Installing the Applications

Before you can access the Cisco Fabric Manager, you must complete the following tasks:

The Cisco Fabric Manager software executables reside on each supervisor module of each Cisco MDS 9000 Family switch in your network. The supervisor module provides an HTTP server that responds to browser requests and distributes the software to Windows or UNIX network management stations.

To install the software for the first time, or if you want to update or reinstall the software, access the supervisor module with a web browser. When you click the Install buttons on the web page that is displayed, the software running on your workstation is verified to make sure you are running the most current version of the software. If it is not current, the most recent version is downloaded and installed on your workstation.

New installation options include:

To download and install the software on your workstation, follow these steps:

  1. Enter the IP address or host name of the supervisor module in the address or location field of your browser.

    When you connect to the server for the first time, it checks to see if you have the correct Sun Java Virtual Machine version installed on your workstation. If not, a link is provided to the appropriate web page on Sun Microsystem’s website so you can install it.

    The supervisor module HTTP server displays the window.

  2. Click the link to the Sun Java Virtual Machine software (if required) and install the software.

    Using the instructions provided by the Sun Microsystems website to reconnect to the supervisor module by reentering the IP address or host name in the Location or Address field of your browser.

    Note The recommended version of Java is 1.4.2, although 1.4 and above is supported. To change the JRE version, start Java Web Start and set the Java preferences.
  3. Click on any installation link (Fabric Manager or Device Manager).

    You see a prompt asking for permission to install the applications on your workstation.

    Clicking on a link first runs an installer, which detects the installed version of the software, prompts for upgrades/downgrades and other options if applicable, and runs the application you selected.

    All software is installed in a folder called ".cisco_mds9000". On a Windows machine, the pathname is %HOME%\.cisco_mds9000. On a UNIX machine, the pathname is $HOME/.cisco_mds9000.

    On a Windows machine, a "Cisco MDS" program group is created under Start->Programs. This program group contains shortcuts to batch files in the install directory. On a Solaris or Linux machine, shell scripts are created in the install directory.

    Note Fabric Manager Client cannot run without the server component, FMServer. The server component is downloaded and installed when you download and install Fabric Manager or Device Manager. On a Windows machine you install the FMServer as a service. This service can then be administered using the Service Panel in the Control Panel. The default setting for the FMServer service is that the server is automatically started when the machine is rebooted. You can change this behavior by modifying the properties in the Service panel.