Administration. _______________________________CHAPTER 3

 

PortMaster Console

 

PortMaster Console (PMconsole) is the PortMaster administration program. The program uses one of three user interfaces; Sunview, X windows, or a full screen ASCII terminal. The graphical interface (Sunview or X windows) provides several windows through which you can configure the PortMaster.

 

This chapter details the use of PMconsole when configuring and monitoring Dialnet connections. It is intended to augment the information already contained in the PortMaster User's Manual. You should already be familiar with the general use of the PMconsole Administration software prior to beginning this section. Refer to the PortMaster User's Manual for information on using the PortMaster as a terminal or device server.

 

The next three sections detail the use of each of the three available userinterfaces. Please move ahead to the section which matches your operating environment.

 

Dialnet with X Windows

 

The X windows graphical interface provides several windows through which you can configure the PortMaster ports, monitor the performance, and install other PortMasters on your network.

 

Each window in the PortMaster Console has a set of buttons. To select a button, position the mouse cursor inside the button you wish to select and press the left mouse button. Windows can be repositioned as with other X windows applications.

 

Global Configuration

 

The Global configuration window is used to set parameters which are common to all ports and operations of the PortMaster. This window should be configured prior to setting any other Dialnet configuration parameters. From the PortMaster Console, do the following:

 

1. Position the cursor on the Network icon (upper right corner), and click the left mouse button. The Network icon will change to reverse video.

 

2, Select the EDIT button. The window in Figure 3-1 will be displayed.



 

Figure 3-1. Edit Window - Global

 

3. Enter the following information, terminated by pressing RETURN;

 

PortMaster Name - name of PortMaster as entered during the installation procedure.

Default Host - This field is not used by Dialnet, however when using Dialnet in combination with the PortMaster terminal server features, this should be the name of the primary host which the PortMaster will be connected to during operation.

Alternate Hosts - This field is not used by Dialnet, refer to the PortMaster User's Manual for more information of the use of this field,

 

Gateway Name - This optional field is the name of the default gateway. The PortMaster automatically routes network packets through gateways which are running the Routing Information Protocol (RIP), or which are configured into the static routing table, but will use the default gateway if no other gateways are found.

Routing - This indicates whether the PortMaster should run the Routing Information Protocol and broadcast known routes onto the Ethernet network.

Netmask - defaults to 255,255,255.0. This should only be modified if your site uses subnetting. Consult you network administrator for this information.

Broadcast Address - Allows selection of the appropriate broadcast internet address for the local ethernet network. This should match the broadcast address of other gateways or routers on the network.

YP Server - For networks which use the Network Information Service (NIS) the PortMaster can be configured to use this service for host name matching. If this service being used, enter the hostname of the YP server which the PortMaster should use.

Domain - If a YP Server is being used, the correct YP domain name must be entered.

Slip - This indicates whether the Dialnet features will be available for use on the PortMaster ports. This should be set to "Enabled" to allow proper configuration of Dialnet.

Ethernet - This indicates whether to enable the ethernet interface in the PortMaster. It should only be disabled if the PortMaster will not be connected to an >Ethernet.

Password - PortMaster administration password,

 

As each of the first two items is entered, it will be validated against your systems global hosts table. These were established by PMinstall if this is a stand-alone installation, or by your network administrator. The Netmask should not be changed unless you are using sub-nets and understand their operation. Refer to your workstation documentation for more information on sub-nets. The Broadcast address should be set to match the address used by other systems attached to the focal ethernet which are running the RIP protocol The password entry must be entered twice, to ensure that the password was entered correctly. The password can be changed at any time by following the procedures of this section.

 

4. Select the SAVE button to store the data on the PortMaster disk. At the bottom of the window will be a message:

 

Configuration Successfully saved.

 

5. Select the DONE button. At this point, the PortMaster has all the information necessary to begin normal communications with the network.

 

Serial Port Configuration

 

The PortMaster serial ports can be configured for Dialnet operation only, terminal server features only, or a combination of the two. These features are chosen by selecting the appropriate port type for each of the serial ports. User Login, Host Device. and TwoWay operation are described in the PortMaster User's manual.

 

To set the configuration for the serial ports, use the following general procedure:

 

1. From the PortMaster Console window, select the desired serial port icon by placing the mouse cursor on the icon and clicking the left button.

 

2. Select the EDIT button. The Edit Window for the serial port will appear. From this >window you can modify the serial port configuration parameters.



3, Once the Edit Window for the port has been displayed, the appropriate port type may be selected. If Slip is selected, the window in figure 3-2 wig be displayed,

 

Figure 3-2. Edit Window - Serial Ports

 

Port Parameters

 

This window shows the port parameters and the current values. Some selections have a small box with a triangle. Point to the box, click and hold the right mouse button. A menu of choices will be displayed. As you move the cursor through the menu, each item, in turn, will before reverse video. When you are positioned at the value you wish to select, release the mouse button.

 

Some selection show all options in a horizontal line. The option which is selected has a bold box surrounding it, To select an alternate option, simply click your left mouse button on the desired option,

 

The edit window supports two modes of operation; "Standard" and "Extended". When the port is being used only for Slip services, the ports have the same values for both standard and extended modes.

 

These are the parameters which can be selected from this window:

 

Port Type

 

User Login - (default) the specified port will display a login prompt to the user.

After successful baud rate matching and receiving a login name, the user will be transferred directly to a login session on the host Workstation.

 

Host Device - the port will operate as a host controlled device on the Workstation. The Host Device field must be entered.

 

Two-Way - (or bidirectional) the port will operate in User Login mode if carrier is detected on pin 8 of the 25-pin connector. Otherwise it can be accessed as a host >controlled device on the Workstation, The Host Device field must be entered.

 

Slip - The port becomes available for running the Serial Line Internet Protocol for establishing network connections between remote sites over modems, The specific services are defined in the following "Slip Service" field.

 

Slip Service

 

Hardwired - The port ~s being used for a dedicated network connection between two sites, No modem dialing or

authentication is required. The port immediately begins running the Slip protocol. In this mode, none of the other port types can be used in combination with Slip.

 

Dial In - In this mode, the port will accept dial-in only network connections. The remote system (or user) will be required to enter a user id and password. Dial In network connections are controlled by the Password Table described later in this chapter.

 

Dial Out - In this mode, the port becomes available for dialing to remote destinations and initiating network connections to those destinations. Dial Out network connections are controlled by the Location Table described later in this chapter.

 

Dial In&Out - In this mode, the port will accept dial-in network connections, as well as being available for dial out to remote destinations.

 

In any of the three Dial modes the port can also be configured to support other purl operations concurrently. It one of the other port types is selected, both that port type and Slip will be highlighted. If one of the other port types is selected, additional configuration parameters become available which are described in the PortMaster User's Manual.

 

Baud Rates

 

All three baud rates should be set to the fixed baud rate of the attached modem.

 

Modem Control

 

On or off may be selected. The default is "on". If "on" is selected the PortMaster uses carrier detect to indicate that the connection to the remote system is active. The device will be idle until the carrier detect line is asserted.

 

Flow Control

 

Dialnet connections support two types of flow control:

 

None - In this mode, no flow control will be used. This mode should only be used for modems which support a constant data rate equal to the configured baud rate for the port. Modems which use data compression cannot use this option.

 

RTS/CTS - This is for devices where hardware flow control is required. When the PortMaster is able to receive data from the attached device, it raises Request to Send (RTS) on pin 4 of the RS-232 connector. Output from the PortMaster will only occur if the Clear to Send (eTS) modem line on pin 5 of the RS-232 connector is raised by the attached device.

 

Hardwired SLIP parameters

 

The following parameters are only available for ports which are configured for Hardwired Slip connections.

 

Destination

 

The Internet Address or a valid host name of the system at the remote end of the point to point connection should be entered.

