Topology Visualization (BETA)
Topology Visualization is delivered as BETA in software version 5.12.00 and is subject to change in the upcoming release(s).
The Topology Visualization Classic (legacy) page in GigaVUE-FM displays the nodes and clusters managed by GigaVUE-FM in a single page. The nodes are placed randomly and the links connecting the nodes are scattered across the page. As a user, you are responsible for the accurate placement of the nodes, which is difficult in large deployment scenarios.
The Topology Visualization Beta page provides enhanced visualization of the nodes, thereby improving the usability of the page. The nodes are not shown in a single topology view, but are grouped based on pre-defined tags. The Topology Visualization Beta page provides the following views:
- Tagged Layout Topology: The topology layout is based on predefined tags created by the user. Refer to Tagged Layout Topology section. The nodes can be grouped based on:
- Nature of deployment: Location of nodes such as region, state, city, datacenter.
- Placement: Aggregation nodes, leaf nodes, spine nodes.
- Smart Layout Topology: Starting in software version 5.12.00, GigaVUE-FM creates predefined tags for smaller deployments. Refer to the Smart Layout Topology section.
You can use the device level tagging to associate tags for the devices individually, as against the cluster-level tagging option. Refer to Node Level Tagging section for more details.
The GigaVUE-FM GUI allows you to switch between the Topology Visualization Classic page and the Topology Visualization Beta page. To view both the pages, navigate to Inventory > Physical option.
When you first login to GigaVUE-FM GUI:
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Click on Topology Beta: A pop-up appears asking if you would like to continue with Topology Beta. Click Switch to Beta to continue with the Beta option.
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Click on Topology: A pop-up appears asking if you would like to use the classic option. Click Continue to Classic to continue with the classic option.
- Do not switch often between the classic and the beta pages as this impacts the performance of GigaVUE-FM. Switch only if required.
- It is not recommended to switch between the legacy and the beta pages in a scaled environment.
- On switching between the pages, it takes time for GigaVUE-FM to build the required infrastructure and therefore it takes time for the pages to render.
Topology Visualization Beta is limited to GigaVUE nodes and the connections between the GigaVUE nodes. G-TAP devices and tools are not included in the topology page.
Topology Visualization Beta supports the following devices:
- GigaVUE-HC1, GigaVUE-HC2, GigaVUE-HC3
- GigaVUE TA Series devices
Starting in software version 5.11.00, each of the individual nodes in the cluster can be associated with a tag key and a tag value. To assign a tag key to a device:
- On the left navigation pane, click on go to Physical > Nodes.
- Click on Tags and select Device Level Tagging.
- Select the required nodes/nodes and click Add. The Add Tags to Resources page appears.
- Select the required tag key and the tag value to which the nodes must be tagged.
- Click OK.
The nodes in a cluster are now associated to tags which can be used for creating the required topology.
For smaller deployments, in which the number of devices is less than or equal to fifty, if you click Topology Beta the smart layout topology is displayed. GigaVUE-FM constructs topology based on the port configuration. GigaVUE-FM applies the following types of tags to the devices:
- TAP: Devices with maximum number of ports are grouped under TAP.
- CORE: Devices with maximum number of stack and circuit ports are grouped under CORE.
- TOOLS: Devices with maximum number of tools are grouped under TOOLS.
- You can drag and drop the devices across the columns to adjust the position of the nodes. The tags will get automatically updated.
- If the number of nodes exceeds 55: GigaVUE-FM prompts you with a message indicating that the smart layout topology is applicable only up to 75 nodes. You can either retain the existing layout or click Convert to Tagged Layout to create tagged layout topology. This option is available only for admin users with read-write access to the Infrastructure Management resource category.
- If 76th node is added to GigaVUE-FM: The newly added node will not be visible in the smart layout topology.
- If you switch to tagged layout topology: You cannot switch back to smart layout topology unless the device count becomes less than 50.
Tagged layout topology uses tags for grouping the nodes based on the following criteria:
- Hierarchical tags for grouping based on deployment: This allows the user to drill down from a top-level hierarchical view to a lower-level detailed view.
