Preparing and Using the Client Workstation

This chapter provides information on the required files and environment for the WEM client and server machines. It also provides information on the WEM user interface.

This chapter includes the following topics:

IMPORTANT:

Unless otherwise specified, all information in this chapter applies to both Sun Solaris and Red Hat Enterprise Linux-based WEM systems.

Unsecured and Secured Java Policy Files

Instructions on how to download the Java Policy file from the WEM server are displayed when you click the Java Policy File link, located towards the right of the client application's WEM browser display. There are two options: Secured and Unsecured.

  • Unsecure Policy Files. These allow the Java applet infinite permissions to access the desktop’s file system which includes permission to modify or delete files.
  • Secure Policy Files. These allow only a WEM server specified by a secure IP address to have complete access to the desktop’s file system.The .java.policy file is created on the WEM server and downloaded along with the applet.

In each case the entire grant statement has to be replaced before the file is inserted into the correct directory (see Placement of Required Client Files for more information).

  • For unsecured connections replace the following grant clause with an IP address using unsecured http:
    grant codebase "http://X.X.X.X/-"{ 
    permission java.awt.AWTPermission "accessClipboard";  permission java.lang.RuntimePermission
    "exitVM";  permission java.lang.RuntimePermission "accessClassInPackage.sun.security.action";
     permission java.lang.RuntimePermission "shutdownHooks";  permission
    java.awt.AWTPermission "showWindowWithoutWarningBanner";  permission
    java.lang.RuntimePermission "modifyThread";  permission java.util.PropertyPermission
    "*", "read, write";  permission java.io.FilePermission
    "<<ALL FILES>>", "read, write, execute";  permission java.net.SocketPermission
    "*", "accept, connect, listen, resolve";  permission java.lang.RuntimePermission
    "queuePrintJob";  permission java.lang.reflect.ReflectPermission "suppressAccessChecks";};
    
  • For secured connections replace the following grant clause with an IP address using secured http:
    grant codebase "https://X.X.X.X/-"{ 
    permission java.awt.AWTPermission "accessClipboard";  permission java.lang.RuntimePermission
    "exitVM";  permission java.lang.RuntimePermission "accessClassInPackage.sun.security.action";
     permission java.lang.RuntimePermission "shutdownHooks";  permission
    java.awt.AWTPermission "showWindowWithoutWarningBanner";  permission
    java.lang.RuntimePermission "modifyThread";  permission java.util.PropertyPermission
    "*", "read, write";  permission java.io.FilePermission
    "<<ALL FILES>>", "read, write, execute";  permission java.net.SocketPermission
    "*", "accept, connect, listen, resolve";  permission java.lang.RuntimePermission
    "queuePrintJob";  permission java.lang.reflect.ReflectPermission "suppressAccessChecks";};
    

IMPORTANT:

If a single desktop is used to manage multiple WEM servers, there can only be one .java.policy file on the desktop. This means the user needs to add a complete grant clause with the server’s IP address for each server under management.

Placement of Required Client Files

There are two files that are required to enable client access to the WEM from the client workstation. These files are:

  • Java® Runtime Environment (JRE) - This program must be installed on the client workstation. Versions 1.5, and 1.6 are supported.
  • Java Policy File - This file may be obtained from the WEM server when you first access the system using the client workstation. For proper authentication, this policy file must be located in an exact location, dependent upon the operating system being used on the client workstation. For the Microsoft® Windows™ NT 4.0 operating system, the .java.policy file must be placed in the <drive_letter>\Profiles\<user_name> directory. For the Microsoft® Windows™ 2000 and Windows™ XP operating systems, the .java.policy file must be placed in the <drive_letter>\Documents and Settings\<user_name> directory. For the Microsoft® Windows™ 7 operating system, the .java.policy file must be placed in the <drive_letter>\users\<user_name> directory. For the Sun® Solaris® (UNIX) and Linux® operating systems, the .java.policy file must be placed in the user's home directory.
  • Instructions on how to download the Java Policy file from the WEM server are displayed when you click the Java Policy File link, located towards the right of the client application's WEM browser display.

Accessing the WEM as a Client on the Web Element Manager Server

In some cases, users may want to access the WEM application using the WEM server as the client. For versions of Netscape earlier than 6.0 (i.e. 4.5), system environment variables must be configured to support this functionality. This section provides instructions for configuring these variables using either the C, Bourne, Korn, and Bourne-again shells.

