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iPlanet Meta-Directory Configuration and Administration Guide



Chapter 4   The Console Interface


Most iPlanet products use the console graphical user interface for navigating and configuring iPlanet software. The console always takes the same form and layout. The product/console name can be found in the top left hand corner. The navigation tree can be found in the left panel of the console and the product features interface in the right panel. This panel will change depending on what is clicked in the navigation tree. This chapter describes the different consoles and how to recognize and customize them. This chapter contains the following sections:



iPlanet Console

iPlanet Console is the front-end Java application for the management of all iPlanet software in your enterprise. It finds all iPlanet servers and applications registered in your configuration directory, displays them in a navigation tree, and allows you to manage and configure them. When you log in to iPlanet Console, it connects to a server group's Administration Server using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) although the two function independently. For more information, see the documentation for iPlanet Console and Administration Server 5.0, Managing Servers With iPlanet Console. Figure 4-1 shows iPlanet Console's interface.

Figure 4-1    iPlanet Console



To Access A Console

  1. Double-click the icon representing the Administration Server, Directory Server, or Meta-Directory from the navigation tree on the left of iPlanet Console.

    The interface for that product will appear in the right panel.

  2. Press Open in the upper right corner of the component information panel.

    This will open up the console for that component in a new window.



iPlanet Administration Server Console

iPlanet Administration Server processes requests for servers that are installed in a server group (a single root folder), and then invokes the programs required to fulfill them. When you install an iPlanet product in a new folder, Administration Server is also installed for you. If, later, you install additional products in the same folder, they use the instance of Administration Server that is already there. If a product includes a newer version of Administration Server, the installer updates with the latest versions. The iPlanet Administration Server console offers navigation and feature options for the Administration Server software. For more information, see the documentation for iPlanet Console and Administration Server. The Administration Server console also includes a convenient interface for starting and stopping the server as well as other tasks. This interface can be found by clicking the Tasks tab at the upper left corner of the window.



iPlanet Directory Server Console


You can perform most Directory Server administrative tasks from iPlanet Directory Server console. The iPlanet Directory Server console (pictured in Figure 4-2) offers navigation options as well as the task interface pictured in Figure 4-3. For more information, see iPlanet Directory Server documentation.

Figure 4-2    iPlanet Directory Server Console




iPlanet Meta-Directory Console


The iPlanet Meta-Directory console offers management, configuration, navigation and feature options for iPlanet Meta-Directory software. iPlanet Meta-Directory console is pictured in Figure 4-3.

Figure 4-3    iPlanet Meta-Directory Console



Menus

Meta-Directory console has a number of features that are accessible from within the graphical user interface as well as from the menus at the top of the console.


Console

From the Console menu, you have the following choices:

  • Logon As A New User...

    When provided with a new DN and password, your current session will end and the console will re-open with another user as administrator.



  • Close

    This option closes the Meta-Directory window.

  • Exit

    This option ends your session with Meta-Directory.


Edit

From the Edit menu, you have the following choices:

  • Preferences

    From the Console Preferences window, you can specify the directory where your settings will be stored as well as your choice of font for the console window.

  • Cut

    The standard command for use with Meta-Directory property editing tools.

  • Copy

    The standard command for use with Meta-Directory property editing tools.

  • Paste

    The standard command for use with Meta-Directory property editing tools.

  • Delete

    The standard command for use with Meta-Directory property editing tools.

  • Copy DN

    Choosing an entry from one of the Contents sub-trees in the navigation tree, selecting an entry in the right window and choosing Copy DN will copy the Distinguished Name of that entry to the Clipboard for pasting it into another field.


View

From the View menu, you have the following choices:

  • Banner Bar

    The Banner Bar runs across the top of the console and contains the Meta-Directory logo. Choose this option to show or hide the Banner Bar.

  • Status Bar

    The Status Bar runs along the bottom of the console and allows you to view the status of an operation. Choose this option to show or hide the Status Bar.

  • Show Main Console

    Choose Show Main Console to bring the main iPlanet Console interface forward.

  • Tree

    Choose this option to show or hide the navigation tree on the left side of the console.

  • Refresh

    Choose this option to refresh the information in the navigation tree. When a new view is added, the console should be refreshed to access the latest information. For additional information, see "Refreshing the Views" of Chapter 6 "Views in Meta-Directory."


    Note The Refresh command always refreshes the entire navigation tree, even when you access the command by right-clicking on the components in the navigation tree.



Object

From the Object menu, you have the following choices:

  • Open

    When the contents folder of a connector view is selected in the navigation tree, the Open command opens up the Property Editor. For more information, see "The Property Editor".

  • Search

    When the contents folder of a connector view is selected in the navigation tree, choose this option to search users and groups. For more information, see "The Query Tool".

  • New

    When the contents folder of a meta view is selected in the navigation tree, choose New to create a new User, Group or Organization. For procedural information, see "Creating New Data in the Meta View".


    Caution

    		The option of creating new users within the connector view is available for testing purposes only; for instance, testing the flow between the external data source and its connector view. Once the join engine and meta view have been configured, new entries should only be added from within the meta view or the external data source, not from within the connector view.


  • Start Server

    To start a Meta-Directory component, select it in the navigation tree and choose Start Server.

  • Stop Server

    To stop a Meta-Directory component, select it in the navigation tree and choose Stop Server.

  • Attribute Flow Summary

    Select meta view in the navigation tree to see a summary of the attribute flow rules used by a specific view as described in "Attribute Flow Summary" of Chapter 5 "Configuring The Join Engine."


Tools

From the Tools menu, you have the following option:


Help

From the Help menu, you have the following options:

  • Contents

    This option links you to the contents page for the help available within the Meta-Directory.

  • Index

    This option brings up a Search Index for the help files available within the Meta-Directory.

  • Documentation Home

    This option brings you to the home page for Meta-Directory 5.0SP1 Documentation.

  • About

    This option brings up copyright and trademark information related to the Meta-Directory product.


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Copyright © 2002 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All rights reserved.

Last Updated April 08, 2002