the user setup and type setup for the password.

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   % setup
   Password: 

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   A windowing system and a browser are started. The browser is configured to access the Netra administration framework. A popup dialog box prompts you to enter Netra j administration user name and password.

2. Type setup for the user name and setup for the password to authenticate the browser connection.

   The Netra Welcome page is displayed.

3. Click Administration.

   If this is the first time you are accessing Netra j, the Initial Configuration page is displayed (see Netra j 3.0 Installation Guide for details). Otherwise, the Main Administration page is displayed.

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   Note -

   Netra j provides arrows as configuration guides to help you. Please use them in preference over the browser buttons.

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To Access the Netra Server from an Other Computer on the Network

1. Start a browser on another computer system.

2. Open the following URL:

   http://hostname.domainname:81

   Where hostname is the Netra j hostname and the domainname is the name of the domain in which the Netra j server resides. The Netra password screen is displayed.

3. Type setup for the user ID and setup for the password.

   The Netra Welcome page is displayed.

4. Click Administration.

   If this is the first time you are accessing Netra j, the Initial Configuration page is displayed. Otherwise, the Main Administration page is displayed.

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   Note -

   See Appendix E, Page Types and Icons for examples and descriptions of page types and icons.

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To View or Modify Properties in Netra j

1. From the Main Administration page, click the link for the category in which a property resides.

   In some cases, you have to follow several links.

2. In the page for that category, view or make changes to the value of a property.

   Most properties have editable fields. A few have toggles (either one value or another) or pulldown menus.

3. At the bottom of the category page, click OK.

   A page is displayed indicating the success or failure of your change. If a change fails, the page is redisplayed with the error indicated. Correct the error and click OK again. With some errors, a new page containing just an error message is displayed. If this occurs, click the back button on your browser to return to the category page.

   If you click Reset, the values for the properties on a page revert to what they were when you first loaded the page.

4. After a successful change, click the up arrow icon to return to the page at the beginning of the module.

   Alternatively, you can click the home icon to return to the Netra j Main Administration page.

To Access Netra j Documents

1. From the Main Administration page, under "Documentation," click Online Documentation.

   The Documentation page is displayed, listing the languages available for the documentation.

2. Click on the desired language, then click on the document title to view it.

   The document is displayed.

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   Note -

   Before starting to configure your network complete the Network Computer Configuration Form in Appendix A, Network Computer Configuration Form.

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The remainder of this guide is a description of the procedures used to configure Netra j services, broken down by the categories reflected in the links on the Main Administration page.