Environment Settings for CSH

  1. Set the following environment variables in your .cshrc file:
    setenv NPX_PLUGIN_PATH /<java_installation_directory>/jre/plugin/sparc/ns4
    
    setenv NPX_JRE_PATH /<java_installation_directory>
    
    setenv THREADS_FLAG
    native
    
    <java_installation_directory> is the directory in which java is installed (i.e. /usr/java).
  2. Source the .cshrc file (or open a new shell) and start the Netscape browser.

Environment Settings for SH, KSH, and BASH

  1. Set the following environment variables in your .profile file:
    NPX_PLUGIN_PATH=/<java_installation_directory>/jre/plugin/sparc/ns4
    
    export NPX_PLUGIN_PATH
    
    NPX_JRE_PATH=/<java_installation_directory>
    
    export NPX_JRE_PATH
    
    export THREADS_FLAG
    native
    
    <java_installation_directory> is the directory in which java is installed (i.e. /usr/java).
  2. If these variables are set in a shell, then invoke Netscape from the same shell (e.g. /usr/dt/appconfig/netscape/netscape).

Accessing the WEM using a Client Workstation

Using an Internet web browser, enter the following command in the address field.

http://<Web_Element_Manager_server_IP_address>/ems/img.html

The <Web_Element_Manager_server_IP_address> variable is the IP address of the WEM server entered in dotted-decimal notation.

Assuming that the Java Policy file and Java Runtime Environment (JRE) files have been loaded in their proper locations, the WEM server will push various .jar files to the client machine and then display the WEM Logon window.

IMPORTANT:

After an upgrade or installing a new version of WEM, it is recommended that the browser cache of the client workstation should be cleared, if it is enabled. To clear the cache in Internet Explorer, click Tools menu -> Internet Options. Under the General tab, click Delete Files, click the Delete all offline content check box, and then click OK.

Logging in to the WEM

To log on to the server for the first time, use the default username of superuser and a password of superuser, which are case sensitive. Once you are successfully logged in, additional user accounts can be configured through the Security pull-down menu.

Use of the Superuser Account

The superuser account is the default administrative account on the WEM. This account works similar to the root account on a UNIX machine. A superuser administrator would have to create accounts for the individual users in the WEM - like a UNIX machine root user does. The user accounts would then be given to the non-superuser users. The superuser password should be kept private to limit access.

IMPORTANT:

The first time you log into the superuser account, you will be prompted to change your password. See ANSI T1.276 Compliance in the Web Element Manager Overview for more information about password usage.

User Interface

It is important to note that during login, the administrative user has the ability to select the desired language used in the Topology Window. U.S. English and Korean are currently supported.

Upon first logging in to the WEM, a dialog appears that functions as the starting point for all FCAPS operations. This dialog is referred to as the Topology Window and is shown in the following figure.
Figure 1. The Web Element Manager Topology Window

From the Topology Window, the systems to be managed can be specified and added to Topographical Maps. Once specified, managed devices can be selected from either the Object Tree or the Topographical Map to provide real-time status information for the system.

System hardware descriptions and state information can be displayed by double-clicking on a managed device. This provides front and rear views of the chassis. Simply hovering the mouse pointer over an interface or an LED displays its status.

Management Toolbar

The Management Toolbar provides shortcuts to access various functions available via the Pull-down Menu.

The Management Toolbar can be enabled or disabled from the View menu.

Hover over the icon for the icon name.

Shortcuts include:


Table 1. WEM Toolbar Icon Descriptions
Icon Function Description
Fault Management Clicking this icon opens the Current Event Log for the selected managed device.
Web Element Manager User Administration

Clicking this icon enables the User Administration function, located under the Security pull-down menu. This function is used to configure and manage WEM application users.

Save Web Element Manager Configuration

Clicking this icon saves all WEM configuration information, such as Topology Map changes, Object Tree edits, etc.

IMPORTANT:

This operation only saves WEM application configuration items. It does not save any configuration text file operations that are made on a selected system.

Pause Audio Alarm

Clicking this icon temporarily pauses any audible indications that are generated through the system’s internal speaker when a pre-configured fault/trap is received by the WEM server.

IMPORTANT:

This icon is only available when audio alarms are enabled through the Alarm Management pull-down menu.

Resume Audio Alarm

Clicking this icon, available only when audio alarm processing has been paused (see above), will cause the system to once again begin generating audible alarm indications.

IMPORTANT:

This icon is only available when audio alarms are enabled through the Alarm Management pull-down menu.

Stop Audio Alarm

Clicking this icon disables the audible alarm function.

IMPORTANT:

The audible alarm function described here has no effect on audible alarms generated by the chassis itself. This function is only applicable to the WEM client; and it is configurable on a per chassis basis.

