Cisco Systems and Connecting Network Assistant manual Launching Network Assistant

Chapter 3 Installing, Launching, and Connecting Network Assistant

Launching Network Assistant

3.Download the Network Assistant installer, and run it. (You can run it directly from the web if your browser offers this choice.)

Network Assistant is free—there is no charge to download, install, or use it.

When you run the installer, follow the displayed instructions. In the final panel, click Finish to complete the Network Assistant installation.

Launching Network Assistant

After Network Assistant is installed, you see its icon on your desktop, a Network Assistant entry under Start > Programs, and a Network Assistant executable file in the installation directory. When you click any of these, you see a partial Network Assistant GUI and the Connect window.

In disconnect mode, Network Assistant is not connected to a device or a community; it cannot manage a standalone device, a community, or the command device of a cluster. Its menu bar and toolbar support only the tasks that customize Network Assistant itself. The feature bar, which usually lists device features, is empty.

Connecting Network Assistant to a Community or a Cluster

To connect Network Assistant to a device, use the Connect window shown in Figure 3-1. In it, enter the IP address of the device to which you want to connect. For an existing community, select its name from the pull-down menu. For an existing cluster, you select the IP address. Click Options if you want to

•Communicate with the device by using HTTPS (secure HTTP) instead of HTTP (clusters only).

Note Catalyst 4500 series switches do not support HTTPS. You must enable HTTP.

•Use an HTTP port other than 80 on the device (clusters only).

•Connect with read-only access.

For instructions on how to use the Connect to a new community option to create a community, see the “Creating a Community” section on page 4-4. When you click Connect, you are either connected to the community directly, or you are prompted for a username and password and then connected. When you connect to a cluster, Network Assistant asks if you want to convert the cluster to a community. For more information on converting a cluster to a community, see the “Converting a Cluster to a Community” section on page 4-5.

Figure 3-1 Connect Window

Getting Started with Cisco Network Assistant

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