- Placement tags for placement of nodes: This allows the user to see a detailed view of the nodes in a left to right source leader in a bidirectional clock relationship (formerly master) to tool view. Only single-valued tags can be used for this configuration.
When you first switch to tagged layout topology, if the devices have not been associated with tags, GigaVUE-FM prompts an error message to tag the devices from the physical nodes page.
Note:
- Only users with read-write access to the Infrastructure Management category can configure the required topology using tags. Refer to the 'Tags' section in the GigaVUE Administration Guide for detailed steps on how to create tags and how to associate the clusters/devices to tags.
- Starting in software version 5.11.00, you can configure tags for the individual nodes in a cluster using the Device Level Tagging option. This allows tags to be associated at the node level and allows the nodes to be grouped for topology visualization. Only aggregation tag type is allowed for node level tagging.
Using Hierarchy Tags you can group the nodes based on a specific hierarchical view. For example to create a hierarchy based on the location of the nodes, you must create the following tags ids and tag values:
Hierarchy Level | Tag ID | Tag Values |
---|---|---|
I | Region | North, East, South, West |
II | State | California, New York, Washington |
III | City | San Francisco, Los Angels, Albany, |
IV | Data Centers |
DC1, DC2 in San Francisco DC3 in Los Angels DC4 in Albany DC5 DC6 in Rochester DC7 DC8, DC9 in Seattle |
You are responsible for creating the appropriate tag keys and tag values and associate the nodes to the correct tag key and tag value to get the required hierarchical view of the tags. The tags can be either RBAC tags or Aggregation tags.
Note: GigaVUE-FM does not validate the tag values assigned to the tag keys that are selected for hierarchical tag views. You are responsible for associating the correct tag keys and tag values to the nodes, so that the nodes are grouped appropriately.
Using placement tags, you can place the nodes in distinct columns. For example, to place the nodes based on the type of the node, the tag key must be 'Node Type' and the tag values can be one of the following:
- Tap_processing_node
- Tool_node
- Leaf_node
- Spine_node
Note: Only aggregation tags can be configured at the node level tags.
GigaVUE-FM allows you to configure tagged layout topologies based on hierarchical and placements view.
Keep in mind the following rules and notes while creating tagged layout topology:
- The tag keys and tag values required for the hierarchical view and placement view must be created in advance.
- The devices must be associated to the appropriate tag keys and tag values for topology visualization.
- Gigamon Discovery Protocol (GDP) must be enabled on the nodes to visualize the links.
- The 'Device Level Node ID' allows you to associate tags to the devices, as against cluster-level tagging.
- You cannot drag and drop the devices across the hierarchical columns. That is, you cannot move the devices across the regions which is logically not possible from GigaVUE-FM GUI. However, you can drag and drop the devices with in the same row. That is, you can move the placements of the devices within the same location.
- On the left navigation pane, click on go to Physical > Topology Beta.
- Click Edit Configured Tags. This option is available only for admin users with read-write access to the Infrastructure Management resource category. The Topology Tag Configurator page appears.
- For Hierarchy Tags: Select the required Tag Keys that need to be added to the Selected Hierarchy Tags and click Add.
- For Placement Tags: Select the required single-valued tags that need to be added to the Placement tags and click Add.
- Click Save. The configuration is saved and the topology is displayed.
The Physical connections between the nodes across the groups are represented by a single consolidated line. Click on a specific node to view the physical connections of that node with other nodes.
Click on a link in the topology visualization page to view the following:
- Connected Devices: Cluster ID, Host name, Node IP, Model, Role, Box ID, and other such details.
- Links connecting the devices: Host name, port or GigaStream Alias, Type of Connection, Link Speed and other details associated to the connection.
Click the Filter button to filter the devices in the topology visualization page based on the following criteria:
- Model
- Cluster ID
- Host Name
The filtered node will get highlighted.
Click the ellipsis on the top right corner of the topology page to edit the color and format of the following types of connections:
- Stack links
- Circuit links
- Cascade links
- Consolidated links
The color changes are saved and will be applied for the connections when a new topology is created.