 

Netmask

 

The netmask of the system at the remote end of the point to point connection should be entered,

 

Routing

 

Broadcast or Quiet - When Broadcast is selected, Routing Information Protocol (RIP) packets will be send across the


interface, allowing the remote system to manage and broadcast the current routing tables to its local network, When Quiet, the PortMaster will listen on the interface for RIP packets, but will not broadcast any routing information on the interface.

 

Dial Out Configuration Parameters

Dial Group

 

This numerical value is used to assign serial ports to modem pools or groups. When the PortMaster initiates a dial-out connection to a remote site, it will only allocate a port which is in the same dial group as has been specified for that location in the Location Table. Valid dial groups are numbered from 0 to 99. The default is 0.

 

Enabling Serial Port Parameters

 

If you would like to try a new port configuration, without saving to the PortMaster disk:

 

1. Select APPLY

2. Select REMOTE RESET

 

The new port configuration will now be in effect, until power is removed from the Port~Master or changed again.

 

If you want to save the new configuration in the permanent PortMaster configuration, select SAVE.

 

Managing the Location Table

 

The Location Table is used for all dial out network connections to remote locations. >Each entry specifies a remote location, the operational parameters for that location, and information on how to establish a connection to that location,

To view or edit the PortMaster location table, log in to the PortMaster and select the "tables" button from the main console with your right mouse button, A pop-up menu will be displayed. Select "Locations" from the menu. The following window will be displayed:

 



 

Figure 3-3. Locations Window


The mouse buttons across the bottom of the Locations window are use to access the available functions. The buttons are:

Create - Creates a new location table entry based on the fields filled in on the location window.

Modify - Changes the parameters for the location selected in the top location list window to match those filled in on the location window.

Delete - removes the selected location from the location table.

Reset - Clears the fields on the location table window.

Save All - Saves all created, modified, and deleted location table entries into the PortMaster permanent configuration file.

 

To create a new location, simply fill in all of the fields in the location window and select the "Create" button. Then select the "Save All" button.

 

To modify an existing entry, first select that entry with your mouse (by clicking on the entry with the left button) from the selection list. Change the necessary parameters. Then select "Modify" and "Save All".

 

To delete an existing entry, first select that entry with your mouse (by clicking on the entry with the left button) from the selection list. Then select "DeleteM and ~Save All".

 

Location Table Parameters

 

These are the parameters which can be selected and edited from this window:

 

Location Name

 

The name of the remote location. This can be any 12 character name to identify the remote location. It is generally
not the name of a single system, but rather an identifier which represents the entire location (ie. the city or the company name at that location).

 

Type

 

On Demand - This selection notifies the PortMaster to dial and establish a connection to the remote location only when packets are queued for that location. In this mode the PortMaster creates a network interface and the appropriate routing information to notify the attached local area network of the connectivity to the remote site. This is done even though there may not be an actual physical connection to that site at the time.

 

Continuous - This selection notifies the PortMaster to always keep the dial-up connection to the remote site active. If the telephone line is lost, the PortMaster will automatically initiate a re-dial to that location.

 

Manual - This selection notifies the PortMaster to only dial to tile remote location when an operator requests the connection. This can be done from the PMconsole Dialer Window or it can be invoked from the "prodial' program installed on one of the UNIX systems on the network. This also allows connections to be scheduled by using the UNIX cron scheduler to call prodial,

 

Note: When switching a location from Manual to On-demand make sure the dial-out connection has been closed (ie. Reset tile serial port) before updating the location table.

 

Destination

 

Tile Internet Address or a valid host name of the system at the remote end of the dial-up connection should be entered.

Netmask

 

The netmask of the system at the remote end of the dial-up connection should be entered.

 

Routing

 

Broadcast or Quiet - When Broadcast is selected, Routing Information Protocol (RIP) packets will be sent across the interface, allowing the remote system to manage and broadcast the current routing tables to its local network. When Quiet, the PortMaster will listen on the interface for RIP packets, but will not broadcast any routing information on the interface.

