Overview

The Cisco Resource Manager application provides an enterprise solution to network management. The Resource Manager suite of web-based network management tools enables administrators to collect the monitoring, fault, and availability information needed to track devices that are critical to the network. Resource Manager also provides the administration tools needed to rapidly and reliably deploy and upgrade Cisco devices.

Resource Manager is based on a client/network architecture that connects multiple web-based clients to a server residing on the network. As the number of devices on the network increases, additional servers or collection points can be added to manage network growth with little impact on the client browser application.

By taking advantage of the scalability inherent in the intranet architecture, Resource Manager supports multiple users anywhere on the network. The web-based infrastructure gives network operators, administrators, technicians, Help Desk staff, IS managers, and end users access to network management tools, applications, and services.

Administrator Privileges

Resource Manager features two privilege levels, indicated by the following icons:

	Operator--Enables you to generate reports, check process status, show contents of views, and other read-only operations. No password is required. This is the default privilege level when you start Resource Manager.
	Administrator--Enables you to perform all read-write Resource Manager tasks. Administrator password is required.

If you have just installed Resource Manager and are logging in for the first time, you can use the reserved "admin" username and password. To log in, perform the following steps:

Step 1 Click Login on the button bar.

Step 2 Enter "admin" in both the User Name and Password fields.

Step 3 Click OK. You are logged in as an administrator-level user. The Login button changes to Logout. You now have administrator privileges.

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Note Due to browser limitations, you must close all open browser windows to log out.

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Resource Manager Features

Resource Manager enables you to manage the following:

• Inventory

  • Add, delete, change, and list devices in your network inventory.

  • Import devices from databases or files.

  • Display reports and graphs of your hardware and software inventory.

  • Update your network inventory.

  • Create, modify, and browse device views (groups of devices).

• Availability

  • Monitor the reachability and response time of user-selected devices on the network.

  • Collect fault and performance information for routers and switches.

• Syslog Analysis

  • Troubleshoot and track device problems.

  • View summaries of real-time reports on events that are being logged to syslog on behalf of a router.

  • Process these messages to generate reports and statistical summaries.

• System Administration

  • Review your package options before installing or deinstalling task sets.

  • Collect server information.

  • Check log file status.

  • Back up, move, and restore data.

  • Manage user accounts.

• Software Management

  • Schedule, download, and monitor software image upgrades for Cisco devices on your network.

  • Validate images with devices before initiating downloads, and define and monitor the progress of scheduled jobs.

• Troubleshooting

  • Start, stop, and check the status of processes running on the back-end server .

  • Understand and solve problems using error messages.

• Tools

  • Connectivity tools to check device connections to the CRM server.

  • CCO tools, including technical tips, troubleshooting, a bug toolkit, open forum, and connections to the TAC and CCO software.

Navigation Tree

Access to all Resource Manager tasks and operations takes place through the navigation tree. The navigation tree consists of one or more folders, each of which contains a group of associated or similar tasks, tools, or other options. The button that you select in the button bar determines the contents of this tree.

To use the navigation tree, follow these conventions:

• A closed folder is indicated by a box containing a plus sign next to an icon of a folder. To open the folder, click the box or the folder name.

• An open folder is indicated by a box containing a minus sign next to an icon of an open folder. To close the folder, click the box or the folder name.

• Use the up and down arrow keys on the keyboard to view the contents of open folders.

Step 1 Click Home in the button bar.

Step 2 Open several folders.

Step 3 Click one label (either a folder or a topic name). If you click a folder, no change occurs in the main frame (the frame on the right side of the screen). If you click a topic name, the contents of that topic appears.

Step 4 Press the up and down arrow keys on the keyboard. Notice how the contents of the main frame change to display the selected topic.

Installing Added Functionality

If you have CCO access, you can consult the Resource Manager web page for any available software enhancements by clicking Home > Cisco Connection Online > Cisco Resource Manager. Alternatively, open the following URL in your browser:

http://www.cisco.com/kobayashi/sw-center/netmgmt/rm-planner.shtml

Consult the package README files and Cisco Resource Manager release notes for additional information on installing new features and enhancements.