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iPlanet Partner Agent for ECXpert Server Site Administrator’s Handbook



Chapter 3   (Optional) Using the Administration System

This chapter describes the browser-based administration system that is used to configure and maintain Partner Agent Server. It describes how to access the administration system, how to set your browser to recognize the signing certificate, how to navigate the administration system, and how to make changes in the system.

The following topics are discussed in this section:

The Administration System

The Partner Agent Server administration system is a series of HTML pages that are referred to as pages, for example the Active Agents page. Within each page are sections, where the various controls for setting up and configuring Partner Agent Server are located.

This guide is meant to be used as a reference, so it includes some repetition of similar tasks. For example, editing and deleting list entries is identical in many pages but is described in each page's description.

Your Partner Agent Server server is administered and configured through its web-based administration system. The administration system runs over a secure HTTPS connection. This allows system administrators to manage the server from any remote console that has a standard browser that supports SSL, such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer. If you do not have a web browser available, you can download the latest version for your operating system from Netscape or Microsoft.

Issuer Certificate

As part of the installation process, you are asked for information that is used to create a CA signing certificate for all certificates that are subsequently created during the installation. This certificate is not recognized by either Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer. To address this issue, we have provided a web application that updates your browser with your CA signing certificate. To add your certificate to your browser's database:

  1. Open your browser.


  2. In the location or address window type:


    3. http://[hostname]:[port]/addcert.cgi

    The host name and port are entered during the installation process (see Chapter 2: Installation) for the non-secure admin.

  3. Follow the instructions provided by your browser.




    4. Note

    You need to do this only once.




    Note

    The default certificate signing password is ECXpert.


Starting the Administration System

The administration system runs as an HTTPS process listening on port 444 by default. You are given the option of changing this port at system installation time. During the installation, you can opt to have a startup item in your system's rc directory tree so that the administration system is started whenever your server is rebooted.

When you start the Partner Agent Server from the ECXpert Admin screen, the Administration System is automatically started (see "Starting Partner Agent Server").

To start the administration system from the command line:

  • Run the $NSBASE/NS-apps/paserver/bin/start_admin program.


Accessing the Administration System

To access the administration system:

  1. Open your browser.


  2. In the location or address window, type:


    3. https://[hostname]:[port]/admin

    where the host name and port are those specified during the installation process (see the iPlanet Release Note for ECXpert Version 3.5 for Solaris).

  3. Enter the administrator's User Name and Password.


    4. By default, these are ECX/ECX.

Navigating the Administration System

The administration system screen is divided into three parts, or frames. At the top of the screen are the buttons for accessing the six main sections of the system:

  • Help


  • Master


  • Access


  • Security


  • Statistics


  • Agents


Figure 3-1    Partner Agent Server Administration System, initial screen

To access a section, click on the appropriate button in the top menu bar of the administration system.



Note

Clicking on the iPlanet logo takes you to the iPlanet web site, (www.iplanet.com).


Each section consists of multiple pages that contain the controls for the administration system. When you select a section, the left vertical frame displays links for that section's pages. For example, clicking on Master displays the links to the Master pages in the left vertical frame. At the bottom of each list is a link to the online Help file.

The large central frame displays the controls for the currently selected administration page.

When you select a section from the top frame, the first page in the list in the left frame, becomes the currently selected page. Its controls are displayed in the central frame. So, for example, when you select the Master section, the central frame displays the controls for the Server Status page.

Changing System Configurations

The central frame displays the pages for altering the system configurations. The current values for the settings are displayed in the frame.

In general, to change these values:

  1. Make the desired change(s) to the relevant field(s).


  2. To submit your changes, click the appropriately labeled button.


    3. The form makes the desired changes to the server configuration.



    Note

    Your changes do not take effect if you do not click the button to submit the form. If you change fields in the form and then decide that you do not want to submit your changes, do not click the button.


Instructions to change specific system configurations are contained in the following chapters.


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Copyright © 2000 Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Some preexisting portions Copyright © 2000 Netscape Communications Corp. All rights reserved.
Last Updated December 04, 2000