Table of Contents
Getting Started With Firewall MC
Logging In to the CiscoWorks Server Desktop
Understanding the User Interface
Getting Started With Firewall MC
Before you begin using Firewall MC, you must understand the basic operation of the user interface, including the login procedure and user interface elements.
To access Firewall MC, you must log in to the CiscoWorks Server desktop. The following basic concepts can help you get started:
Logging In to the CiscoWorks Server Desktop
The CiscoWorks Server desktop(Figure 1-1) is the interface for CiscoWorks network management applications, including Firewall MC.
Before logging in, ensure that your browser is configured correctly for CiscoWorks. See Installation and Setup Guide for CiscoWorks Common Services 2.2 (includes CiscoView 5.5) on Windows.
If you are logging in for the first time, you can use the reserved "admin" username and password.
Figure 1-1 CiscoWorks Server Login Window
Step 1 Access the CiscoWorks Server from your browser.
Step 2 Enter admin in both the Name and Password fields of the Login Manager.
Step 3 Click Connect or press Enter. You are now logged in.
Step 4 Change the admin password by selecting Server Configuration > Setup > Security > Modify My Profile. For additional information, see User Guide for CiscoWorks Common Services 2.2.
Starting Firewall MC
The CiscoWorks Server desktop contains drawers for the installed applications. The Firewall MC drawer is in the left pane (Figure 1-2).
Figure 1-2 Desktop with Firewall MC Drawer Displayed
Step 1 Log in to the CiscoWorks Server desktop.
Step 2 From the navigation tree, select the VPN/Security Management Solution drawer.
Step 3 Select the Management Center folder.
Step 4 Select Firewalls. Firewall MC starts and the Home Page is displayed.
Viewing the Home Page
The Firewall MC home page describes the types of tasks you can perform under the various tabs. We recommend reviewing and following one of the task flows detailed in "Task Flow Checklists."
To help you to identify the components comprising the user interface, see Understanding the User Interface.
Figure 1-3 Home Page with Workflow Disabled
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Note You can see the Home Page only after you log in to Firewall MC. |
Understanding the User Interface
The Firewall MC user interface organizes related tasks and information so as to improve ease-of-use. The interface includes the following organizational elements:
GUI
Figure 1-4 shows Firewall MC basic GUI elements.
Figure 1-4 Firewall MC Basic GUI Elements
| Figure 1-4 Reference |
Location |
Description |
| 1 |
Path bar
|
Provides a context for the displayed page. Shows tab, option, and current page.
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| 2 |
TOC
|
Displays available suboptions.
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| 3 |
Padlock icon
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Represents the locking system used by Firewall MC. Identifies whether devices or device groups are available for editing.
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| 4 |
Options bar
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Displays options available for the selected tab.
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| 5 |
Tabs
|
Provides access to product functionality. Click a tab to access its options.
- Devices—Identify devices to configure and manage. Define group hierarchy and arrange devices within that hierarchy; establishes inheritance model.
- Configuration—Enter or edit device configuration information by identifying device- and MC-level settings, access rules, translation rules, and building blocks.
- Deployment—Deploy configurations to devices, a file, or an AUS. Displayed when the workflow feature is disabled (default).
- Workflow—Manage activities and jobs. Deploy configurations based on jobs to devices, a file, or an AUS. Displayed when the workflow feature is enabled.
- Reports—Display reports about activities or device details. Compare settings and rules between actual device and the configuration files within Firewall MC.
- Admin—Perform administrative tasks such as enabling workflow, database maintenance, and create support file to submit support information to Cisco TAC.
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| 6 |
Activity bar1
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Displays activity action icons that change, depending upon what state the activity is in. Viewed from Devices, Configuration, or Deployment tabs only. See Table 1-1 for more information.
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| 7 |
Tools
|
Contains Logout, Help, and About buttons.
- Close—Logs you out of Firewall MC, but not CiscoWorks Server.
- Help—Opens a new window that displays context-sensitive help for the displayed page. The window also contains buttons that you use to access the help contents, index, and search tool.
- About—Displays the application version.
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| 8 |
Username
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Identifies the user logged in to Firewall MC.
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| 9 |
Instructions box
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Provides a brief overview of how to use the page.
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| 10 |
Page
|
Displays the area in which you perform tasks.
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| 11 |
Table
|
List of items and their components.
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| 12 |
Object bar
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Displays the object (also referred to as the scope) selected in the Object Selector. See Object Selector for more information.
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| 13 |
Object Selector handle
|
Opens and closes the Object Selector.
- When selector is closed, click to open.
- When selector is open, click to close.
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Table 1-1 shows the activity bar icons. The icons vary, depending on the workflow setup you are using.
Table 1-1 Activity Bar Icons
| Icon |
Icon Name |
Description |
Workflow Setup |
|
|
Add
|
Adds a new activity.
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Workflow is enabled.
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|
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Open
|
Opens an existing activity.
|
Workflow is enabled.
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|
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Close
|
Closes an activity.
|
Workflow is enabled.
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|
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Save and Deploy
|
Saves and generates a device configuration file. Allows you to deploy the configuration or postpone the deployment until later.
|
Both
|
|
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Submit
|
Submits an activity.
|
Workflow is enabled.
|
|
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Approve
|
Approves an activity.
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Workflow is enabled.
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|
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Reject
|
Rejects an activity.
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Workflow is enabled.
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|
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Undo
|
Discards an activity.
or
Discards any changes made since the last save.
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Both
|
|
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View Details
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Shows the details of the current changes.
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Both
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Object Selector
Figure 1-5 shows object selector elements after the object selector is opened with the object selector handle.
