About the Structure Browser

The Structure Browser allows you to navigate the internal structure of a device. You can also use the Structure Browser to investigate the health of device components and isolate a fault within a network device. The Structure Browser has two modes: tree and table.

You can change the Structure Browser from tree mode to table mode by editing the widget preferences. You can specify the default mode for the Structure Browser using the configuration files.

Restriction: If the Structure Browser is started from a right-click tool, it is always displayed in tree mode. Table mode is only available when the Structure Browser is displayed as a widget, for example, within the Network Hop View in a default installation.
Tree mode

In tree mode, the Structure Browser (labeled Structure View) displays the structure of a device in a tree form. Expand the nodes in the tree to pinpoint the cause of a network issue down to the component level and keep track of the alert status for a device..

You can use the Expand All button Expand All button to expand all of the nodes in the tree and use the Collapse All button Collapse All button to collapse the expanded nodes. From the Structure Browser tree, perform these tasks:

  • Examine the structure of a selected device and the data associated with its internal components. This data can be used to support the resolution of network problems.
  • Search for a device, or any physical or logical components of a device, using the Search for Entity button Search for Entity button.
  • Search through the nodes in the tree for a specific value.
  • Keep track of the event status for each device. The Structure Browser displays the alert status for each component of a device, down to the interface level. For detailed event information, launch the Event Viewer from the Structure Browser.
    Restriction: The administrative and operational status of interfaces that is displayed in the Structure Browser is the status that is retrieved during the discovery. The status is not updated until the next discovery. The near real-time interface status can be retrieved by polling the interfaces. Interface status from polling is not shown in the Structure Browser, but is shown only in the events on the interface.
  • Test a selected device or component using the diagnostic and information retrieval tools.
Restriction: The Structure Browser can only be used for retrieving information. You cannot use the Structure Browser to modify information on devices and device components.
Table mode

In table mode, the Structure Browser displays summary information about the selected device in a table. The table is updated with new information each time you select a device. Use the table to view information about a selected device and to check the alert status for the device.

From the Structure Browser table, perform these tasks:

  • Examine summary data that can be used to resolve network problems.
  • Keep track of the event status for a device. For detailed event information, launch the Event Viewer from the Structure Browser.
  • Test a selected device or component using the diagnostic and information retrieval tools.
  • Refresh the information in the current table view using the Refresh button Table View Refresh button.
  • Pause the refresh of information using the Pause button Table View Pause button.

View information about a device from one of three table views: Device Information, Interfaces, and Device Connectivity.

Show device information Table View Device Info button
Device Information is the default view. Select a device to see information about the device. By default, the table is empty until you select a device unless you specify an entity ID to use by default when you open the Device Information view. You can specify an entity ID through widget preferences or by clicking on the Hop View to load device information immediately. The first time the widget is displayed, device information for the default entity ID is displayed. The column names vary depending on the type of entity selected.
Show interfaces Table View Interfaces button

The Interfaces view shows all of the interfaces available on the device as well as their severity and managed status. You can configure the columns that you want to view in the table, but you cannot change the column names or the order in which the columns are displayed. The ncim.interfaces table in the NCIM database contains the list of columns to be displayed in the Interfaces view. If you want to hide a column that you do not need to view, set the column width to zero in the structurebrowser.properties file. You can filter the table to only show interfaces that match the filter. If there is no match, then no rows are displayed in the table.

In the Interfaces view, the following icon denotes unmanaged devices or components: Icon for completely unmanaged devices. The alert status indicator denotes the alert severity level of each component.

Show device connectivity Table View Connectivity button

The Connectivity view shows the severity and managed status of interfaces on the device. This view also shows interface data both for interfaces on the device, and for the interfaces that they are connected to, including connection type.

In the Connectivity view, the following icon denotes unmanaged devices or components: Icon for completely unmanaged devices. The alert status indicator denotes the alert severity level of each component.