Table Of Contents
Managing Devices
Overview of Administrative Networks and Devices
Organizing and Managing Administrative Networks
About Administrative Networks
To Create an Administrative Network
To Delete an Administrative Network
Organizing and Managing Broadband Aggregators
About Broadband Aggregators
To Create a Broadband Aggregator
To Delete a Broadband Aggregator
To Discover Device Ports
Viewing Network and Device Events
About Events
To Display Events
Managing Devices
The Cisco Broadband Access Center (BAC) software enables you to create, organize, provision, and manage network devices.
Table 6-1 lists the topics discussed in this chapter and their associated sections.
Overview of Administrative Networks and Devices
You can organize and manage network devices such as aggregation routers with the BAC Web UI. You organize devices within administrative networks. Administrative networks provide a partitioning mechanism so that a service provider can view only the devices on its network.
Note 
Before you add network devices, make sure that you first add service providers and network resources to ensure that the appropriate partitioning of network views. For more information, see "Managing Service Providers and Subscriber Groups" and "Managing Network Services."
Use BAC for device configuration and inventory management, including the assignment of network resources to devices; for example, associating a AAA server to a router in a PTA aggregation scenario.
When you create these devices in BAC, you can also initiate an automatic discovery process that produces and lists an inventory of each device's network cards, ports, and connection endpoints. BAC displays these in an inventory tree.
Organizing and Managing Administrative Networks
Creating administrative networks enables you to partition your network views so that you provide specific views to defined communities of interest. A wholesale network access provider first creates administrative networks for the network service providers accessing its broadband facilities. You organize and manage administrative networks so that you can then partition network devices and subscribers functionally, geographically, or technologically.
When you create an administrative network, you:
•Specify administrative network properties
•Assign the owner of the network
•Assign AAA resources
•Assign DHCP resources
•Assign system resources
•Define access parameters
About Administrative Networks
When you create an administrative network, you step through a series of web pages to set the fields listed in Table 6-2.
Table 6-2 Administrative Network Fields
|
Field
|
Description
|
Parent |
A system-supplied value that indicates whether the administrative network you are creating is at the root level of the network hierarchy or is contained within another administrative network. |
Name |
The name of the administrative network. |
Domain |
The name of the domain to which the administrative network belongs; for example:
|
Description |
Optional descriptive information about the network. |
Owner Assignment |
A dual list box from which you select the owner of the administrative network from a list of available owners. BAC displays the list of all owners contained in its database. Selecting an owner from this list partitions this administrative network so that only the specified service provider can view it. |
AAA Resources |
A dual list box from which you select the RADIUS server or servers that you want to use from a list of available servers. BAC displays the list of servers that you created using the Network Services tab. For more information, see the "Organizing and Managing AAA Servers" section. |
DHCP Server |
The DHCP server that you want to use for dynamic IP address assignment. BAC displays the list of servers that you created using the Network Services tab. For more information, see the "Organizing and Managing DHCP Servers" section. |
Configuration Engine |
The IE21000 server that you want to use to download configuration information using Configuration Engine. BAC displays the list of servers that you created using the Network Services tab. For more information, see the "Organizing and Managing Configuration Engine Servers" section. |
Cnote Server |
The Cisco Notification Engine server that you want to use for fault management. BAC displays the list of servers that you created using the Network Services tab. For more information, see the "Organizing and Managing Notification Engine Servers" section. |
Terminal Server |
The terminal server that you want to use for console access to network devices. BAC displays the list of servers that you created using the Network Services tab. For more information, see the "Organizing and Managing Terminal Servers" section. |
User Id |
A login identifier for a user to gain access to devices on this administrative network. |
User Password |
The user password required to gain access to devices on this administrative network. |
Enable Password |
The Cisco IOS enable password. |
Console User Id |
A login identifier for a user to gain access to the network console. |
Console User Password |
The user password required to gain access to the network console. |
Read Community String |
The SNMP read community string. |
To Create an Administrative Network
To create an administrative network, follow these steps:
Step 1 Log in to BAC.
