Frequently Asked Questions
Patch Available!
A patch is available for Intravue 1.7 users. This patch allows the modbus/tcp server to respond to requests containing any UnitId. Previously only UnitId 0 would generate a reply. The patch also prints a timestamp under the Threshold Dialogs so you know the time of the last sample and ensures the ivServer module is active after a Database Clear or Restore operation. To download the patch, please Click Here
To install the patch go to Add/Remove Programs and remove IntraVUE Extended Services, then run the patch program.
User Interface
Configuration
Installation
PerformanceTrouble Shooting
Other
Auto IP |
User Interface Answers |
| What do the different colored lines connecting the devices or nodes on the visualization mean? |
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The lines connecting nodes on the main interface window indicate the status of the connection between two nodes. When all is properly operating all lines between Ethernet devices will be Green. Health information about a device is gathered using SNMP and Ping. Black lines indicate communications to a device that does not respond to ping requests. Typically these would be devices that have been manually inserted and represent non-Ethernet devices. If health information is available from the device or a parent switch, the line color can be green, yellow, or red.
Wireless devices will appear as a dashed line instead of a solid line. |
| What do the different colors of the boxes or devices mean? |
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Device nodes are color coded to give the user a fast indication of network status. There will be one white box that represents the IntraVUE Application. From this node there will be one line for each network that has been configured by the administrator. Newly discovered devices and devices that have not been verified by the administrator appear in alight brown color. Once the administrator has verified a device the node will be blue. A normal network should have all the device nodes in blue. If a new device joins the network it will be easy to spot the light brown box, as shown in the image above. A device that has been Admin Verified keep its hierarchy position even if the device is discovered to be moved by IntraVUE. In this case the old locations will be shown by a red box and the new location in a light brown box. When the administrator selects the Device Configure menu item for the new location a dialog will offer to automatically move all the device configuration information from the old location to the new location and delete the old device. A device node may additionally be outlined in red to show a device that normally responds to SNMP queries is not responding to the queries (although it may still respond to pings). |
| Can the event log be sorted? |
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Yes, the event log can be sorted by date, IP address, type of event, or description. You can choose all events or events between two dates. This dialog is available when you select the Event log from the System Menu for all devices or from the Device Properties Dialog for a specific device. |
| How can I use the Server Admin Tool when the host doesn't have a monitor or display? |
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The distribution CD contains the shareware program VNC which allows you to remotely control another personal computer. PC Anywhere is a commercial application which also allows file transfer. In section 3.1.9 of the manual are instructions for copying certain Intravue files to another computer which would allow the remote use of the Server Admin Tool. |
| Why are some buttons on or below the bottom of the IntraVUE dialog? |
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This is caused by the font size of the display. You can adjust this by going to the Display Properties Dialog box and choose Settings, then the Advanced button. Under the Font Size choose Small Fonts. This will correct the problem. |
| How can I see a threshold setting? |
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By positioning the mouse over a connected line that is managed (SNMP) and right clicking. A threshold dialog box associated with the two connecting devices will open. You can view the thresholds from here. The administrator sets the thresholds in the Server Administration Tool (SAT). Threshold values are the limits that change line colors from green to yellow in the main display. The values are retrieved from the data stored in devices that support SNMP. The System Configuration dialog sets the global values for the threshold conditions. The values set here apply to all devices in IntraVUE. Values will not appear in the Threshold Dialog until the scanner has been scanning for at least the low priority poll time, 10 minutes by default, since the last time the scanner started. |
| Where can I get some thumbnail images for IntraVUE? |
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We have a zip file that contains thumbnail images from a number of manufacturers. Download the zip file. |
| How can IntraVUE work in an Active-X control? |
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Microsoft Window's comes with its own Java Virtual Machine (JVM), however it is only compatible with Java 1.1. The IntraVUE browser interface uses the Sun Java Runtime Environment and features starting with Java 1.2. Active-X controls will typically load and use the Microsoft JVM. To have IntraVUE work in an Active-X container, you must disable the Microsoft JVM. When the Windows operating system does not find the JVM it will load the Sun JRE, if it is installed. The steps to follow are: 1. In the Start Menu select Run and paste the following "regsvr32 -u msjava.dll" (without quotes). Select OK and you will see a message similar to "DllUnregisterServer in msjava.dll succeeded.", select OK to close the message. 2. IntraVUE will now display in the Active-X control. 3. If/When you want to restore the Microsoft JVM, repeat step 1 with the following text "regsvr32 msjava.dll". There are instructions on the Sun website to switch between the Sun and Microsoft JVM's using Internet Explorer options and the Java console. These options require a reboot between settings. Link to Sun's instructions. |
Configuration Answers |
| Is there an easy way to Admin Verify all the devices? Clicking on each device takes a long time. |
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Yes. There is a utility program that will perform the Admin Verify function for all current devices. You may download this utility using the link: AdminVerifyAll.zip Extract the zip file into your Intravue installation folder. From a DOS command prompt type "java -jar AdminVerifyAll.jar". The output will list each device that was verfied and those that had already been verified. |
| How do I handle Cisco VLANs? |
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For most switches VLANs have no impact on IntraVUE. RFC 1493, the Bridge MIB, requires switches to respond with the port numbers for any MAC addresses known to the switch - regardless of VLAN. Cisco is a notable exception. Cisco uses a technique called Community String Indexing developed when VLANs were just being implemented and Cisco switches respond to Bridge MIB requests depending on the community string used. This is explained in a detailed technical note covering Cisco VLANs. |
| What are auto inserted nodes (n/a in IP View)? |
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With Ethernet on one physical wire can attach any two devices. When Intravue scans a network if finds all the port for MAC information available. An extreme example would be a network with no managed switches. In this case Intravue would not find any devices (MAC addresses) being claimed by any switches. Physically all these devices can not be directly connected to the Intravue host computer. Intravue reasons that there must be SOMETHING between the host and all these devices. An auto-inserted node represents that device - it could be an unmanaged switch, a hub, a managed switch with an unknown community, devices on the other side of a router, .... Another example would be a single managed switch removed from the host computer by several layers of hubs/unmanaged switches. In this case all the devices further away from Intravue will be shown on the ports of the managed switch. All the devices 'closer' to the Intravue host will be reported on the uplink port of the managed switch. Since there are no other managed switches to claim these devices and clearly these devices are not all attached to the Intravue host, an auto inserted node represents whatever these devices are connected to. Intravue provides the ability to insert additional devices representing hubs and switches and to move devices from the first auto-inserted node to other locations. In this way the Intravue screen can be made to look like the physical topology at that time. |
| Is it necessary to have Microsoft Web Server installed on the IntraVUE host? |
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Microsoft Web Server does not need to be installed on the IntraVUE host. IntraVUE provides its own web server. IntraVUE will work with IIS or Web Services installed as long as IntraVUE is run on a different port. You can do this by changing the port=setting in the Intravue.ini file in the windows folder. Change the port entry under [server] to any number over 3000 and not 9090 (which is used by AutoIP).
Open a browser and enter the URL as http://localhost:8000 (note the colon before the 8000). The application server listening on port 8000 will now open. If it is not IntraVUE, try another port number in the ini file. |
| What are the main components of IntraVUE? |
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There are several main and optional components of IntraVUE, and each of them operates as a windows service. They are:
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| Why can't I choose an icon or thumbnail when I'm configuring a device? |
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As of version 1.56, IntraVUE does not ship with any images for icons or thumbnails, because of copyrighted material. You get images for icons and thumbnails using a digital camera, going to a manufacturer's web site, or using paint applications. Make sure the image size is suitable for use as an icon or thumbnail. The general size should be about 150 x 150 for thumbnails and 30 x 30 for icons. In order for IntraVUE to display an image or icon in a view, the image must be in one of IntraVUE's image folders. If you installed Intravue in the default location this will be C:\Program Files\Intravue\htdocs\images\<viewname>. The image must be in each folder you want to use it in, where <viewname> is one of six different views under the images directory:
Note: Using the "Use for all views" button in the Device Configure Dialog only copies the links to the other views. It does not copy the image files to the different folders. This subject is covered in the User Manual in section 3.6.4 and 3.7. |
| How do I setup a third party Email Server for use with IntraVUE? |
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There are two methods of setting up the IntraVUE host computer to send email alarms. The first method is to use the SMTP server for the facility, you only need to enter the IP address or URL of a SMTP server that is reachable by the IntraVUE host in the Server Admin Tool. A second method is to install a third party SMTP server on the IntraVUE host computer to send the emails. Such a program is the Advanced Direct Remailer from MailUtilities.com, http://www.mailutilities.com/adr/?adrmnulnk. This program is shareware and costs $40 for a license. Be sure to set the program to run at Windows startup and to configure the program to delete messages after sending. In the Server Admin Tool, set the email server address to be "localhost". You also need to make sure the program you use is set to automatically send any email that gets to the Outbox. If this is not set, the email will accumulate until someone manually sends it. For the Advanced Direct Remailer, all other default settings are OK. |
| How do I stop the scanner from starting after I restore a database file? |
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After restoring a database from file, you are asked if you want to start the IntraVUE services. If you have the demo database or a database from another location, starting the scanner service will turn all the lines red. There is a new, more convenient way to start all the intravue services except the scanner. There is a setting, 'supportOfflineMode', in the [system] section of the intravue.ini file. This file is located in the Windows directory. When this is set to TRUE, a new dialog appears after you say Yes to starting the intravue services. The new dialog will ask "Do you want to start in the Offline mode?" If you say yes, the scanner is not started.
