Understanding the Administrator User Interface

This chapter describes how to access the Cisco Broadband Access Center (BAC) administrator user interface and explains the interface.

This chapter includes the following sections:

Using the Administrator User Interface, explains how to use the user interface to perform administrative activities. In addition, the Cisco Broadband Access Center 3.8 DPE CLI Reference , contains descriptions of the CLI commands used to access, monitor, and control the Device Provisioning Engines (DPEs).

Configuring the Administrator User Interface

When you install the RDU, the installation program also installs the administrator user interface. The administrator user interface starts by default, when the RDU is installed.

Before you use the administrator user interface, examine the adminui.properties file. This file contains a variety of controls that specify the behavior of the interface.

You can open this file by using any text editor, and change its content to perform the functions that you want. After your changes are complete and saved, restart the user interface so that all the changes to take effect.

To start the administrator user interface, enter:

# etc/init.d/bprAgent tomcat start
 

To stop the administrator user interface, enter:

# etc/init.d/bprAgent tomcat stop
 

You can configure the user interface by using the options available in the adminui.properties file. These options are controlled by Cisco BAC settings or defined in the adminui.properties file in the BPR_HOME/rdu/conf directory.

The configuration parameters are:

  • /adminui/port—Specifies the listening port of the RDU. This port number is, by default, 49187.
  • /adminui/fqdn—Specifies the fully qualified domain name of the host on which the RDU is running. This value is, by default, the FQDN of the host; for example, bac_test.ACME.COM.
  • /adminui/maxReturned—Specifies the maximum number of search results. This number is, by default, 1000.
  • /adminui/pageSize—Specifies the number of search results displayed per page. You can set this number at 25, 50, or 75. The default value is 25.
  • /adminui/refresh—Specifies if the refresh function is enabled or disabled. This option is, by default, disabled.
  • /adminui/extensions—Specifies if the use of extensions in Cisco BAC is enabled or disabled. You use extensions to augment Cisco BAC behavior or add support for new device technologies. The use of extensions is, by default, enabled.
  • /adminui/maxFileSize—Specifies the maximum size of a file uploaded to Cisco BAC. This file size is, by default, 10 MB.
  • /adminui/refreshRate—Specifies the duration (in seconds) after which a screen is refreshed. This value is, by default, 90 seconds. Before setting a value for this option, ensure that the /adminu/refresh option is enabled.
  • /adminui/timeout—Specifies the duration (in minutes) after which an idle session is timed out. This period is, by default, set as 300 minutes.
  • /adminui/noOfLines—Specifies the last number of lines from the rdu.log or the dpe.log that will be displayed on the user interface. The number of lines that appear, by default, is 250.
  • /adminui/noOfFiles—Specifies the number of troubleshooting log files that you can view. The number of files you can view is, by default, 1. The maximum number of files that you can view at a given time is 5.

Example 15-1 Sample adminui.properties File

/adminui/port=49187
/adminui/fqdn=doc.cisco.com
/adminui/maxReturned=1000
/adminui/pageSize=25
/adminui/refresh=disabled
/adminui/extensions=enabled
/adminui/maxFileSize=10000000
/adminui/refreshRate=90
/adminui/timeout=300
/adminui/noOfLines=250
/adminui/noOfFiles=1

Accessing the Administrator User Interface

You can access the administrator user interface from any computer that can access the URL corresponding to the Cisco BAC application.

Logging In

You can log into the user interface as an Administrative user, a Read/Write user, or a Read-Only user. Although each user type has different capabilities, as described in User Management, you access the user interface in the same way.

Complete this procedure to access the administrator user interface:

Step 1 Launch your web browser.

Table 15-1 lists the browsers supported in this Cisco BAC release.

 

Table 15-1 Browser Platform Support
Platform
Supported Browsers

Windows 2000 (Service pack 2)

Internet Explorer 6.0 and above

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Linux

Mozilla 3.0.8

Step 2 Enter the administrator’s location using this syntax:

http://machine_name/
 
  • machine_name—Identifies the computer on which the Regional Distribution Unit (RDU) is running.

Note To access the administrator user interface by using HTTP over SSL, also known as HTTPS, enter: https://machine_name/

The server-side of the administrator application runs on a computer port. By default, this port number is:

  • 80 for HTTP over TCP
  • 443 for HTTP over SSL

The main login page appears.

Step 3 Enter the default username (bac admin) and password (changeme).

If you are logging in for the first time, the Change Password screen appears. Enter the current password, and enter a new password and confirm it. Note that the FQDN of the RDU server you are logged into appears in the User Login area.

Note The following password rules are applicable in the Admin UI:

  • The password length should be between 8 and 127 characters.
  • The password must contain at least one special character, one numeric character, one alphabet in upper case, and one alphabet in lower case. BAC supports the three special characters *@#
  • While changing the password, ensure that the new password does not contain any three consecutive characters that are similar to the pattern in the old password.
    For example, if the old password is Cisco123#, a new password like Cis45678# is invalid.

 

Step 4 Click Login,

The Main Menu page appears.

Step 5 Use the link at the top of the page to add new Cisco BAC licenses.

From this page, you can enter the technology licenses that you are authorized to use. For more information, see Configuring Broadband Access Center.

 

Logging Out

To log out of Cisco BAC:

Step 1 Click Logout at the top right corner of any page.

A confirmation dialog appears.

Step 2 Click OK.

This returns you to the User Login page.

 

Understanding the Administrator User Interface Icons

The Cisco BAC administrator user interface features icons, which you can use to perform specific functions. Table 15-2 defines these icons.

 

Table 15-2 Administrator User Interface Icons
Icon
Description

 

This icon serves as:

  • View Details icon—Enables you to view details of a given device or file.
  • Operations icon—Enables you to run operations on a given device.

 
 

Delete icon—Deletes a specific object.

 
 

Export icon—Exports the contents of a specific file to the client’s computer.

These icons are used in sections describing procedures that you perform using the administrator user interface. These sections include: