Using Host Manager

When to Use Host Manager

Host Manager can be used to perform the following tasks:

• Add, display, and remove network client support (which includes standalone, diskless, and dataless system configurations)
• Enable and disable remote software installation privileges

Requirements for Using Host Manager

The requirements for using Host Manager are:

• A bit-mapped display monitor
• Ability to use the OpenWindows environment
• Access privileges as described in Chapter 1, "Administration Tool Overview"

Alternatives to Using Host Manager

Host Manager cannot be used on an ASCII terminal. Instead, you can use SunOS commands or ttyhstmgr, an ASCII menu interface, for host management tasks. Table 9-1 provides more information about choosing to use Host Manager or SunOS commands.

Table 9-1

Use Host Manager If You:	Use SunOS Commands If You:
Have a bit-mapped display monitor	Are using an ASCII terminal
Are running OpenWindows	Want output for each command issued

Where to Find Specific Task Information

Table 9-2 contains references for Host Manager tasks.

Table 9-2

Task	Location
How to Start Host Manager	page 46
How to Add Standalone System Information	page 47
How to Add Support for a Diskless Client	page 49
How to Display Host Information	page 54
How to Enable Remote Software Installation Privileges	page 55
How to Delete Host Information	page 56

Window, Menu, and Command Descriptions

Host Manager Naming Service Window

When you start Host Manager or choose the Naming Service command, the following window is displayed:

This window is used to select:

• The appropriate name service for your environment. See Chapter 2, "Name Service Management," for information on selecting a name service.
• The amount of host information to be displayed in the Host Manager main window. This is done using the Show menu, which is described in Chapter 1, "Administration Tool Overview."

After you have selected a name service and a method for filtering the host entries that are displayed, click on Apply. The host information is loaded and the Host Manager main window is displayed.

Host Manager Main Window

The Host Manager main window contains the Edit, Find, Naming Service and Help menus, and displays host entries that have been added to the system, if any.

Edit Menu Commands

The Host Manager Edit menu commands are described in Table 9-3.

Table 9-3

Command	Use This Command To ...
Add Host	Add a host
View Host	Display information for the host currently selected in the main window
Delete Host	Delete the host currently selected in the main window
Enable Remote Install	Enable remote install privileges for the host currently selected in the main window

Find Menu Command

Use the Find command to find and highlight a host entry in the main window.

Naming Service Command

Use the Naming Service command to return to the Load window where you can select an alternate name service.

Help Menu Commands

The Help menu command is used to access the Help Viewer online handbook, which describes Host Manager functions and requirements. See "Using the Help Viewer" on page 9 for more information.

Host Manager Edit Menu

Add Host Window

Use the Add Host window to add network client information. Table 9-4 on the next page describes the buttons, menus, and text boxes in the Add Host window. You might not see all of the options, depending on which client type (standalone, diskless, or dataless) you select.

Table 9-4

Item Name	Menu Type	Description
Client Type	Menu	The client's configuration type (standalone, diskless, or dataless).
Host Name	field	The client's host name.
IP Address	field	The client's IP address.
Ethernet Address	field	The client's Ethernet address.
Timezone Region	Menu	The major geographic time zone region.
Timezone	Menu	The local time zone.
File Server	Menu	The client's file server. If you select Other, the Specify File Server window is displayed, which enables you to specify a file server other than the ones listed in the pull-down menu. (See Specify File Server window on the next page.)
OS Release	Menu	Used to list and select the client's architecture and operating system version.
Root/Swap Paths	field	Provides default path names for the client's root file system and swap area.
Swap Size	field	Provides a field to set the swap size (in megabytes) for a diskless client.
Terminal Type	field	For SunOS 4.1.x systems only: Provides a field to specify the terminal type for a diskless client.

Specify File Server Window This window is displayed if Other is selected from the File Server menu in the Add window.

After you type an alternate file server name in the text box, click on Apply.

View Host Window

The View Host window displays information on the host selected in the main window.

The displayed information includes:

Field Name	Description
Client Type	Identifies the client's configuration type (standalone, diskless, dataless)
Host Name	Displays the client's host name
IP Address	Displays the client's IP address
Ethernet Address	Displays the client's Ethernet address
Timezone Region	Displays the client's regional time zone
Timezone	Displays the client's local time zone

Remote Install Window

Use this window to enable remote installation privileges for an existing host. Remote software installation privileges are also enabled or disabled when the client system is added using Host Manager's Add Host window for standalone systems.

The Remote Install window information is described in Table 9-5.

Table 9-5

Item Name	Menu Type	Description
Host Name	Text box	Displays the selected host name.
Ethernet Address	Text box	Displays the selected host's Ethernet address.
Media Server	Menu	Used to list and select the media server from which the host can install remote software. Select Other to specify an alternate media server in the Specify Media Server window. (See Media Server window on the next page). If Host Manager does not understand how the CD is mounted on the media server, a window is displayed so that you can specify the path name of the CD. (See the Specify Device window on the next page.)
OS Release	Menu	Used to list and select the client's architecture and operating system version.

Specify Media Server Window

This window enables you to designate the media server from which remote software will be installed.

Specify Device Window

Use this window to designate the path name for the mounted CD on the media server.

This window is displayed whenever the remote install privileges are selected and Host Manager cannot determine how the CD is mounted.

Delete Host Window

To delete a host entry, select the host in the main window. Then select Delete Host from the Edit menu. The following window is displayed asking you to confirm the deletion:

Host Manager Find Command

Use the Find Host command to find and highlight a specific host entry in the main window. You can use wildcards.

Type the host name you want to locate in the Host Name field. Click on the Find button on the right.

Files Modified by Host Manager

Table 9-6 describes the system files modified by Host Manager.

Table 9-6

System File	Description
bootparams	A file containing the file server that provides the client's root and swap areas
/etc/dfs/dfstab	A file containing a series of share commands that make file resources available to the client system
ethers	A file containing the client's Ethernet address
hosts	A file containing the client's host name and associated IP address
timezone	A file containing the client's time zone
/export/root/ hostname/etc/vfstab	A file listing which of the client's file system entries to mount at boot time
/tftpboot	A directory containing diskless client booting information