Step 2 Click the Network tab. The system displays the Administrative Network Management page in the content area of the main window.
Step 3 To create an administrative network at the top-level of the hierarchy, click Root in the Object Selector and click Create in the main window. The system displays the Administrative Network Properties page.
Note To create an administrative network within an existing network, expand the hierarchy in the Object Selector. Choose the network that you want to contain the new network and click Create in the main window.
Step 4 On the Administrative Network Properties page, enter an administrative network name and domain, as defined in Table 6-2.
Step 5 Click Next. The system displays the Administrative Network Owner Assignment page in the main window.
The Select Owners page contains a dual column selection box, which you use to add and remove owners.
Note If you are creating a network at the top-level of the hierarchy, all the owners that you have defined are listed in the Available Owners list box. If you are creating a network within an existing network, only the owner of the parent network appears in the Available Owners list box.
Step 6 In the Available Owners list box, select the owner and click Add.
Step 7 Click Next to continue. The system displays the Assign AAA Resources page in the main window. This page contains dual list boxes: Available Servers and Selected Servers.
Step 8 To select the AAA resources, do the following:
a. To select all the AAA resources assigned to the parent service provider or administrative network, check Use Parent Setting and go to step d.
To select a AAA resource that differs from the resources on the parent network, uncheck Use Parent Setting.
b. To add a AAA server, select a server from the Available Servers list box and click Add.
c. To remove a server, choose the server from the Selected Servers list box and click Remove.
d. Click Next. The system displays the Assign DHCP Resources page in the main window.
Step 9 To select DHCP resources, do the following:
a. To select all the DHCP resources assigned to the parent service provider or administrative network, check Use Parent Setting and go to step d.
To select a DHCP resource that differs from the resources on the parent network, uncheck Use Parent Setting.
b. To add a DHCP server, select a server from the Available Servers list box and click Add.
c. To remove a server, choose the server from the Selected Servers list box and click Remove.
d. Click Next. The system displays the Assign System Resources page in the main window.
Step 10 To select system resources, do the following:
a. To select all the system resources assigned to the parent service provider or administrative network, check Use Parent Setting and go to step c.
To select a different resource or resources from those set on the parent network, uncheck Use Parent Setting.
b. From the drop-down list boxes, select resources according to your network requirements.
See Table 6-2 for more information about these resources.
c. Click Next. The system displays the Device Access Parameters Setting page in the main window.
Step 11 Set device access parameters, as defined in Table 6-2.
Step 12 Click Finish.
To Delete an Administrative Network
Delete administrative networks when changes to network topology make them obsolete. Before you delete an administrative network, you must first delete the broadband aggregators and other administrative networks contained within it. For more information, see the"To Delete a Broadband Aggregator" section
To delete an administrative network, follow these steps:
Step 1 If necessary, click the Network tab. The system displays the Administrative Network Management page in the content area of the main window.
Step 2 In the Object Selector, select the administrative network that you want to delete. Expand the network hierarchy as necessary to make the selection.
Step 3 In the main window, click Delete. The system prompts you to confirm that you want delete this network.
Step 4 Click OK.
Organizing and Managing Broadband Aggregators
After you create an administrative network, you add broadband aggregators to it. You can organize and manage the following devices:
•Cisco 7200 series routers
•Cisco 7400 series router
•Cisco 10000 series router
•Generic devices
Note BAC does not manage services provisioned on generic devices, and no templates are available for generic devices. BAC does provide a method for downloading commands to generic devices. For more information, see the "Downloading Configuration to Generic Devices" section.
About Broadband Aggregators
When you create a broadband aggregator, you step through a series of web pages to set the fields defined in Table 6-3.
