Q & A
New Features
Q. How can I search for a device or service object?
A. The enhanced filter function in CiscoWorks Hosting Solution Engine (HSE) Release 1.9 provides a variety of selection criteria to search for one or many matching devices or service objects on demand. Returned values are limited to those accessible to the user based on the user/group domain rights defined in the system.
Q. As a user with responsibility for a large number of devices, and thus a member of many domains, my views have a very large number of devices displayed. Is there a way for me to quickly see a subset of devices grouped together based on my business model?
A. Yes, with the introduction of managed entity groups, it is possible to pre-assign a subset of devices to a named group, which can be used in the filter function. When established, named groups can be used by all users, though the returned values are limited to those accessible to the specific user based on that user's domain rights defined in CiscoWorks HSE.
Q. Is there a way to export a desired CiscoWorks HSE configuration setup to another HSE machine so that the setup does not have to be completed from the beginning?
A. CiscoWorks HSE includes support to aid in configuration synchronization from one HSE machine to another. Use the backup command on one CiscoWorks HSE, then use the restore command to load the configuration to a different HSE for a complete copy. Using the synchronize feature found under the administration tab will synchronize from one system to another as well.
Q. In the Security Authentication section, does the MS NT Domain choice support Active Directory Services?
A. Yes, CiscoWorks HSE 1.9 adds support for Active Directory.
Q. In the Security Authentication section, can Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) be used for authentication?
A. Yes, CiscoWorks HSE 1.9 adds support for LDAP.
Q. I am currently running a prior release of CiscoWorks HSE. What should my upgrade path be to take advantage of CiscoWorks HSE 1.9 without having to re-input all of my managed device and administrative data? And are there any issues I need to be aware of in doing so?
A. To upgrade to CiscoWorks HSE 1.9, users should first upgrade their existing platform to CiscoWorks HSE 1.8.2 using the published upgrade methods. The one issue users need to be aware of is that because of a deficiency in the upgrade process from CiscoWorks HSE 1.8 to HSE 1.8.1 that loses some configuration data, it is better to skip that version.
CiscoWorks Hosting Solution Software
Q. What is CiscoWorks Hosting Solution Software (HSS) and how does it relate to CiscoWorks Hosting Solution Engine (HSE)?
A. CiscoWorks HSS Release 1.9 is a software-only offering with the exact same implementation as found in CiscoWorks HSE 1.9, but instead of being preloaded on the Cisco® 1140 appliance, CiscoWorks HSS must be loaded onto a customer-provided server platform. That platform must be one of the two supported reference platforms for CiscoWorks HSS 1.9.
Q. What are the supported reference platforms for the CiscoWorks HSS 1.9?
A. The supported reference platforms are:
IBM xSeries 336 8837E2U
Memory: 2G ECC DDR SDRAM
Processor: 3.0-GHz, 800-MHz, 2-MB L2 Intel Processor
Storage Controller: Integrated Single-Channel Ultra320 SCSI Controller
Hard Drive: One 36.4-GB, 2.5-Inch, 10K-rpm Ultra320 SCSI Hot-Swap SL HDD
Storage Type: SCSI
Memory: 2G ECC DDR SDRAM
Processor: 3.0-GHz, 800-MHz, 2-MB L2 Intel Processor
Storage Controller: Integrated Single-Channel Ultra320 SCSI Controller
Hard Drive: One 36.4-GB, 2.5-Inch, 10K-rpm Ultra320 SCSI Hot-Swap SL HDD
Storage Type: SCSI
Hewlett Packard Proliant DL360 G4
Memory: 2G PC2700 DDR 333 SDRAM
Processor: Intel Xeon 3.0-GHz/800-MHz Processor (dual capability) with 1-MB L2 cache
Storage Controller: Smart Array 6i Plus controller
Hard Drive: One or two 36.4-GB Ultra320 (use two if redundancy desired)
Storage Type: Hardware Raid
Memory: 2G PC2700 DDR 333 SDRAM
Processor: Intel Xeon 3.0-GHz/800-MHz Processor (dual capability) with 1-MB L2 cache
Storage Controller: Smart Array 6i Plus controller
Hard Drive: One or two 36.4-GB Ultra320 (use two if redundancy desired)
Storage Type: Hardware Raid
Q. I already own one or more CiscoWorks HSEs. How can I migrate to the CiscoWorks HSS offering? What is the cost?
A. First, all licensed platforms of CiscoWorks HSE to be migrated must be brought up to Release 1.9. When that is complete, perform a backup of each CiscoWorks HSE system to be migrated. Acquire CiscoWorks HSS from your Cisco account representative; the conversion kit part number is CWHSS-1.9-CONV-K9 and is available for a nominal fee. Load CiscoWorks HSS onto each reference platform(s) to be used. For each CiscoWorks HSE-to-HSS migration, perform a restore of the HSE backup to the HSS. To complete the migration, take care to decommission CiscoWorks HSE from management and to ensure proper credentials are established for CiscoWorks HSS to reach each managed device. Also be sure that the end devices are enabled to send notifications to the new devices' address (since it is likely different than the CiscoWorks HSE's) and that firewalls and other network security configurations are updated to allow CiscoWorks HSS to communicate to its managed devices.
Q. Do I have to provide my own operating system for CiscoWorks HSS 1.9?
A. No, CiscoWorks HSS 1.9 is delivered as a ready-to-use ISO boot disk that installs not only the CiscoWorks HSS 1.9 application, but the entire operating system and full system environment on the supporting platform. CiscoWorks HSS 1.9 comes ready to install on customer-provided hardware.
