SMC Networks SMC2586W-G Introduction, What is the EliteConnect Management Utility?, Features

4. EliteConnect Management Utility

4.1 Introduction

This chapter gives introductory information, such as the design goal and fea- tures, on SMC EliteConnect™ Management Utility.

In Chapter 4.2, it outlines EliteConnect Management Utility’s basic function- ality by using a sample device list file, which is installed by the setup pack- age of EliteConnect Management Utility. EliteConnect Management Utility is designed to manage SMC2582W-B EliteConnect 802.11b Wireless Bridge and SMC2586W-G EliteConnect 802.11g Wireless Bridges.

Chapter 4.3 details all the EliteConnect Management Utility capabilities.

What is the EliteConnect Management Utility?

Managing a large number of WLAN devices is not an easy task. Several criti- cal issues have to be taken into consideration when planning a large wireless network:

•Remote diagnosis

•Remote configuration

•Remote firmware upgrade

•Remote device configuration backup and restore

Only when these issues are correctly addressed can the deployed WLAN become an easily maintained network. That is the major reason why SMC EliteConnect™ Management Utility is developed making management of a large WLAN easy. By EliteConnect Management Utility’s “batch processing” capabilities, managing wireless devices becomes a simple click-and-go matter.

Features

Device List Manipulation. EliteConnect Management Utility enables the network administrator to build a device list, which contains information about the deployed WLAN devices.

•Annotations of devices. The following items of information can be annotated to each device in the list:

•Device ID. Identifier of the device.

•Device name. Name of the device.

•Project name. Name of the deployment project with which the device is associated.

•Geographical Zone 1, Zone 2, and location. Geographical zone and location in which the device is deployed.

•Comments. Remarks about the device.

53