Table of Contents

New Features
Client/Server Architecture

What is New in This Release

The following sections describe the new features of IPM software release 2.0 and provide information about IPM's client/server architecture.

• New Features

• Client/Server Architecture

New Features

IPM software release 2.0 implements the following new features:

• Client/server architecture---IPM software release 2.0 has a new architecture that consists of a client component and a server component. Therefore, IPM software release 2.0 no longer requires that you install the IPM server software on each workstation. This release supports installation of the IPM server package and common services package on a server machine. The client software can be installed on the same system with the server, or it can reside on other workstations that communicate with the server using a messaging interface.

• Windows NT support for client software---The IPM server communicates with client systems running Windows NT 4.0 or later.

• Cross-platform support---The new IPM architecture allows mixed platform support between client systems and the IPM server. For example, you can install the IPM client software on a Windows NT workstation and communicate with an IPM server installed on a Sun Solaris workstation.

• Single-subsystem, embedded database---The IPM server manages all the IPM data in a single database for all IPM clients. The IPM database requires minimal user operation.

• Graphical user interface---The IPM client for software release 2.0 runs as a Java application that provides an improved graphical user interface.

• Logging---IPM provides a message log server that manages and presents message information from the IPM processes. The Message Log window allows you to filter and view messages for each IPM process according to trace, debug, info, and error message levels.

• Process manager---IPM provides a process management server to ensure continuous availability of all IPM server processes.

• Express software installation---Installation of the IPM software is streamlined to provide quicker installation through enhanced automation and a common text-based installation script for all UNIX platforms.

• Web interface support for downloading client software---IPM supports remote access for downloading the client software from the IPM server through a web interface. Remote clients no longer require access to the software CD-ROM to install the IPM client software.

Client/Server Architecture

IPM software release 2.0 provides central services and database functions on an IPM server, which communicates through a messaging interface to multiple IPM workstation clients (Figure 1-1). The IPM software consists of server software and client software components that can either be installed on the same workstation or on separate systems. In addition, the client/server architecture is cross-platform compatible, which allows you to run the client and server software in mixed operating system environments.

The IPM server software consists of a group of functional services that manage the data between the network, client workstations, and the centralized database. Some of the IPM server functions include an SNMP server, database server, message log server, display server, configuration server, data collection server, and a process manager. The IPM server manages the exchange of data between the IPM database and the network devices, such as the routers. The IPM process manager launches and manages all of the IPM servers.

The IPM client software communicates with the IPM server. The client software is installed locally with the IPM server on the same workstation, or by itself on a workstation that is accessible on the same network as the IPM server.

Posted: Fri Mar 12 11:51:38 PST 1999
Copyright 1989-1999©Cisco Systems Inc.