This was effective with version 1.6.0.504. |
Installation Answers |
| Do I have to start the IntraVUE software every time I reboot my system? |
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After the initial installation of the software IntraVUE will start as a service and continue to monitor the network in the background. |
| What are the hardware requirements for my PC to run the IntraVUE software? |
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You will need a PC with Microsoft Windows 2000/2003 Server or Professional installed with at least Service Pak 2, or Windows XP. Terminal Services is not supported. The Hardware requirements are:
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| What software do I need to run the client application? |
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Initially on the client PC all that you will need is Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5.0 or higher. Once you navigate through your browser to the IntraVUE host computer (Server) the IntraVUE software will trigger the installation of Sun's Java Runtime Environment plug-in (JRE Version 1.4.2_01 or better), if it is not already installed. After the installation of the plug-in you must close all browser instances and then you are ready to use the IntraVUE client when you open the browser next. |
| If I don't have a connection to the internet, how do I manually register my copy of IntraVUE? |
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You will need to have two critical numbers. One is the Product Key and the other is the Key Code.
When you have the Product Key and Key Code you can call your sales representative or Network Vision at 877-499-8100 or 978-499-7800. You may also email a request to help@intravue.net. |
| During the install, I get error messages pertaining to MySql. What should I do? |
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This problem is usually the result of a previous installation of MySql on a drive that is not C:. Remove the MySql software in accordance with the following instructions and reinstall IntraVUE. IntraVUE will install the latest version of MySql. Uninstall MySql from Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs. Then delete my.ini in the windows directory. |
| What Information do I need to start scanning a Network? |
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You must decide if the network is local or remote. Local IntraVUE networks are those that are in the same subnet as the IntraVUE host computer. Remote networks must be accessed through a router. For local networks the IntraVUE host computer must be the top parent because it will contain the MAC address information as a result of pings. Enter the IP address of the host as the top parent. When the top parent is the local computer the snmp community is not used. For remote networks you must enter the IP address of the 'last hop router' or the router that is immediately above the remote devices to scan. You must enter the read community of this router in the space provided. At least one network IP address group must be defined to have the scanner start. You can define multiple IP address ranges for each IntraVUE network and you may have many networks if needed. In each IntraVUE network the IP address of the top parent must be in at least one of the ranges, even if it is the only device in the range. You must also provide the SNMP community of any managed switches in the network. The System Configuration dialog contains the default SNMP community that IntraVUE will use. If any managed switch uses a different community it must be entered in the Device Configuration dialog for that switch. Only managed switches provide information to build topology. All devices connected to un-managed switches and hubs will appear 'flat'. This will also be the case for managed switches when the read community is not properly set in IntraVUE. |
| When re-installing IntraVUE there was a message that options could not be installed because eTomcat was not uninstalled. What should I do? |
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You must delete the folder "c:\Program Files\autoip\tomcat5". Then run the executeable program in "c:\Program Files\autoip\instext" that begins with 'SetupOptions'. |
Performance Answers |
| After setting up a network, how long will it take to visualize on the client browser? |
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The Client browser can be used immediately. During the first one to two minutes devices are being pinged to see what is present, then over the next three to seven minutes, the switches and routers in the network are queried to develop the network hierarchy. During this period, if you are viewing IntraVUE, you will see lots of movement. Once this process is complete, the network nodes will stabilize (total time 5-10 minutes). In networks with problem managed switches discovery will take a lot longer. Problem switches will have event log entries showing SNMP support stopping and restarting and the device disconnecting and reconnecting due to failure to respond to pings - even while performing its switch duties. Remember that only managed switches provide the snmp data necessary to automatically draw a hierarchy. For networks without managed switches you can manually move and insert devices to reflect the physical hierarchy. |
Trouble Shooting Answers |
| I can't open the Admin Tool. The message says 'tree node init failure'. What can I do? |
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This may occur when the host computer experiences a power failure. As a result of the abnormal shutdown, the database has become corrupted. When Intravue is first installed an initial database file is created. A simple batch file will restore this database. Copy the text from this file, RestoreInitialDb.txt, into a new file you create with a .BAT file extension. After running the file you will be able to open the Admin Tool. The password will now be 'intravue'. Change the password to your choice. Then use the Restore Database From File button to restore the most recent backup file. |
| Why do I get messages the server, scanner, or both are stopped when my computer boots? |
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This sometimes happens after a power failure. The database's registration information may have become corrupt. This can be fixed by downloading and running a utility called ResetPKInfo which will extract registry data to the correct database locations. Unzip the downloaded file into any directory and run the program ResetPKInfo.exe. |
| When I try to log on as administrator the login dialog box just disappears. What is wrong? |