Table 6-3 Broadband Aggregator Fields
|
Field
|
Description
|
Parent |
A system-supplied value, which is similar to a path statement, that locates the device in the network hierarchy. |
Device ID |
An alphanumeric identifier for the device |
Model Type |
Identifies the type of router that you are creating. You have the option of choosing a specific router model or choosing a generic device. |
Model Subtype |
Not applicable to broadband aggregators. |
IP Address |
The IP address associated with the management interface. |
Subnet Mask |
The subnet mask associated with the administrative network. |
Hostname |
The hostname of the device. In broadband aggregation, use this field only when adding the RADIUS service feature. |
Location |
The place where the device is physically placed. |
Description |
Optional descriptive information about the device. |
Port and Card Auto Discovery |
Enables or disables the automatic discovery of port and network interface card information. Note To enable automatic discovery, you need to configure the SNMP read community string of the router and then enter the correct string in BAC. |
Use parent settings for all resources |
Enables or disables the inheritance of parent settings for AAA services, DHCP services, system resources, and access parameters. |
Owner Assignment |
The network service provider that owns this device. |
AAA Resources |
In broadband aggregation environments, the RADIUS server or servers that you want to use for AAA services. BAC displays the list of AAA servers for the administrative network. |
DHCP Server |
The DHCP server that you want to use for dynamic IP address assignment. BAC displays the list of servers for the administrative network. |
IE2100 Server (Configuration Engine) |
The IE21000 server that you want to use to download configuration information using Configuration Engine. BAC displays the list of Configuration Engine for the administrative network. |
Terminal Server |
The terminal server that you want to use for console access to network devices. BAC displays the list of terminal servers for the administrative network. |
User Id |
A login identifier for a user to gain access to the device. |
User Password |
The user password required to gain access to the device. |
Enable Password |
The Cisco IOS enable password. |
Console User Id |
A login identifier for a user to gain access to the network console. |
Console User Password |
The user password required to gain access to the network console. |
Read Community String |
The SNMP read community string. To enable automatic discovery of port and network interface card information, enter the SNMP read community string as it is configured on the router. |
To Create a Broadband Aggregator
To create a broadband aggregator, follow these steps:
Step 1 Click the Network tab. The system displays the Administrative Network Management page in the content area of the main window.
Step 2 In the Object Selector window, select the network where you want to locate the device.
Step 3 In the subtask bar, click Device Management. The system displays the Device Management page in the main window.
Step 4 Click Create. The system displays the Device Properties page in the main window.
Step 5 On the Device Properties page, enter device information, as defined in Table 6-3.
Step 6 Click Next to continue. Device Owner Assignment page in the main window. By default, the owner of the administrative network appears in the Selected Owners list box.
Step 7 In the Device Owner Assignment page, select the service provider that owns this device:
The Select Owners page contains a dual column selection box, which you use to add and remove owners.
Step 8 In the Available Owners list box, select the owner and click Add.
Step 9 Click Next to continue. The system displays the AAA Resources page in the main window. This page contains dual list boxes: Available Servers and Selected Servers. By default the AAA servers assigned to the parent network appear in the Selected Servers list box.
Step 10 To select AAA resources, do the following:
a. To select all the AAA resources assigned to administrative network, check Use Parent Setting and go to step d.
To select a AAA resource that differs from the resources on the parent network, uncheck Use Parent Setting.
b. To add a AAA server, select a server from the Available Servers list box and click Add.
c. To remove a server, choose the server from the Selected Servers list box and click Remove.
d. Click Next. The system displays the Assign DHCP Resources page in the main window.
Step 11 To select DHCP resources, do the following:
a. To select all the DHCP resources assigned to the administrative network, check Use Parent Setting and go to step d.
To select a DHCP resource that differs from the resources on the parent network, uncheck Use Parent Setting.
b. To add a DHCP server, select a server from the Available Servers list box and click Add.
c. To remove a server, choose the server from the Selected Servers list box and click Remove.
d. Click Next. The system displays the Assign System Resources page in the main window.