Performance Statistics

Clicking this icon moves user to Performance Statistics graphing tool window for bulk statistics. From this window, users can select various cards or protocols to monitor, configure the statistics to graph, and type of graph to display collected information in, based on historical information collected through Bulk Statistics collection.

About Information

Clicking this icon displays uses information related to the WEM application. This includes version number, software build dates, and other important information that may be required when requesting support on this application.



Pull-Down Menu Bar

The pull-down menu bar provides menu-driven user access to all available management operations. These include both WEM application management and configuration operations.

Menu options available to users can be hidden and unhidden at will by setting a flag in the menu.xml file. Setting the flag appropriately is described in the WEM Configuration File Parameters appendix.

This section provides a brief description for each menu.

File Pull-Down Menu

The File pull-down menu option allows users to either log out of a current session, save any configuration changes, or exit the WEM application completely.

Client Pull-Down Menu

The Client pull-down allows users to control and customize how the management application and selected devices are viewed on their browser-based client. These settings are configured on a per-user basis. Additionally, this menu provides options for launching other tools that can be used for management purposes such as Telnet and/or Secure Shell (SSH) clients and Management Information Base (MIB) browsers.

System Info Pull-Down Menu

The System Info pull-down menu allows you to view system-level information for devices selected in the topology window. From this menu, you also can perform some configuration and system administration operations.

Alarm Management Pull-Down Menu

The Alarm Management pull-down menu allows users to manage current, pending, and outstanding events as well as view statistics for alarms. This menu also provides controls for configuring the system Central Office (CO) alarm indicators and audio indicators.

Configuration Pull-Down Menu

The Configuration pull-down menu allows administrators to perform various configuration options upon a selected system. This includes system-level parameters such as those for hardware as well as all context-level parameters such as services, interfaces, and protocols. Also included in this menu are the options for specifying the systems to be managed by the WEM.

Performance Pull-Down Menu

The Performance pull-down menu allows users to view, configure, modify, collect, and view real-time statistical information for a selected device.

Monitor/Test Pull-Down Menu

The Monitor/Test menu offers selections that enable the user to view and configure parameters to monitor and test selected functions such as:

  • EMS Process Monitoring: This option allows you to view system and disk usage, and interface information about the WEM server application. You can also configure various threshold settings that will create an alarm when the system exceeds your configured thresholds.
  • Monitor Protocol: This option enables a powerful monitoring tool that can be configured to collect and display specific protocol information for calls coming into or out of the selected system. This powerful tool can be used to help troubleshoot session or connectivity problems.
  • Monitor Subscriber: This option provides the same powerful monitoring options as explained above, but can be used for a specific subscriber.
  • Port Monitoring This option allows the users to view, enable/disable the process, and configure the parameter thresholds and intervals for line cards and ports.

The Test option allows users to perform tests such as RADIUS server connectivity, PPP echo tests, or AAA packet transmit and receive.

Security Pull-Down Menu

The Security pull-down menu provides administrative users with user management functions such as adding and deleting administrative users, monitoring user sessions, and viewing audit trail information.

Help Pull-Down Menu

General help is accessed through the Help pull-down menu, located at the top of the menu bar. Click Contents to access the main Help screen. It is important to note that context-sensitive help is available for each dialog that possesses a Help button. More information on using the online help is available in the Obtaining Help within the WEM section later in this chapter.

Object Tree

The object tree presents a hierarchical view of all managed devices, and groups of devices, available to a particular user. This view is based on specifically configured user access rights and may only show a subset of the overall managed network. Management domains identify a group of managed network elements with devices being added to or removed from the object tree by using the Map function.

The Object Tree is navigated much like folders and sub-folders are when using the familiar Microsoft® Windows Explorer™ application. WEM users can view either users or management domains from the Object Tree.

Navigation Buttons and Navigation Bars

Navigation buttons and bars are used to change the way that the Topology window is displayed.

Topology Window Information Dialog Box

This portion of the Topology Window provides information about what is being displayed on the Topology Window. The information displayed here will depend on what the administrative user has selected from either the Object Tree or the Topographical Map.

If an administrative user has selected (highlighted) the user information section of the Object Tree, they will view all users logged into the WEM application. If a user has selected a management domain from the Object Tree, they will view information about all devices contained under that domain.

If a user has selected a specific device underneath a management domain, they will view information about the configured contexts within that device. When viewing a domain, users can highlight specific contexts and select them to be the default view for other element management operations.