 

Idle Timeout

 

For Manual and On-Demand type locations this specifies the number of minutes the line should be idle (no network traffic to the remote site) before disconnecting the telephone connection.

 

Maximum Ports

 

The number of dial-out ports the PortMaster can use for this network connection. If 0 is selected dialing to this location will be disabled. If more than 1 is selected the PortMaster will use the "High Water Mark" to decide when to open and dial additional lines. If more than one line is open to the remote location the PortMaster will automatically use load balancing to achieve the maximum throughput of all lines combined. If multiple lines are open the "Idle Timeout" value will be used to decide when to disconnect unneeded lines

 

High Water Mark

 

The number of bytes of queued network traffic required to open an additional dial-out line to the remote site. This value

 
is only used when the "Maximum Ports" is greater than f and there are available modems on the PortMaster. Setting a very small number will cause the PortMaster to quickly use all of the ports specified in "Maximum Ports". Generally, interactive terminal traffic has no more than a few hundred bytes queued at any one time. However, file transfers (ie. tip) will queue several thousand bytes. These size differences should be used when deciding what number to use for the High Water Mark.

 

Group Number

 

The modem pool group to which this location is assigned. Only modem ports which are configured with this Group Number will be available for dial-out to this location. This can be used to reserve modems for dial-up to specific locations or to differentiate different types of modems which would be compatible with the remote location.

 

Dial Command Script

 

This scrip~ is used to issue commands to the modem lot other similar equipment to dial the correct number and establish the Link. In addition, this script is used for authentication (password security) at the remote site, Each "Send" string is issued out of the PortMaster serial port to the modem or remote computer. Each "Reply" string is used by the PortMaster to verify that the previous "Send" string was properly received by the modem or remote computer and the PortMaster should transmit the next "Send" string.

 

Send - This string can he up 30 characters in length. Any printing ASCII character can be placed in this string, In addition, the following special characters are available:

 

\r - This is replaced by the ASCll carriage return character. \n - This is replaced by the ASCII line feed character.



\0XX - This is replaced by the octal digit specified in the XX. \\ - This is replaced by the single backslash (\) character. Generally Send strings would end with the "\r" character.

 

Reply - This string can be up to 30 characters in length. Any printing ASCII character can be placed in this string, In addition, any of the special characters from above can be used, Generally, a valid reply can be determined by checking for the last word received from the remote system. For example if the remote system is prompting for a Iogin id, it may issued the string:

 

Please enter your login:

 

The Reply string in the Dial Command Script could simple look for "login:".

 

It is important that the last entry in the Dial Command Script be a Reply string which indicates that the remote location is ready to begin receiving network packets, This is used to activate the TCP/IP protocol coming from the PortMaster. When connecting to a remote PortMaster the final reply string to look for should be "SL/IP', For other products, consult that vendors users manual.

 

The following Dial Command Script is an example of how to establish a connection between two PortMasters which have modems supporting the "AT" dial command syntax:

 

Send: ATDT18005551212\r\r

Reply: CONNECT

Send: /r

Reply: login:

Send: my_locat ion_name \r

Reply: $$word:

Send: my_pa$$word\r


 

Reply: SL/IP

Send:

Reply:

Send:

Reply:

 

The "18005551212" would be replaced by the actual telephone number of the remote modem. "mylocation_name" would be replaced by the actual user name for your location. "my_password" would be replaced by the actual password set up at the remote site which corresponds to the user name.

 

Managing the Passwords Table

 

The Passwords Table provides a security and network parameter initialization scheme for locations or individual computers dialing into the PortMaster to establish remote network connections. Modem pOllS configured to accept Slip Dial-in sessions initially prompt for a login user name. After receiving tile login name, the PortMaster checks the name against the list of names in the local Passwords Table. If found, tile PortMaster assumes that this connection will be for a dial-in network session and initiates password authentication of the remote system. If successfully validated (the password received matches the password stored in the Passwords Table) the PortMaster responds with the mes