Figure 1-5 Firewall MC Object Selector Elements
| Figure 1-5 Reference |
Object |
Description |
| 1 |
Global folder
|
Displays the available groups and devices in the network. Click the plus (+) symbol to see the contents.
|
| 2 |
Subgroup folder
|
Displays devices contained in that subgroup. Click the plus (+) symbol to see the contents of the folder.
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| 3 |
Device
|
Displays the individual object contained in that group or subgroup.
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| 4 |
Object Selector handle
|
Opens and closes the Object Selector. Handle is shown in the open position.
|
|
Table Elements
Figure 1-6 shows table elements.
Figure 1-6 Firewall MC Table Elements
| Figure 1-6 Reference |
Location |
Description |
| 1 |
Check box
|
Used to select a table row. You can select the check box in the table column headings row to select all check boxes in the table.
|
| 2 |
Row
|
Contains information fields for one item in the table.
|
| 3 |
Column
|
Contains one information field for all items in the table.
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| 4 |
Action buttons
|
Contains buttons that initiate actions or commands for this table. Action buttons will vary depending upon the table you are in and your user permissions.
|
|
Wizard Elements
Wizards provide you with step-by-step instructions for performing tasks in Firewall MC (Figure 1-7). Wizards contain ordered pages. If a wizard page includes a variable, the TOC displays an ellipsis (...). After all variables are defined, the ellipsis is replaced by the wizard pages used.
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Note When you are working in a wizard, be sure to use the Back button in the application GUI and not the browser Back button to access a previous wizard page. |
Figure 1-7 Firewall MC Wizard Elements
| Figure 1-7 Reference |
Location |
Description |
| 1 |
Wizard steps
|
Displays an ordered list of steps. Ellipses (...) mean the following steps depend on which option(s) you select.
|
| 2 |
Object bar
|
Displays the group or device selected in the Object Selector. Changes made within the wizard are applied to the selected group or device.
|
| 3 |
Wizard page
|
The area in which you work. Can display the following types of information:
- Field—Area in which you enter values.
- List—Drop-down list of options available.
- Check boxes and radio buttons—Methods used to make your selection(s).
-
- Check boxes are used when more than one selection can be made at a time.
- Radio buttons are used when only one selection can be made at a time.
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| 4 |
Instructions box
|
Provides a brief overview of how to use the page.
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| 5 |
Action buttons
|
Buttons that initiate actions for this page. Buttons that do not work on a particular page are grayed-out. (See Table 1-2.)
|
|
Table 1-2 Action Buttons
| Where Used |
Action Button1 |
Description |
|
Throughout
|
Help2
|
Provides context-sensitive online help.
|
|
Wizards
|
Back
|
Takes you to the previous wizard page.
|
|
Next
|
Takes you to the next wizard page.
|
|
Cancel3
|
Cancels the action.
|
|
Reset
|
Restores the value of any changed fields to their last saved or default value.
|
|
Finish
|
Commits changes to the database.
|
|
View Config4
|
Opens a configuration file in read-only mode. Available after generating the configuration.
|
|
Deploy Type
|
Allows you to change the deployment method. Used in Job Management.
|
|
Tables
|
Create
|
Adds a row in a table that represents a group. Used in Building Blocks.
|
|
Add
|
Adds a row to an unordered table.
|
|
Edit
|
Edits an existing row in a table.
|
|
Insert
|
Adds a row in an ordered table.
|
|
Delete
|
Removes a row from a table.
|
|
Import
|
Imports devices to Firewall MC. Used in Importing Devices.
|
|
Cut
|
Removes a row in a table. Used in Access Rules.
|
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Copy
|
Copies a row in a table. Used in Access Rules.
|
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Paste
|
Pastes a row that was copied or cut in a table. Used in Access Rules.
|
|
Poll
|
Polls interface information. Used in Settings.
|
|
Tables (cont.)
|
View2
|
Shows information in read-only mode.
- If you are in a wizard, allows you to see details that might not be present in the table.
- If you are viewing activity reports, allows you to see the history of an activity.
|
|
Discover Groups
|
Analyzes and restructures ACLs into groups to facilitate maintenance. Used in Access Rules.
|
|
View All
|
Displays all rules defined from Global down to the current scope.
|
|
Apply
|
Applies settings to the database.
|
|
Refresh5
|
Refreshes the window.
|
|
Stop
|
Stops configuration generation.
|
|
Activity table
|
Refresh
|
Refreshes the window.
|
|
Status
|
Displays action and error information.
|
|
Info
|
Provides activity details.
|
|
Add
|
Creates a new activity (policy).
|
|
Open
|
Opens an existing activity.
|
|
Undo
|
Discards an activity.
|
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Submit
|
Submits an activity to a person with approval authority.
|
|
Approve
|
Approves an activity.
|
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Reject
|
Rejects an activity.
|
|
Job table
|
Add
|
Creates a job.
|
|
Open
|
Opens an existing job.
|
|
Cancel
|
Cancels an in-progress job.
|
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Submit
|
Submits a job to a person with approval authority.
|
|
Approve
|
Approves a job.
|
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Reject
|
Rejects a job.
|
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Deploy
|
Deploys configurations to devices.
|
|
Rollback
|
Reverts to previous configurations.
|
|
Popups
|
View Report
|
Opens the Reports page to display the Activities table.
|
|
View Transcript
|
Displays information about communications to a device after deploying a job.
|
|
Buttons are common to the area where used unless explicitly stated.
No activity is needed to click the button.
The button is also used in the activity- and job-management tables.
The button is also used in the activity- and job-management tables.
The button is also used in the activity- and job-management tables and popups.
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