New feature: Aggregate discovered devices into one named device

[dcorley]

VAR=1913

Customer = USS Nautilus (SSN-571)

Customer has a cable/modem/router in a single box. Apparently, the only usable discovery is ARP. But the device had three separate MACs, each of which has an IP address bound to it.

-RF MAC (cable MTA) connection to which an RF ahe central office is connectedggregator at the central office is connected. This MAC has a 10.x.x.x IP address bound to it.Perhaps a separate network for the SP to manage the RF infrastructure.

-Ethernet MAC connection with public IP address bound to it. Labelled a WAN port in router UI.

-Ethernet MAC connection with private (192.168.0.1) bound to it by router's dhcp service.

So, this shows up on topology and device listing as three separate boxes.

Nice to have: ... a featre that allows user to select multiple discovered components and identifiy them as aggregated into a single "box". This "box" can be labelled by user. SHows up in report as single device to reduce confusion of end customer and VAR techs. Note: This "aggregate device" does not necessarily need a device monitor dialog. But, in practice, its confusing to the user as to which of these "devices" carries the device manager UI. I think some UI brainstorming could create simpler UI for managing this aggregate device, manually created y the user.

Thanks,

Dave

[Efrat Noy · Accepted solution]

Hi Dave,

How are you?

Thanks for your suggestions! This feature has come up in the past and is currently on our roadmap.. In fact, another form of usage that was suggested was to integrate the Ethernet and Wireless interfaces of the same device (mainly for laptops). Right now they appear as two seperate devices, so this feature will allow the user to consolidate them into a single managed device, that share the same monitors and configurations.

Is this inline with what youre suggesting?

Thanks,

Efrat

[Michael Holloway]

Dave,

Hope your are doing well sir! You are spot-on with the suggestion, this will be a much appreciated feature when it arrives.

-mike

[dcorley]

Efrat, Mike.

Doing fine, thanks. Yes, your description of the feature would solve my problem. Curiously, my customer's single box also includes an 802.11abg AP. However, ARP apparently does not discover the wireless MAC. Ive not ben able to identify an IP address associated with the AP's MAC. But, I suspect that there are APs in some multi-purpose devices that do have an IP addr bound to the AP's MAC and are therefore discovered as yet another un-associated device..

Thanks for your help,

Dave