Step 12 To select system resources, do the following:
a. To select the system resources assigned to the parent network, check Use Parent Setting and go to step c.
To select a different resource or resources from those set on the parent network, uncheck Use Parent Setting.
b. From the drop-down list boxes, select the following resources according to your network requirements. For more information about these resources, see Table 6-3.
c. Click Next. The system displays the Device Access Parameters Setting page in the main window.
Step 13 To set device access parameters, enter device access information, as defined in Table 6-3.
Step 14 Click Finish. The system redisplays the Device Management page in the main window. The status of the device is unprovisioned. To provision the device, see "Provisioning Broadband Aggregators." In addition, you might want to initiate discover ports on the device.
To Delete a Broadband Aggregator
Delete a broadband aggregator from BAC when you remove it from the network. To delete a provisioned broadband aggregator, requires that you first remove all services from it. For more information, see "Provisioning Broadband Aggregators." To delete a broadband aggregator, follow these steps:
Step 1 Click the Network tab. The system displays the Administrative Network Management page in the content area of the main window.
Step 2 In the subtask bar, click Device Management. The system displays the Device Management page in the main window.
Step 3 In the Object Selector, select the network where the device is located.
Step 4 On the Device Management page, select the broadband aggregator that you want to delete.
Step 5 Click Delete. The system prompts you to confirm that you want delete this device.
Step 6 Click OK.
To Discover Device Ports
To discover the ports on a broadband aggregator, follow these steps:
Step 1 On the Device Management page, select the broadband aggregator on which you want to discover ports.
Step 2 Click Show Ports. The system displays the Device Properties page in the main window and, in the object selector, displays the network interface cards on the device.
Step 3 To view the ports on a network interface card, expand the view in the Object Selector.
Viewing Network and Device Events
BAC uses the Cisco CNS Notification Engine application to gather and report on network and device events. Notification Engine is not bundled with BAC, so to take advantage of this capability, you must install it. For more information, see the Broadband Access Center for Broadband Aggregation Installation and Configuration Guide and the CNS Notification Engine Installation and User Guide.
With Notification Engine installed, you have access to its event browser. This browser can partition the way it displays events. This means that a service provider can view only those events within its domain. You can view the subscribers impacted by an event and query the status of a subscriber.
About Events
When you view events, you work with the fields defined in Table 6-4.
Table 6-4 Event Browser Fields
|
Field
|
Description
|
Event Time |
The time when the event was received by the Notification Engine server. If an event occurs in another time zone, the time is converted to your local time. |
Severity |
The severity of the event, with color-coding applied to events of differing severities: •Fatal/Critical (color-coded in red) •Major (color-coded in orange) •Minor (color-coded in yellow) •Information (color-coded in white) •Other/Unknown (color-coded in blue) |
Event Status |
The current status of the event. |
Impacted Subscriber |
The number of impacted subscribers |
Source |
The fully distinguished name (FDN) of the managed element that reported the event. |
Description |
A description of the event. |
Repeat Count |
The number of times the event has been reported. |
To Display Events
To display events, follow these steps:
Step 1 Click the Network tab. The system displays the Administrative Network Management page in the content area of the main window.
Step 2 To display administrative network events:
a. In the Object Selector, select the administrative network.
b. In the main window, click View Events. The system displays the Event Management page in the main window.
Step 3 To display device events:
a. In the subtask bar, click Device Management.
b. In the Object Selector, select the device.
c. In the main window, click View Events. The system displays the Events Management page in the main window.
Step 4 To view unresolved events that might affect your network, click View Active Events; or, to view unresolved events and historical events, click View All Events.
Step 5 Use the table of contents (TOC) on the left, to:
•Set your preference about how often events are refreshed and what column to use as the default for sorting events.
•View details about a selected event.
•Refresh events.
•Reload events from you database
•View more detail about impacted subscribers.
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