GUI workspace elements

Overview

The GUI on an NFM-P client station allows you to use a standard keyboard and point-and-click operations to perform device, network, policy and service management functions. The GUI simplifies operations such as service configuration, OAM, security, statistics, and other functions by allowing point-and-click selection and intuitive data entry, rather than using a CLI. Multiple NFM-P GUI clients can connect to an NFM-P server.

The main GUI window displays standard workspace elements such as a menu bar, toolbar, taskbar, and status bar.

Navigation tree

The navigation tree lists the managed equipment, services, protocols, and other objects that are configured on the network. By expanding the tree, you can navigate to and select network objects for configuration or to view information. You can open up to five navigation tree windows at one time.

See Chapter 3, NFM-P navigation tree for more information about the navigation tree.

Topology map

The topology map provides a view of network elements and connections. You can arrange elements on the map and create equipment groups to suit your requirements. You can select map objects and use contextual menus for configuration or to view information. You can open multiple topology map windows at one time.

See Chapter 4, Topology map management for more information about the topology map.

Windows and forms

The NFM-P displays forms in response to menu options or other on-screen selections. Forms are typically used to configure parameters and to view information. Forms allow configurations, display lists and searches, and provide other options; see NFM-P forms in this chapter.

All currently open windows and forms, except external windows, are represented by icons on the NFM-P taskbar. All currently open windows and forms, including external windows, are listed in the Window menu of the NFM-P main menu.

The NFM-P GUI provides floating windows and forms that you can move, resize, hide, and bring to the foreground to optimize the workspace. For information about managing the display of windows and forms, see To manage the display of windows and forms. A window or form in the GUI can be moved out of the main workspace and managed as an external window on a second monitor; see To manage a window or form as an external window.

Messages, warnings, dialogs, and other information appear in pop-up windows in the GUI, but are not managed as floating windows.

Main menu bar

The main menu bar contains menus and submenus that allow you to navigate to the forms required to perform many NFM-P functions. The available menu items vary depending on licensing and the scope of command role of the current user.

Toolbar

The toolbar contains icons that allow you to quickly access windows and forms. The icons represent menus or menu items in the NFM-P main menu. When a button represents a menu, the button displays the name of the menu. Clicking the button opens a drop-down of the associated menu items. When an icon represents a menu item with no submenu items, clicking the icon opens the associated form or window. You can set user preferences to show or hide the toolbar; see To configure NFM-P user preferences. You can customize the toolbar as part of a custom workspace; see To customize toolbars.

NFM-P objects

The term “object” in the NFM-P typically refers to an entity on the network, such as an NE, card, port, routing instance, or any other physical or logical object that is displayed in the navigation tree or map. The term “object” can also refer to entities in the NFM-P, such as policies, tests, or other objects that are displayed in lists or on configuration forms.

Contextual menus

Contextual menus appear when you right-click certain objects or areas in the GUI; for example, in the navigation tree and topology map. Contextual menus allow you to perform actions that are specific to the object or area.

Tooltips

The NFM-P provides tooltips to identify many icons, buttons, fields and other GUI elements. When you mouse over these elements, information is displayed.