Comparisons User Interface

The Comparisons Page

The Comparisons user interface provides the functionality for users to create, run, and view the results of comparisons.

This page also contains controls for filtering the component list and selecting sort criteria. There are blue wedge shaped arrows over the comparison column that allow you to sort the list by and in either ascending or descending order.

Comparison

A user definable text string that names the comparison object. By default, the comparisons are listed in alphabetical order by component name. You can change the sort order between ascending and descending by clicking on one of the sort icons that is in the plans header area.

Description

An optional user defined text string that describes the comparison object. This attribute is not used by the provisioning software but can provide meaningful information to the user.

Action

Links that take you to other comparison related pages to either create, view details for, or view the results of comparisons.

Actions for Checked Plans

From this area you can either delete or apply categories to the checked plan(s)

The Comparisons Details Page

The details page for comparisons is different for each of the three types of comparisons.

The Comparisons Details Page for M to M

Comparison

Displays the names the comparison object.

Category

A user definable object that is used to filter the comparisons list. Categories are created using the categories page accessed from the Administrative page. Categories are then applied to a plan from the plans page. Categories can also be created by clicking in the “Apply Categories . . .” link.

Description

An optional user defined text string that describes the comparison object. This attribute is not used by the provisioning software but can provide meaningful information to the user.

Style of Comparison

This allows you to select the type of comparison you want.

Model to Model

Sets up the user interface to run a model to model comparison.

Model to Install

Sets up the user interface to run a model to install comparison.

Install to Install

Sets up the user interface to run an install to install comparison.

Reference Host

Specifies which hosts model to use as a reference model for the comparison.

Comparison Host

Specifies which hosts model to compare to the reference host's model.

Limits

This allows you to set a time limit for the provisioning software to complete the comparison. Some types of problems can cause the provisioning software to wait endlessly while attempting to take a snapshot of an installation. This feature provides a time-out to prevent the provisioning software from never finishing a comparison.

Buttons

By clicking one of these buttons you initiate one of the following functions.

Save

Saves the comparison using the current name.

Save As

Saves the comparison using a different name.

Save & Run

Saves the comparison using the current name and performs a comparison.

Previous Results

Displays previous results of a comparison.

Delete

Deletes the comparison.

Cancel

Takes you to the comparisons page without saving any changes.

The Comparisons Details Page for M to I

This comparison allows you to validate that current state of an installation by comparing it to its last know good state.

Because only the model reference and comparison object area changes, the following discussion will focus only on the area of the comparisons page that is different.

Scope

This is a pull down menu that allows you to limit the scope of the comparison to either a host set, a host, or component.

Host Set - changes the following field on this page to allow you to select which host set to compare. The provisioning software then compares that last known state of the specified host set to its current state.

Host - changes the following field on this page to allow you to enter a host name to compare. The provisioning software then compares that last known state of the specified host to its current state.

Component - changes the following field on this page to allow you to enter a host name and component path to compare. The provisioning software then compares that last known state of the specified component to its current state.

Directories & Files to Ignore During Comparison

Allows you to specify things to ignore during this comparison. This feature allows the provisioning software to accommodate changes to things like log files without causing the comparison to fail.

The Comparisons Details Page for I to I

This comparison allows you to validate that current state of an installation by comparing it to an other know good installation.

Because only the model reference and comparison object area changes, the following discussion will focus only on the area of the comparisons page that is different.

Reference Host

Specifies which hosts to use as a reference model for the comparison. This also includes a second field that requires that you specify where in the hierarchical files structure to limit the comparison. If you use the top of the tree structure you will evaluate the entire host.

Comparison Host

Specifies which hosts to compare to the reference host's model. This also includes a second field that requires that you specify where in the hierarchical files structure to limit the comparison.

Options

Defines some parameters when taking a snapshot of the host.

Include All Sub-Directories in Comparison — This causes the provisioning software to recursively follow all subdirectories. within a parent directory.

Follow Symbolic Links Found in Directories — This causes the provisioning software to resolve symbolic links to determine that what the link points to is also valid.

Include Temporary Files Generated by Scripts During Comparison — This causes the provisioning software to include any legacy files generated by running a script. This can be used to verify that a particular script has or has not been run on all the hosts included in the comparison.

Directories & Files to Ignore During Comparison

Allows you to specify things to ignore during this comparison. This feature allows the provisioning software to accommodate changes to things like log files without causing the comparison to fail.