HP 3000 Manuals HP 3000 Manuals
NMMGR/XL Enhancements
by Lorraine Bartlett--Information Networks Division
The following six areas of the Node Management Configuration Manager for
XL (NMMGR/XL) are enhanced with this release:
* Configuration File Backup
* Guided NS Configuration
* DTS Configuration
* Help System
* Print Summary
* Maintenance Mode
Version B.03.00 of NMMGR/XL provides all these new features. These
features are documented in the latest edition of the Using Node
Management Services Utilities Manual (P/N 32022-61005).
CONFIGURATION FILE BACKUP ENHANCEMENT
The NMMGR/XL utility includes a new backup facility. It copies the
contents of the validated subsystems within the configuration file to the
backup file whenever the configuration file is successfully validated.
The name of the backup file must be specified when the configuration file
is first opened.
GUIDED NS CONFIGURATION ENHANCEMENTS
The Guided Configuration Interface of the NMMGR/XL Utility includes the
following enhancements:
* Reduced number of screens and parameters
* Forward/backward movement between screens
* Improved usage of terminal softkeys
* Consolidation of X.25 address configuration parameters
* Addition of LOGGING subsystem
These new guided screens are accessible from the MAIN menu screen of
NMMGR/XL by pressing the softkey labeled "Guided HP". Users can still
access any and all configuration screens by selecting the "Unguided HP"
softkey from the MAIN menu screen.
Reduced Number of Screens and Parameters
Prior to this release, the Guided Configuration interface of NMMGR/XL
displayed the standard configuration screens in a predetermined order.
You must visit every screen, regardless of whether the parameters require
changes. With this release, the number of screens you must visit to
create a working configuration were reduced by merging related parameters
from several screens. To further simplify the configuration task, where
appropriate, default values are set for parameters. Additionally,
parameters that seldom require change are located on screens that the
user can selectively avoid. This screen reduction usage also improves
screen validation by minimizing input errors, since related link
parameters are logically grouped together on fewer screens.
Forward/Backward Movement Between Screens
With the definition of specific tasks within Guided Configuration, the
user can use the "Prior Screen" softkey for backward screen movement
within the current Guided task. Each screen has instructions to inform
the user on how to move forward within the current Guided task. This
enhancement allows for verification and correction of data entered for
the current task.
Improved Usage of Terminal Softkeys
The new Guided Configuration screens make use of the softkey labels on HP
terminals. Prior to this release, NMMGR/XL simulates the softkey labels
by using 2 lines at the bottom of each screen form. With new Guided
Configuration screens using the actual softkey labels on HP terminals,
the new Guided Configuration screens have two additional lines available
for data input. The following are the standard softkey labels used with
the new Guided Configuration screens:
* Next Screen: Used when a Guided Fine Tune Configuration task
requires several screens.
* Prev Screen: Used to return to the previous Guided Configuration
screen visited.
* Save Data: Used to update the data in the configuration file or the
network directory. This function does not normally cause a new
screen to be displayed. (The "Update" softkey found on earlier
versions of NMMGR/XL is changed to "Save Data".)
* Read: Used to refresh the screen with data for the selected item.
* Delete: Used to delete configuration data for the applicable task.
* Modify: Used to change the values associated with the parameters.
(The "Update Data" softkey found on earlier versions of NMMGR/XL is
changed to "Modify".)
* Exit Guided: Used to terminate the current task and return to the
main Guided menu.
* List "screen name": Used to temporarily suspend the Guided task and
go to the specified standard configuration screen.
* Validate "product": Used at the completion of a Guided task to
verify successful completion of the task.
* Guided "task name": Used to select a Guided task to perform.
* Help: Used to display improved help text associated with the current
screen.
* More Keys: Used to scroll the function keys displayed.
Consolidation of X.25 Virtual Circuit Configuration Parameters
Within the NS X.25 Guided Configuration, a single screen is used to
configure the remote nodename, IP Address, X.25 Address, X.25 Address
Key, Facility Set, Security Class and PVC Number for X.25 Virtual
Circuits. This data is then used to appropriately update both the
configuration file and the network directory.
Addition of LOGGING Subsystem
Prior to this release, the LOGGING subsystem was not included in the
Guided Configuration. As before, all the logging parameters are
defaulted when the associated Network Interface (NI) is created.
Now that the LOGGING subsystem is accessible through the Guided
Configuration, the logging parameters can be fined tuned to fewer
screens.
DTS CONFIGURATION ENHANCEMENTS
By combining parameters from several of the standard DTS configuration
screens, the number of screens visited to configure a DTC has been
greatly reduced. No changes were made to the DTC profile configuration
screens. DTC cards are now configured one at a time. However, the same
screen can be used to configure several cards of the same type within the
DTC. Separate screens now exist for each card type (PAD, direct connect,
modem, etc.) of the DTC.
HELP SYSTEM ENHANCEMENTS
The Help System of NMMGR/XL is enhanced to provide more clear and concise
information about the NMMGR/XL screens and all of their parameters. All
screens have a "Help" softkey. There is also an index available for the
help text. The index is displayed from any screen after the user enters
a "?" at the command line. The help text index can be used to determine
the screen location of each parameter and using the direct path branching
feature of NMMGR/XL, the user can jump to any specific screen. Details
on how to use the help text index and how to take advantage of the direct
path branching feature are provided at the beginning of the help index.
PRINT SUMMARY ENHANCEMENT
A summary of the DTS configuration data can be printed from the "Print
Summary" softkey in the Output Utility screen of NMMGR/XL. This same
summary can also be printed by using the SUMMARYCONF command of the
maintenance mode interface (Refer to "Maintenance Mode Enhancements").
MAINTENANCE MODE ENHANCEMENTS
The Maintenance Mode Interface of NMMGR/XL is enhanced to include four
new commands to easily update the configuration file and network
directory.
* ADDVC is used to add one or more X.25 virtual circuits to the
configuration file and network directory.
* PURGEVC is used to delete one or more X.25 virtual circuits from the
configuration file and network directory.
* ADDNODE is used to add or update a node in the network directory.
* CARDCONF is used to set the default card number when updating a DTC
card's configuration.
NMMGR/XL maintenance mode is also enhanced to include new functionality
for summary printing of the DTS subsystem. The SUMMARYCONF command is
enhanced to provide this functionality.
These four new commands and one enhanced command are used in conjunction
with the existing MAKESTREAM command of the maintenance mode interface.
(MAKESTREAM creates a job stream used to perform configuration file or
network directory updates on remote nodes.)