Administration
CHAPTER 3
PortMaster Console (PMconsole) is the PortMaster administration program. The program uses one of three user interfaces; Sunview, OpenWindows, or a full screen ASCII terminal. The graphical interface (Sunview or OpenWindows) provides several windows through which you can configure the PortMaster ports, monitor the performance, and install other PortMasters on your network. The terminal interface provides multiple screens for performing the same functions.
To run the PMconsole program, enter the following command: proconsole f-si [-o] f-ti
If no options are specified, PMconsole will automatically use the interface which best matches your current environment (For example if you are running Sunview it will use the sunview interface). If you wish to specify a particular user interface, tile optional arguments have the following uses:
-s - Use the Sunview User Interface.
-o - Use the OpenWindows User Interface.
-t - Use the ASCII Terminal User Interface.
The next three sections detail the use of each of the three user interfaces. Please move ahead to the section which matches your operating environment.
The sunview 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 Sun windows.
When PMconsole is started, the window in Figure 3-1 will he displayed.
This is the primary window in the PortMaster Console program. From this window all other windows and functions of the software are accessible. The mouse buttons across the
top of the window are used to access the various functions. PortMaster Console window has the following buttons:
Login - to access any PortMaster
Edit - to set the port configurations, network configurations and administration password
Hosts - to view and edit the list of network host names stored in the PortMaster
View - to view all port configurations and data traffic
Reboot - to remotely reboot the PortMaster
Install - to install a PortMaster onto tile network or to install new software releases
Exit - to exit the PortMaster Console program
Done - to close the PortMaster Console window into the iconic state
A detail description of each o[ these button functions is described below,
To communicate with any PortMaster which has already been installed onto the network you must use the Login function. This [unction establishes a link with the PortMaster and allows you to utilize all other functions. To Login, use the [following steps:
1. Place your mouse on the LOGIN button and click the left
mouse button,
2. The Password Window will be displayed. Enter the PortMaster name which was assigned during the installation procedure. Then press <RETURN>. For example enter:
Portmaster Name: portmasterl
3. Enter the password, if any, and press <RETURN>. When the PortMaster is initially installed there is no password.
There will be a message stating that the connection is being attempted. With a successful login, the main PortMaster window (Figure 3-2) will he displayed.
The PortMaster Console window displays the port icons for the 10 serial ports (S0-S9), the parallel port (PO) and for the network (Ethernet).
After the PMinstall program has been run, or if the PortMaster is moved to a new network, you will need to tell it about the network internet addresses. In addition, the global configuration window is used to change the PortMaster Administration password. From the PortMaster Console, do the following:
1. Position the cursor on the Network icon (upper right corner, above tile Device PO), and click the left mouse button. The Network icon will change to reverse video.
2. Select the EDIT button. The window in Figure 3-3 will be displayed.
3. Enter the following information, terminated by pressing RETURN:
PortMaster Name - name of PortMaster as entered during tile installation procedure.
Default Host - name of PortMaster host. This is the name of the primary Sun Workstation which the PortMaster will be connected to during operation.
Alternate Hosts - up to three alternate host names. Ports which are configured for User Login will automatically switch to an alternate host if the Default Host is unavailable (ie. system is clown or network is unreachable). Login connections are attempted in the order in which the alternate host names are entered. These are optional and may be left blank.
Gateway Name - If the PortMaster is being connected to a network with gateway systems, then the name of the default gateway on the same network should be entered. Otherwise, just enter the Default Host from above. The PortMaster automatically routes network packets through gateways which are running the Routing Information Protocol (RIP), but will use the default gateway if no RIP gateways are found.
Netmask - defaults to 255.255.255.0. This should only be modified if your site uses subnetting. Consult you network administrator for this information.
YP Server - For networks which use Sun's Network Information Service (NIS), also known as YP, the PortMaster can be configured to use this service for host name matching. If this service is 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.
Password - PortMaster administration password.
As each of the first three items is entered, it will be validated against your systems global host table (/etc/hosts or Yellow Pages). 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 the Sun documentation for more information on sub-nets. The password entry requires being 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 serial communications with its host. Within I minute, the Network icon will show a jagged communication line indicating that it has established a link to its host.
Installation from PortMaster Console
To install a PortMaster from the PortMaster Console, instead of using the program PMinstall[I as described in Chapter 2, select the INSTALL button. The window in Figure 3-4 will appear. The option buttons in this window are the same options available with PMinstall (See Chapter 2, Running PMinstall):
New PortMaster
New Host
Upgrade PortMaster
Upgrade Host
One reason for using this method instead of running PMinstall from the UNIX command line is that the workstation window can be scrolled. In this way you can view the entire setup process by using the scroll bars. The Upgrade PortMaster and Upgrade Host are used for the installation of new software releases.
Setting the Serial Port Configuration
To set the configuration of any of the 10 serial ports, use the following general procedure:
t From the PortMaster Console window, select a serial port icon by placing the mouse cursor on the icon of the port and clicking the left button.
2. Select the EDIT button. The Edit Window for the selected serial port (Figure 3-5) will appear. From this window you can modify the serial port configuration parameters.
This window has tile following buttons:
APPLY - send the configuration to PortMaster memory. Does not take effect until you select REMOTE RESET. These values are temporary until you select SAVE. If power is removed from tile PortMaster, the new parameter values will no longer be stored in the PortMaster.
SAVE - performs an APPLY and stores the port configuration on the PortMaster configuration disk.
REMOTE RESET - reset the serial port using the values stored by the APPLY or SAVE selection.
DEFAULT - set the on-screen values to the port default configuration.
CLONE - copy the port configuration from another port,
DONE - return to the PortMaster Console window.
This window shows the serial port parameters and the current values. Some selections have two circular arrows, pointing opposite directions. Point to a set of arrows, click and hold the right mouse button. A menu will be displayed, with a check mark next to the current value. As you move the cursor through the menu, each item, in turn, will become reverse video. When you are positioned at the value you wish to select, release the mouse button.
Some selections show all options in a horizontal line. The option which is selected is in reverse video. To select an alternate option, simply click your left mouse button on the desired option.
The serial port edit window supports two modes of operation; "Standard" and "Extended". Most users will find that the "Standard" mode will meet all of their needs. "Extended" mode is for users who wish to customize the operation of the serial port more extensively. The desired mode can be selected by selecting a Mode option at the top of the edit window.