The Device Manager, the application for configuring and managing MICROSENS components comes with many convenient features for configuring devices and monitoring the entire network, and is compatible with all device families. It supports installation switches as well as manageable desktop devices and industrial switches. This permits different device families to be combined in one network.

User Interface

The user interface is split up into three areas that display detailed information on the current device and provide an overview of the entire network. The most significant addition is a feature that maps the network structure onto a tree diagram that displays the group structure and current status. Any device selected in the tree is visualized in a second window, as are the LED displays and the device ports. A third window simultaneously displays detailed status information on all data provided by the device.

Automation

Device Manager's main purpose is to reduce the workload of network administrators so they can do their job better. It does this by providing numerous functions to automate and streamline routine tasks. At the click on a icon, administrators can initiate the automatic detection and capture of all MICROSENS devices in the network. This generates a device list that can be exported to Excel or any other standard spreadsheet program for further examination. The most important new feature is the ability to logically structure the network into device groups. For example, the devices can be grouped by location (campus, building, floor) or according to functional criteria (departments). Once the network configuration has been detected, it takes only another click to query and visualise the current status of all network devices. Icons in the tree display indicate the current state of the network and help administrators detect potential trouble spots before they flare up.

Configuring Devices

The graphical user interface is where all device functions can be configured, from simply setting ports right up to defining a sophisticated VLAN. Once defined, a configuration can be saved to a file and assigned to the current device or even to all devices in a group on the network.

Integration with other Platforms

Another addition to Device Manager is its ability to interface with other management platforms as a visualization tool. A command-line mode is available to directly pass the IP address of a managed device. That means that Device Manager can be launched from the management platform whenever the administrator needs to display a particular device.