Switch Center Forum

By default Switch Center is discovering SNMP network devices automatically from the entire network. The discovered SNMP network devices can be viewed on the Switches Monitor screen. In order to verify the availability and appropriate SNMP and network settings of specific device Switch Center scanning troubleshooting screen can be used.

These are the required steps needed to start the network device troubleshooting screen:
1. From the main menu select Tools and click the Scan Device option.
2. On the Scan device screen enter the IP Address of the device and click Start Scan.
3. Wait until the scanning summary section will display the current status of the device.
4. If specific problem has been found correct it or send us the results for additional assistance.

Labels: Topics

By default Switch Center is not query network nodes only SNMP network devices this kind of configuration keeps network resources and management traffic as low as possible. However, there may be need to collect extra information about network nodes and their current logged user names. User names scanner can provide information about each network node current logged users. The collected information can be viewed on the Nodes Monitor screen by selecting specific node and viewing its details.

These are the required settings to enable usernames discovery scanner:
1. From the main menu select the Monitor screen and click on the Scan Options icon.
2. From the Scan Options section, enable Scan user names and click over it.
3. Select the preferred administration account of your network.
4. Click the OK button after setting the preferred settings.

Labels: Topics

By default Switch Center is not query network nodes only SNMP network devices this kind of configuration keeps network resources and management traffic as low as possible. However, there may be need to collect extra information about network nodes and their available resources. Node Types scanner can provide information about each network node and its operating system like Servers, Workstations, Printers or Routers. The collected information can be viewed on the Nodes Monitor screen by selecting specific node and viewing its details.

These are the required settings to enable nodes type discovery scanner:
1. From the main menu select the Monitor screen and click on the Scan Options icon.
2. From the Scan Options section, enable Scan node types and click over it.
3. Select the preferred scanning options: Servers, Workstations, Printers or Routers.
4. Click the OK button after setting the preferred settings.

Labels: Topics

By default Switch Center is mapping all discovered switches to each other by settings each switch uplink and downlinks using its built-in interconnecting links mapping algorithm. The entire map layout can be seen by using the Network Views screen using Switch Center hyperbolic map which provides Find, Trace and View options. There are some cases that specific mapping is needed to direct Switch Center to use permanent interconnecting links between specific switches.

These are the required settings to enable permanent switches interconnecting links:
1. From the main menu select the Options >> Settings screen and click on the Switches icon.
2. From the Discovery Options section, enable permanent switches connections and click over it.
3. Select the preferred switches display by using Name, IP or MAC address.
4. Use the Add button to select specific switch and uplink/downlink ports.
5. Click the OK button after setting the preferred connections.
6. Click the Save button on the bottom of the screen.

Labels: Topics

By default Switch Center is trying to discover network switches by using SNMP protocol queries to the default gateway that configured on the platform that runs the software and to the network segments that connected directly to network cards on Switch Center platform. There are some cases that specific configuration is needed to direct Switch Center to the network switches addresses.

These are the required settings to enable switches discovery from specific network pools:
1. From the main menu select the Options >> Settings screen and click on the Switches icon.
2. From the Discovery Options section, enable switches discovery from remote networks and click over it.
3. Set the preferred network address pools in Class-C segments by using the Add button.
4. Click the OK button after setting the preferred network address pools.
5. Click the Save button on the bottom of the screen.

Labels: Topics

By default Switch Center is trying to discover network nodes by using SNMP protocol queries to the default gateway that configured on the platform that runs the software and to the network segments that connected directly to network cards on Switch Center platform. There are some cases that specific configuration is needed to direct Switch Center to specific SNMP enabled network routers for collecting nodes MAC and IP addresses.

These are the required settings to enable nodes discovery from specific routers addresses:
1. From the main menu select the Options >> Settings screen and click on the Nodes icon.
2. From the Discovery Options section, enable nodes discovery from remote routers and click over it.
3. Set the preferred SNMP enabled router address as SEED ROOT by using the Add button.
4. Click the OK button after setting the preferred routers addresses.
5. Click the Save button on the bottom of the screen.

Labels: Topics

Switch Center network topology can be exported to Microsoft Visio 2007 for creating and managing visual diagrams. This feature is useful for network administrator and designers that would like to create specific organization views. Enabling this feature requires Visio 2007 installation and external database like Microsoft access or Microsoft SQL database.

These are the required Switch Center steps to enable the feature:
1. From the Switch Center main menu select the Options >> Settings screen and click on the Access icon.
2. From the Export Options section, enable Switch Center SQL database export and click over it.
3. Select your preferred database updating schedule and its preferred location.
4. Click the Save button on the bottom of the screen.

These are the required Visio 2007 steps to enable the feature:
1. Verify that Microsoft Visio 2007 is installed on your computer
2. Download Visio Network Topology script.
3. Download Visio Switch Topology script.
4. Save both scripts on the same folder on your computer.
5. Open both scripts with any text editor.
6. Remove the <'> sign from the first row for using Microsoft Access database and edit its location.
7. Remove the <'> sign from the second row for using SQL database and edit its server and database names.
8. Save both scripts.

These are the required steps to run the feature:
1. Double-click on “VisioNetworkTopology.vbs” file for opening network connectivity diagram.
2. Double-click any switch on the diagram for opening specific switch nodes connectivity diagram.

Labels: Topics

Switch Center support SNMPv3 protocol for switches and routers discovery on all networks or by selecting specific networks. This feature is useful for secured organizations that using SNMPv3 protocol in their networks.

These are the required steps to enable SNMPv3 protocol:
1. From the main menu select the Options >> Settings screen and click on the Snmp icon.
2. From the Additional Options section, enable SNMPv3 and click over it.
3. Set the username and the preferred security options, the context name and engine ID should be blank for automatic resolution.
4. Set the network that will be using SNMPv3 discovery or use the default option for all networks.
5. Click the Save button on the bottom of the screen.

Labels: Topics

Switch Center enables specific permissions configuration for remote users and viewers. This feature is useful for viewing and controlling Switch Center by multiple network administrators and operators with different levels of control.

These are the required steps to set specific user permissions:
1. From the main menu select the Options >> Settings screen and click on the Access icon.
2. From the Users Options section add a new user by clicking the Add User button.
3. Set the username/domain/computer that the user is using to connect Switch Center from his remote viewer.
4. Set the user permissions by checking all the screens that the user will be able to access from his remote viewer.
5. Click the Save button on the bottom of the screen.

Labels: Topics

Switch Center can be displayed on unlimited number of remote viewers. This feature is useful for viewing and controlling Switch Center by multiple network administrators and operators.

These are the required steps to install another viewer:
1. Enable sharing on the server installation directory using windows directory options.
2. Run Switch Center installation on the remote platform while uncheck the Engine Service on the select components screen.
3. After installation completed select from the main menu the Options >> Settings screen.
4. On the Local screen under the Servers Options section click the Add Server button.
5. From the Add Server screen select the installation directory of the main server platform by using its network address or network drive map.
6. After adding the server use right click to Set as Default Server or Rename it and then click the Save button on the bottom of the screen.
7. Select the server and use the Connect button or use the main menu options screen to connect to the main server.

Labels: Topics

Online help: Switch Center - Help File
Product details: Switch Center - Details
Product datasheet: Switch Center - Datasheet

Labels: Topics