About This Publication

This preface describes who should read Using TrafficDirector, how it is organized, and its document conventions.

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Who Should Read This Publication

This publication is designed for network managers who are responsible for monitoring traffic and diagnosing emerging problems on network segments. Network managers should be familiar with the following topics:

Basic concepts and terminology used in internetworking
Network topology and protocols
Basic UNIX commands
Windowing system that your network management station uses, such as Motif or Windows.

How This Publication is Organized

The major sections of this guide are as follows:

Part 1: Getting Started Chapters 1, 2	Background information about TrafficDirector and its concepts. Instructions for launching TrafficDirector.
		Part 2: Performing Administrative Tasks Chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16	Setting up configuration properties, agents, switches, domains, and filters. Describes tasks you need to perform before you can monitor traffic or protocol data, generate reports, and set traps.
				Part 3: Monitoring Traffic Chapters 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31	How to use Traffic Monitor, view segment and history information, capture and decode packets, view talker, host, and conversation statistics, work with domains, resource monitor, and alert monitor.
Part 4: Monitoring Protocol Data Chapters 32, 33, 34	How to use Protocol Monitor, Protocol Zoom, and Protocol History.
		Part 5: Monitoring Applications Chapters 35, 36	How to use Application Monitor and Application History.
Part 6: Setting Traps for Alarms Chapters 37, 38	Configuring alarms and using traps to execute UNIX script files.
		Part 7: Creating Reports Chapters 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47	Configuring SQL servers, generating and viewing reports, and understanding report information.

Document Conventions

Command descriptions use the following conventions:

boldface font	Commands and keywords are in boldface.
italic font	Arguments for which you supply values are in italics.
[ ]	Elements in square brackets are optional.
{ x \| y \| z }	Alternative keywords are grouped in braces and separated by vertical bars.

Screen displays use the following convention:

^	The symbol ^ represents the key labeled Control--for example, the key combination ^D in a screen display means hold down the Control key while you press the D key.

Examples use the following conventions:

`screen` font	Terminal sessions and information the system displays are in `screen` font.
boldface screen font	Information you must enter is in boldface screen font.
< >	Nonprinting characters, such as passwords are in angle brackets.
[ ]	Default responses to system prompts are in square brackets.

Network management interfaces use the following conventions:

Command paths in a graphical user interface (GUI) are indicated as follows: Action>Reports>Switch Detail
NT systems use a two-button mouse. To drag and drop using an NT system, press and hold down the left mouse button on the icon you want to drag, drag it to the target, and release it to drop the icon on the target.
UNIX systems use a three-button mouse. To drag and drop using a UNIX system, press and hold down the middle mouse button on the icon you want to drag, drag it to the target, and release it to drop the icon on the target.
Screen displays may differ slightly from those included in this publication, depending on the window system you are using. For example, Windows NT screens are different from HP OpenView screens.

Notes use the following conventions:

Note Means reader take note. Notes contain helpful suggestions or references to material not covered in the publication.

Cautions use the following conventions:

Caution Means reader be careful. In this situation, you might do something that could result in equipment damage or loss of data.

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