Topographical Map

The Topology Map provides visual view of all managed devices, and groups of devices, available to a particular user. This view is based on specifically configured user access rights and may only show a subset of the overall managed network.

New topology maps can be added by using the Add function, available from the Map pull-down menu. Network devices can be added to an existing topographical map by using the Modify function, available from the Map pull-down menu.

Managed network devices are visually represented by device icons that display its manageable state. Device icons with a blue-colored “X” through them denote that the device is reachable, meaning that an administrative user can view the device, but cannot perform any management operations. Device icons with a red-colored “X” through them denote that the device is unreachable, meaning that an administrative user cannot view the device or perform any management operations. Other options can be viewed by right-clicking on the device icon.

System Message Dialog

This area provides system messages from the WEM application to the user. These messages notify the user as to what the application is currently doing. For example, when a user selects a new device from the Topographical Map or Object Tree, the system sends a message to the user that it is attempting to “Attempting to Fetch Contexts” for the selected device.

Command History and Dialog Box

This dialog screen area provides a history of command dialog messages for the current session. These messages are received from the managed device upon completion of command execution. This area displays the result of the last command executed.

In addition to command history, this area also provides other key messages reports by the management application.

Chassis Alarm Indicator

This area, when populated, indicates that audible CO alarms are enabled for the managed chassis.

Number of Managed Devices

This area lists the number of managed devices within the currently selected view. The System Message Dialog Area, located on the lower left corner of the topology window, provides more detailed information about each of the devices.

Communication Status Indicator

This indicator shows the status of the communication link between the WEM server and the managed device. The indicator will be one of two colors:

  • Green: Indicates that a communications link between the WEM server and the client is established and functioning in an idle state
  • Red: Indicating that the WEM server is busy or a communications problem may be present. During normal operations, the indicator may flash red momentarily, as this indicates that the server is obtaining information from its managed devices (e.g. obtaining a list of contexts from a device or group of devices when a user selects it from the map), but it should return to green in less than 30 seconds.

If the indicator remains red for more than 60 seconds (when using a LAN connection from the client), this indicates that a communications problem is present. Such conditions should be reported and investigated.

Obtaining WEM Help

The WEM Online Help system provides users with both context-sensitive help, used to learn about a specific function, and general help in which users learn about using the application itself and its associated functions.

IMPORTANT:

This help file is a general purpose file. Accordingly, not all Product features/functionality described in this file are necessarily included in the particular Product version you may be using, or there may be features/functionality contained in a product version that may not be included in this help file.

Obtaining Help Within WEM

General Help is accessed through the Help pull-down menu, located at the top of the menu bar. Click the Contents option from this menu to access the Welcome screen.

Standard Internet browser users should have a frame on the left side of their browser, displaying Contents, Index, and Search tabs. Following are explanations for the purpose of each tab:
  • Contents: The Contents tab provides a “table of contents” for the Help system. Like a printed book, subjects are organized into various sections. To open a particular section, click on the “+” sign to the left of the book icon for that section. When opened, each section will display the various Help topics associated with that section. When a user selects an option, such as a hyperlink or other option from a Help screen, the Contents section will automatically highlight the individual section and topic.
  • Index: The Index tab is exactly like the index in any document, in that it allows the user to view various entries in alphabetical order. The advantage of a web-based index is that the user may also use the Index function to search for all instances of indexed keywords. When a user enters a search word, the user is moved to the matching area of the index. If there is more than one link available for that indexed keyword, the system will display a pop-up window wherein the user can select the option they want to display.
  • Search: The Search tab allows the user to perform searches for a specific word or phrase across the entire Help system.

To remove the left-most frame from the display, click the Hide button, located at the upper right corner of the main window. To enable the frame, click the Show button. These buttons work as a toggle, wherein one or the other appears, as dictated by the status of the help system tab views.

Other browser-based navigation features, such as back and forward, print, and others work as usual.

Accessing Context-Sensitive Help

Context-sensitive help is displayed when a user clicks the Help button displayed on an operations screen.

This type of help is displayed in a secondary window that does not show the various tabs available in general help. Each context-sensitive help topic provides basic navigation (scroll up/down/left/right) and print functions as needed, but has no other options.

After a user has reviewed the context-sensitive help topic, they can close the secondary window by clicking anywhere within the help system.

Accessing Offline Help

Offline help can be accessed or downloaded without logging in to the WEM GUI. Navigate to the WEM page using your browser and click the “Web Element Manager Offline Help” link under the Help Resources section to download the WEM help in .CHM file format.

Note:

It is necessary to download the .CHM file to the local disc to access the help.