Q. When using one of the specified reference platforms to host my CiscoWorks HSS 1.9 application, can I also run other applications on the same platform?
A. No, because of performance specifications and support issues, CiscoWorks HSS 1.9 must run on a dedicated platform for CiscoWorks HSS only.
Q. Can I get more capacity and performance for my CiscoWorks HSS 1.9 application if I load it on a more powerful or larger-capacity platform?
A. Only the specific reference platforms, to the specified configurations, are tested and supported for CiscoWorks HSS 1.9. Because of issues with OS device driver support and tested performance characteristics, variations from the specified configurations of the supported reference platforms may render CiscoWorks HSS 1.9 partially or fully inoperable. For instance, changing the hardware configuration from the specification could require additional device drivers not available from CiscoWorks HSS install and thus cause the installation to fail. This is especially true with respect to fixed disk drivers.
Q. If I have the required device drivers, can I use a different configuration of reference platform anyway?
A. This would not be supportable by Cisco Systems® and is not recommended for proper operation of CiscoWorks HSS.
Q. Are there any advantages to running CiscoWorks HSE 1.9 on one of the reference platforms versus running CiscoWorks HSE 1.9 on the Cisco 1140 appliance?
A. Yes, in addition to being widely available, which eases sparing, maintenance, and support and often matches data center standards of customers currently running CiscoWorks HSE, the supported reference platforms provide a minor but discernable increase in both capacity and performance of the CiscoWorks HSE in heavily loaded environments.
CiscoWorks HSE Hardware
Q. On what hardware does CiscoWorks HSE run?
A. CiscoWorks HSE runs on the Cisco 1140 appliance, which is included in the purchase price of CiscoWorks HSE.
Q. What is the Cisco 1140?
A. The Cisco 1140 is a one-rack-unit (1-RU) high server platform. This device has a 40-GB hard drive, 1-GB memory, and 2.4-GHz CPU. It has two 10/100 Ethernet ports and one serial port. One Ethernet port is typically accessible by end users using Web browsers via Hypertext Transfer Protocol-Server (HTTP-S), and the other port is used by CiscoWorks HSE to communicate with the network. It can be conveniently deployed on the same rack with the rest of your Cisco e-business networking devices.
Q. How long will the Cisco 1140 appliance continue to be sold and supported?
A. The end of sale for the Cisco 1140 platform has been announced for December 31, 2005. Support for the Cisco 1140 appliance will continue beyond that date per standard end-of-life policies, so continued use of the CiscoWorks HSE is supported well into the future. Please see the end-of-sale and end-of-life announcement for more support details. Customers can purchase CiscoWorks HSS as an alternative prior to and after the end of sale of CiscoWorks HSE 1.9 on Cisco 1140.
Q. Does CiscoWorks HSE 1.9 support operation on the Cisco 1105 appliance?
A. No, because the Cisco 1105 appliance end-of-sale date was October 22, 2003, and the Cisco 1105 was replaced by the Cisco 1140 appliance, CiscoWorks HSE 1.9 does not provide support for the Cisco 1105 appliance. Support for the Cisco 1105 appliance continues per standard end-of-life policies, with the last supported software release being CiscoWorks HSE 1.8.2. CiscoWorks HSE 1.9 does support upgrades from an existing installation of CiscoWorks HSE 1.8.2 or a supported appliance or reference platform prior to CiscoWorks HSE 1.9.
Q. Can Cisco 1105 or Cisco 1140 appliance hardware be upgraded?
A. No. CiscoWorks HSE hardware, namely the CiscoWorks HSE 1105 and 1140 appliances, are fixed-configuration devices. No components of the Cisco 1105 or Cisco 1140 can be upgraded or replaced in the field. As application needs changed, new hardware configurations and now the reference platform option were introduced into the product family. This approach enhances the reliability and supportability of CiscoWorks HSE. Customers can migrate to CiscoWorks HSS as an alternative.
General
Q. Where should CiscoWorks HSE be placed in the network?
A. In general, CiscoWorks HSE should be placed as near as possible to the content switches, behind firewalls. It is typically connected to a Cisco Catalyst® switch.
Q. Can several users be logged onto and managing the same device or service at once?
A. Yes, several users can view data and reports on the same device or service. More than one user can update device credential or provisioning information, but the last write will overwrite the others.
Q. Does CiscoWorks HSE support command-line interfaces (CLIs) such as the Cisco IOS® Software CLI?
A. Yes. In addition to its Web-based, secure GUI, CiscoWorks HSE supports Cisco IOS Software-like CLIs for easy configuration.
Q. Which ports and protocols does CiscoWorks HSE use?
A. Table 1 lists the ports used by CiscoWorks HSE, and Table 2 lists the ports hosted on CiscoWorks HSE.
Table 1. Ports Used by CiscoWorks HSE
Table 2. Ports Hosted by CiscoWorks HSE
|
Destination Port Number |
Protocol and CiscoWorks HSE Service |
Source |
|
TCP 443 |
HTTPS - CiscoWorks HSE secure Web port |
Client browser |
|
TCP 1741 |
HTTP - CiscoWorks HSE Web port |
Client browser |
For More Information
For more information about CiscoWorks Hosting Solution Engine, visit http://www.cisco.com/go/hse or contact your local account representative.
