What Is NavisConnect?

Introducing NavisConnect

Supported products

How NavisConnect works

Alternative configuration and management tools

NavisConnect is a flexible time-saving configuration tool for a variety of Ascend products, and is part of the Navis family of network management products. NavisConnect works by broadcasting to discover Ascend devices on the local area network, loading parameter settings from a unit the administrator selects, and enabling local editing of those values. The administrator can then load the settings back to the original unit, to another unit, or to a file. NavisConnect offers increased ease of use over the TAOS VT100 interface, but retains common organization and structure.

Introducing NavisConnect

NavisConnect is a tool for setting up and customizing Ascend products running True Access Operating System (TAOS). NavisConnect provides an easy way to bring an Ascend product onto the network quickly and to customize the configuration extensively at any time. It simplifies the process of duplicating configurations from one unit to many and reduces the time it takes to configure Ascend products on the network.

Supported products

NavisConnect 1.0 supports the following Ascend products running TAOS version 7.0:

Pipeline 220
MAX 200, 800, 1800, 2000, 4000, and 6000
MAX TNT

Note: NavisConnect 1.0 does not provide read-write access to the parameters governing features added in TAOS releases subsequent to version 6.0/2.0. To configure those new features, you must use the TAOS VT100 configuration interface.

How NavisConnect works

NavisConnect is a graphical application for accessing and editing a database of configuration data that can be loaded to and from Ascend units. NavisConnect broadcasts for Ascend devices on the local network and uses Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) and Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) to transfer configuration data to and from the devices.

The administrator edits the configuration data locally, on the workstation on which NavisConnect is running. NavisConnect writes the settings to the Ascend unit after the administrator saves it and specifies a destination unit (IP address) or filename for the revised or new configuration.

NavisConnect parameters are grouped by function and accessed for editing by group. NavisConnect online help describes the parameters, usage, permitted values, and dependency issues.

NavisConnect parameters have different names from, but similar function, to the parameters accessed through the TAOS VT100 configuration and monitoring interface. You can determine the equivalent VT100-interface parameter name when using NavisConnect by placing the mouse cursor over a parameter and holding it still for two seconds. The VT100-interface name appears.

Alternative configuration and management tools

NavisConnect 1.0 is part of the NavisAccess family of network management tools. NavisConnect does not include extensive monitoring capability. For monitoring of routing and bridging tables and of traffic on the Ascend unit, consider using other NavisAccess products or a VT100 interface with the Ascend unit.

You cannot use NavisConnect 1.0 to alter the default configuration of software features introduced in TAOS 7.0. You must use the TAOS VT100 interface for configuration of the new features.

For more information about other NavisAccess products, ask your Ascend dealer or visit the Ascend web site (www.ascend.com). For information about using the VT100 interface on Ascend units, see the Network Configuration Guides for your Ascend products.

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