DCS110 CATVisor COMMANDER

Transcription

1 Broadband Cable Networks April 13, (5) DCS110 CATVisor COMMANDER Introduction CATVisor Commander is the standalone software tool for configuring, adjusting and monitoring Teleste Headend and HFC products over a local serial connection IP network connection. With the SNMP option, CATVisor Commander can also be used to monitor and control any product with an SNMP agent, especially products fulfilling the ANSI- SCTE-HMS recommendations. The Commander uses a component based software architecture. This enables support for new product models just by adding the product specific software module, without the need to install a completely new software version. Functions Commander has the following functions: View connected devices and their current status View and configure operating parameters of devices Record module status changes on an event log Update embedded software in devices Export the device inventory and alarm information Functional description Element discovery Depending on the used connection type, the Commander can discover the network elements automatically. When using an IP network connection, the user only has to input the IP gateway module address and Commander will automatically discover all the network elements currently connected to the gateway. The discovered network elements are then displayed in a familiar folder tree structure the Element Directory. Fault management Commander regularly polls the alarms of the elements in the Element Directory. Detected alarms are then displayed and classified in the Event log, with their respective severity levels. The selected element s alarms can be examined more carefully in the element specific Configuration window. Configuration management Commander is the primary configuration tool within the CATVisor family. For each module/product Commander uses a device specific Configuration window. When the user points out a device in the Element directory, the software asks the module for a software component ID and then starts the corresponding product type specific configuration tool (often called a viewer ). A device specific viewer typically has a number of graphical pages to view and set device parameters. Pages for viewing Status flags (alarms) and Property data are available for all products.

2 Broadband Cable Networks April 13, (5) It is also possible to open several floating configuration windows to multiple network elements. This allows configuration tasks that require control of several devices simultaneously e.g. an optical transmitter and receiver. Embedded software updates With Commander it is also possible to download embedded software to the selected product. Both local and remote downloads are supported. Commander User Interface Figure 1 shows a snapshot of Commander GUI. Figure 1 Commander Graphical User Interface Data export and import Commander has several functions for exporting and importing data. Storing and using element connection data It is possible to store the network connection database. The connection file can then be reopened so that there is no need to run a discovery every time the user wants to connect to the network. The database is stored in a.xml file that can be easily examined or edited with a text editor or with a specific XML editor program. Exporting inventory data During the discovery process, Commander automatically retrieves the element s basic identification data. This data includes e.g. type, name, hardware and software version data. This data can then be exported to a printer or to a text file for further processing in a network inventory system.

3 Broadband Cable Networks April 13, (5) Exporting event data The contents of the event log can also be exported into a text file for ing or other processing in other applications. Uploading and downloading element configuration data With the DSS100 Setting Saver option, it is possible to upload and download the entire configuration data of the selected element. This function is only available for selected products that have a compatible Device Component DLL available. With the settings saver function it is easy to backup, restore and copy entire element configurations. By editing the configuration files it is even possible to prepare pre-configuration files to speed up the installation of devices and systems. The device settings are stored in XML files that can be easily examined or edited with a text editor or a specific XML editor program. Access control CATVisor Commander has three user levels with different privileges to the device configuration modules. 1. Guest read-only privileges, monitoring only 2. Operator allows changes to basic operating parameters 3. Service allows changes to all operating parameters, alarm limits etc. Note: All these access levels are not supported by a some viewer DLLs. Supported connection types Commander can connect to modules/products using three alternative communication methods: 1. Local serial bus type connection to DVX or BK Bus, either using a null modem cable via DVP PSU module or using the DVX021 RS-232 to RS converter. 2. Local point-to-point serial connection to module font panel RS -232 using a null modem cable. 3. Remote IP connection via Ethernet or via the local serial connection utilising the Serial IP mode. Figure 2 shows the different local and remote communication options with the Commander.

4 Broadband Cable Networks April 13, (5) Commander Event log RS-232 RS-232/485 Ethernet DVP3/4XX or DVX021 DVX Bus IP network Ethernet IP Gateway module HFC network ACx/EMT/ BXX/BK Figure 2, Commander communication options Supported management protocols Commander supports the Teleste proprietary TSEMP 1 protocol and the Internet standard SNMP 2 protocols. The element directory can contain both TSEMP and SNMP elements and the look and feel is identical to both types of elements. Note: As there is no general standard of reading alarms from SNMP devices the event log only displays alarms of TSEMP devices. Extending the Commander functionality The Commander platform can be extended with application specific software modules. One of these is a PSI/SI editor for devices. This product is described in a separate document. Command line options Commander can also be started using various command line options. For instance, the communication parameters can be given at command line to automatically establish a local or remote connection at program start-up. Release 2.6 introduced a new command line option that allows starting Commander with only the configuration window visible. This may be a useful 1 Teleste Simple Element Management Protocol 2 Simple Network Management Protocol

5 Broadband Cable Networks April 13, (5) feature for instance when using Commander as an external configuration tool in network management applications. Commander computer and operating system requirements Pentium 400 MHz or higher 256 MB RAM (depending on OS requirements) 1 GB of free hard disk space RS-232 serial port (for local connections) Network Interface Card (e.g. 10/100Base-T, for remote connections via LAN) Display with minimum 1024 x 768 resolution and 256 colours Operating system compatibility Windows XP/2000/NT 4.0 (workstation), Windows 98/ME SP2 or higher for Windows 2000, SP6 or higher for NT Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher