8.4. Description

8.4.1. Starting up and terminating the aplication

xdnmm rads its configuration parameters from .xdescrc file during its startup. The parameters concern an appearance of the program and other working parameters. The application expects to find its configuration file in a directory which name is kept in the environmental variable $DAVIDPRIVDIR. When the file doesn't exist, the application will begin its work with its default settings.

8.4.2. Main window work

The application is a graphic client of dnmmsd server and in this connection it has have complete functionality after its connection process with the server. The connection will be realized when the application user identifies on the server passing his identifier and his password. After the successfully authentication, data of Network Information Database accessed through the server, are loaded. This process usually takes a little time. A progress of this process is visualized by the application. xdnmm has the complete functionality after ending of this process.

A main view of the application can be split into any number of horizontal and vertical panels. Each panel can include other object. Only one panel is always active. It is surrounded by a green frame.

At the bottom of the application view is the status bar. Two counters: incoming and outgoing messages are placed from the left side of the status bar.

There are also the buttons described below:

Table 8.2. xdnmm - the status bar buttons

Button	Description
	It fulfills some functions. Pressing the button in the state like that causes connection with the server when the application isn't connected with it yet, otherwise when you press the button, the application will be in the active mode to read only. It changes a button picture on the button below.
	When you press the button in this state, the application will be in the mode making possible modification of the Database items after successfully authentication process (you don't need to login as the same user). The button picture again comes back to the initial state.
	It allows you to connect with the server or login to the server again (the application is in the active mode).
	It shows if the application is locked.
	It shows if the application is unlocked.

Before the button that shows if the application is locked or not, three fields are placed. First and second field describes a logged in user's identifier and his level of rights. After them, there is the application identifier which is assigned its by the server. The last item is an indicator of a current connection status of the application with the server.

8.4.2.1. Main window buttons

On the toolbar are placed the buttons that allow you to control the application work. The first button from the left agree with option from File menu.

Table 8.3. xdnmm - the File menu buttons

Button	Description
	It allows you to lock access to the application. Then if you press any button of the keyboard or the mouse, or move the mouse, Authorization dialog will appear. In the dialog you should write a username and a password to unlock access to the application and login again to the server (you don't need to login as the same user).

In File menu also are options which aren't placed on the toolbar.

Table 8.4. xdnmm - File menu buttons which aren't placed on the toolbar

Button	Description
- Connect	It allows you to connect with dnmmsd server to login.
	It lets you disconnect with the server (to logout).
	It lets you exit the application.

Next buttons agree with Edit menu. There are the buttons to edition of different objects and after pressing them, non-modal edition dialogs appear. In each case you can edit unlimited number of objects at the same time by suitable selecting of them.

Table 8.5. xdnmm - the Edit menu buttons

Button	Description
	It opens the window allowing to edit styles.
	It opens the window allowing to edit state groups.
	It opens the window allowing to edit communities.
	It opens the window allowing to edit the collection groups.
	It opens the window allowing to edit menaged items groups.
	It opens the dialog allowing to edit network interfaces of the current monitoring device. In this case you can't get a list of current available network interfaces in the Database because it doesn't exist.
	It opens the dialog, that allows you to edit BGP peers of the current monitoring device. In this case windows with current BGP peers in the Database don't exist. The device must be a router type.
	It opens the dialog, that allows you to edit managed items of the current monitoring device. In this case a dialog with all managed items doesn't exist.
	It lets you open a window to edit objects. You can choose objects to edition when you mark them on a current presented map. In this case you can also edit many windows at the same time.
	It opens a window that allows you to edit ping objects.
	It opens a window that lets you edit ping object group.
	It lets you delete selected item.

In Edit menu another options are placed which don't show on the toolbar.

