Table Of Contents

CiscoWorks Assistant - Overview

Overview of CiscoWorks Assistant

What's New in This Release

Applications Supported by CiscoWorks Assistant

Dependencies of CiscoWorks Assistant Application

CiscoWorks Assistant - Overview

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The following sections provide an overview of CiscoWorks Assistant application and all the functionalities that are available in CiscoWorks Assistant.

•Overview of CiscoWorks Assistant

•What's New in This Release

•Applications Supported by CiscoWorks Assistant

•Dependencies of CiscoWorks Assistant Application

Overview of CiscoWorks Assistant

CiscoWorks Assistant is a web-based tool that provides workflows to help you to overcome network management and software deployment challenges. CiscoWorks Assistant is available along with CiscoWorks LAN Management Solution (LMS) solution. This application is installed along with CiscoWorks Common Services.

A workflow is a compilation of tasks that assist you to deploy LMS servers and troubleshoot your network. The CiscoWorks Assistant Engine, which works in the backend, executes the workflows and allows you to navigate between the various tasks.

CiscoWorks Assistant workflows contain functionalities that are available across LMS applications. These functionalities are grouped logically to setup and configure the LMS server and to troubleshoot your network devices.

You can use CiscoWorks Assistant 1.0.1 only with the following LMS applications' versions:

•Common Services 3.1.1 (CS 3.1.1)

•CiscoView 6.1.6 (CV 6.1.6)

•Campus Manager 5.0.2 (CM 5.0.2)

•Resource Manager Essentials 4.1.1 (RME 4.1.1)

•Device Fault Manager 3.0.2 (DFM 3.0.2)

•Internetwork Performance Monitor 4.0.1 (IPM 4.0.1)

•Integration Utility 1.7.1 (NMIM)

To know more about LMS applications, see the User Guides:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/netmgtsw/tsd_products_support_category_home.html

What's New in This Release

The following are the new features for CiscoWorks Assistant 1.0.1

•SNMPv3 AuthPriv Support

In this release, Common Services extends its support to SNMPv3 AuthPriv level of security.

For more information on SNMPv3 AuthPriv Support, see Set Default Credentials page in the User Guide for Common Services 3.1.1

•Changes in Device Discovery

The earlier version of CiscoWorks Assistant supports device discovery which points to Campus Manger. In this version of CiscoWorks Assitant 1.0.1, Common Services 3.1.1 supports Device Discovery.

TheDevice Discovery engine intergrated with Common Services allows you to start the Device Discovery from the Common Services and update device information in DCR.

CiscoWorks Assistant 1.0.1 supports only immediate Device Discovery.

The CiscoWorks Assistant Server Setup workflow (Add Device page) has been enhanced for the Device Discovery changes.

The new user interface provided for Device Discovery helps you to:

–Configure seed devices for the modules selected.

–Specify SNMP settings to discover the devices from the network.

–Configure discovery filter settings.

–Specify global settings that are common across discovery modules.

Applications Supported by CiscoWorks Assistant

CiscoWorks Assistant supports the following workflows:

•Server Setup

The Server Setup workflow helps you to create a Multi-server set up. It also assists you in adding and managing devices and configuring the AAA mode to ACS. You can add devices to Device and Credential Repository and import these devices across LMS applications.

See Chapter 3, "Configuring LMS Server Using CiscoWorks Assistant".

•Device Troubleshooting

You can identify the root cause for device unreachabililty. The generated Device Troubleshooting report contains the following details for the selected device:

–Alerts and Syslog Messages

–Last configuration change

–Details of the device topology

–Details on network inconsistencies, misconfiguration in the network device.

See Chapter 4, "Troubleshooting Your Network Using CiscoWorks Assistant".

•End Host/IP Phone Down

You can get the information required to troubleshoot as well as analyze the connectivity issues.

See Chapter 4, "Troubleshooting Your Network Using CiscoWorks Assistant".

Dependencies of CiscoWorks Assistant Application

CiscoWorks Assistant workflow depends on the LMS applications. Some of functionalities will not be available if you have not installed the relevant LMS application.

Table 1-1 describes the CiscoWorks Assistant workflows and the corresponding dependent LMS3.0.1 applications.

Table 1-1 CiscoWorks Assistant Workflows and the Dependent LMS Applications

CiscoWorks Assistant Workflows		LMS Applications
Server Setup	Manage Servers, Add Servers, Add Devices, Change Device Management Mode, Change ACS Settings	Common Services 3.1.1and all LMS 3.0.1 applications.
Device Troubleshooting	Device information	•Common Services 3.1.1 (Device and Credential Repository) •All the installed LMS 3.0.1 applications.
	Connectivity status	Common Services 3.1.1
	Topology and Neighbor information	Campus Manager 5.0.2
	Syslog messages	Resource Manager Essentials 4.1.1
	Device alerts	Device Fault Manager 3.0.2
	Last configuration change	Resource Manager Essentials 4.1.1
	Change Audit Reports	Resource Manager Essentials 4.1.1
	Discrepancies in this device	Campus Manager 5.0.2
End Host/IP Phone Down	End Host down	Campus Manager 5.0.2
	IP Phone down	Campus Manager  5.0.2
Log Level Settings	—	None.