Introduction

The Cisco SV+ front end program maintains information about network status and statistics through its connection to the IPX or BPX node. This database is updated through Structured Query Language (SQL) commands issued by Cisco SV+ to the Informix OnLine program. When you request information from the database using the Cisco SV+ front end, the software generates the appropriate SQL commands and sends them to the Informix OnLine engine, which returns the database information.

Cisco SV+ permits a finite set of database access types which provide useful and commonly used information about your Cisco network. Cisco SV+ does not, however, provide low-level access to every field in every record in the database.

In situations where you need database information not obtainable through the Cisco SV+ program, low-level access can be obtained through an alternative front-end program which operates along side the Cisco SV+ program (Informix OnLine is capable of supporting multiple front-end programs concurrently).

You should be aware of two things when you work with your database in this manner:

1. Installation and operation of alternative front ends require considerable knowledge of UNIX, the Informix tools, and SQL.

2. Under some circumstances, it is possible to modify the contents and structure of the database using an alternative front-end program. Cisco has configured the database for optimum performance and functionality with Cisco SV+. Modifying the database may cause unpredictable results and the usefulness of Cisco SV+ may be destroyed. It may be necessary to re-install Cisco SV+ from the beginning. You should take precautions to ensure whatever alternative front-end program you use is limited to read-only status.