Table 8.6. xdnmm - Edit menu options which aren't placed on the toolbar

Option	Description
Reset to OK state	It lets you change an item state on OK state. If an item is an object and includes others sub-objects, their state will be changed too with the exception of a state marked as Not managed or Delete.
Manage	It lets you to set a state of chosen items on OK state and begin a management of this items. If an item is an object of Network type, the process of its discovering (scan procedure) will be begun. If an object is computer or router type, its all network interfaces and some current BGP peers will be managed (i.e. their state on this device will be monitored).
Manage but don't discover	It complies with objects of Network type. Then a propagation service of item states will be run. Item states have an influence on these items but a scan procedure of a network won't be run. Non- scanned networks have a blue color.
Don't manage	It sets a selected object state on Not managed value.
Move up	It lets you move up selected objects to a map being higher in a map hierarchy, i.e. to an object including a current presented object.
Discover (poll) node	It allows you to discover a given device or poll it again if it is placed in the Database. In this way you can updated its configuration.
Save positions of ping panels	Save positions and sizes all panles, that show ping objects.

There are some buttons on the toolbar that agree with View menu.

Table 8.7. xdnmm - View menu buttons

Button	Description
	It lets you find an object being on the top of a hierarchy, i.e. Root Map object.
	It allows you to enter inside of an object selected as a home object. Currently it always is Root Map object.
	It lets you enter an object standing higher about one step in a hierarchy, i.e. a parent of a current presented object.
	It lets you look at an object inside. It's synonymous with double clicking on an object.
	It allows you to look at a selected item (computer or router type) using Network Nodes Viewer (xdnnv), if you find a suitable control panel for it.
	It lets you do a similar operation like before but a device name or an IP device you can pass as an argument of a command. In this connection a given device hasn't to exist in the Database.
	It opens a dialog presenting a list of logged in users on dnmmsd server.
	It lets you receive a list of all current defined styles in the Database.
	It lets you receive a list of all current defined state groups.
	It lets you receive a list of all current defined communities.
	It lets you receive a list of all current defined the collection groups in the Database.
	It lets you receive a list of all current defined managed item groups.
	It lets you edit a list of all defined layers in the Database. The layer unctionality isn't currently used in Network Management Map.
	It opens a dialog that presents ping objects.
	It shows you a list of current defined ping object groups in the Database.
	It lets you look at a waiting room in which new-discovering objects wait for adding them to a selected item (map). In this case you should select objects from the waiting room using the mouse and move them to a current presented object (map).
	It lets you configure working parameters of the application.

In View menu other options are additionally placed which don't show on the toolbar.

Table 8.8. xdnmm - the View menu buttons, that aren't placed on the toolbar

Button	Description
Show tool bar	Show or hide the tool bar.
Show status bar	Show or hide the status bar.
Show deleted elements	Show or hide elements marking as deleted.
Show not managed elements	Show or hide elements, that are in Not managed state.
Split view horizontally	It splits horizontally an active panel into two separated panels.
Split view vertically	It splits verically an active panel into two separated panels.
Close view	Close an active panel.

The last three options agree with David system menu and let you run the David system applications:

Table 8.9. xdnmm - the David system menu buttons

Button	Description
	Events Service Configurator (xdesc);
	Graphic Notifications Presenter (xdgnp);
	Network Node Views Editor (xdnnve).

Through Help menu you can find out the application version and its creation time.

8.4.2.2. Maps and objects exploration

A main view of the application is inside of a presented object. In the Database at last one object always exists. It's a localization which is named Root Map and it stands on the top of an object hierarchy. Some objects can include other objects. In this way you can create hierarchy structure of Databse objects. You can see the object inside in very simple way, by double clicking on itself. The application allows to add different types of objects:

objects of type Location can include some, other objects;
objects of type Device are agreed with a phisical network devices;
objects of type Network are agreed with discovered networks – added automatically;
objects of type Link are connections between two objects of below types on the same map.

When the browsed objct is agree with real device (a type of Device), its inside shows a little information about the device and a list of network interfaces, BGP peers and managed items.

A type of Device includes a few subtypes: Router, Computer,. Ethernet switch, UPS, etc.

Clicking on a line of the list describing network interfaces or BGP peers opens their detailed list.

Clicking on a list describing one of managed item groups opens their detailed list. A view of the managed item is specific for a given group and it depends on its define.

The options described below allows you to move between hierarchical maps of objects.

Table 8.10. xdnmm - hierarchical maps of objects buttons

Button	Descriptions
	It lets you see an object which is a parent of a current presented one.
	It lets you see an object on the top of whole hierarchy.
	It gives you the same effect as below but its work will be changed in the future and it will point at a presented object from which xdnmm application default begins its work after its connecting with dnmmsd server.