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After putting in the correct password make sure you select the DONE button instead of using the ENTER key. This will provide you with Administrator access. |
| When I start the client browser the web page says "Starting IntraVUE" and checking for Java-VM. The page is not redirected to load the plugin and the plugin is installed. |
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Try adding "/IntraVUE.html" after the URL or the IP address of the IntraVUE host. The browsers on some machines do not successfully get redirected to the Intravue.html page. |
| What could cause a managed switch (or router) to not be seen by IntraVUE? There aren't any devices connected to it? |
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There are several reasons for this. The most likely reason is the managed device has a community or password that is different than the default. The community of the top parent is set in the Server Admin Tool. The community of all other devices can be set individually in the Device Configuration's General settings dialog. If "$0" appears in the device's configuration the default SNMP community from the System Configuration dialog is used. Another possibility is that SNMP has not been enabled or is disabled in the device. Use the web interface to the device or the manufacturers instructions to connect to the device and check to see if SNMP is enabled. Not all managed devices enable SNMP by default. Another possibility is that the device does not support all the SNMP MIB items that are being queried by IntraVUE. A special tool can test the response from the switch. Add a "/switchprobe.html" after the address used to browse IntraVUE for instructions on using the tool, add "/switchproble.jar" to use the tool. When ask to download the file or open the file, select Open. When VLANs are in use it is possible that the IntraVUE host computer is prevented from SNMP access to the switch or needs additional VLAN permissions that are vendor dependant. Until the switchprobe tool can get a response from the switch, IntraVUE will not be able to get the information required to automatically computer the hierarchy. If problems continue please contact IntraVUE Technical support with the make and model of the device in question, and a backup copy of your IntraVUE database. |
| Nothing happens when I click on a line, node, or main screen. What causes this? |
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This is caused by Advertisement or Popup blocking software. Configure your Popup Blocker to allow IntraVUE or disable it while using IntraVUE. |
| Why are all the connecting lines red in off-line mode? |
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The Intravue Scanner is set to start in automatic mode. When your computer re-booted the scanner started and turned the connecting line red for any IP address that was not found. Go to My Computer and right click, select Manage, select Services, and then the IntravueScanner. Right click on that and change the properties to Manual start. Otherwise, use the Admin Tool to Restore Database From File. |
| I have a 16 port switch. Why does intravue report port numbers like port 35 or even port 827? |
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This happens when 'stackable' switches are stacked. The firmware in the stacked switches use a method to determine port numbers. IntraVUE reports the same numbers as the switch reports. As far as we know, there is no way to configure this in the switch, it is what it is. |
Answers to Other Questions |
| How do I backup the database? |
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This can be accomplished two ways. One is to use the Backup item on the System Menu while logged on as the administrator. This will create a file in IntraVUE's dbBackup folder with an automatically generated filename based on the date and time. The second way is to choose Backup from the Server Administration Tool. Using this method you can specify the folder and filename to use. NOTE: The IntraVUE Backup function only backs up the IntraVUE database, not any linked documents and images |
| How do I automatically backup the database? |
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You may use the Window's Scheduler to automatically backup the database or you may use another program capable of executing DOS command line programs. IntraVUE uses MySQL as its database program. By default MySQL is installed at c:\mysql. For a default installation the following command will create a backup file. When used by the Scheduler or other program you may or may not wish to change the name of the backup each time. C:\MYSQL\BIN\MYSQL INTRAVUE -OPT > BACKUP_FILE_NAME.DMP Notes: 1) using the suffix .dmp will allow you to restore the file using the Admin Tool. 2) If there are spaces in the filename or path to mysql you may need to use quotation marks. 3) The 'greater than' sign '>' redirects the output to the filename, don't forget it. 4) Test after making any changes |
| How do I backup all files used by IntraVUE? |
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In addition to the IntraVUE database, there are other files that may be unique to an installation the a user may want to backup. These include the actual images for thumbnails and icons, linked documentation, and some system files. A special Technical Note describes this process. |
| What is a managed device? |
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A managed device is a device that supports the SNMP protocol. These nodes can range from the infrastructure equipment to the end node elements like PLC's, Ethernet I/O and every possible Ethernet enabled component in an industrial environment. All managed switches and routers must support the Bridge MIB to provide hierarchy information about the attached devices. Using the information for managed switches and routers, IntraVUE can automatically draw the hierarchy of a network and keep it current. |
| What does the enhanced version of IntraVUE provide? |
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It provides the ability to embed web link in the viewer. These web links will allow the user to navigate to the embedded web documents inside the devices or to web pages on various servers. These links can point to additional documentation like location diagrams, wiring diagrams, device manuals, and many other relevant elements of information that may be available. Using web links the information needed to repair, replace, or manage a device can be made readily accessible in times of need. |
| Can non-Ethernet devices be displayed in the IntraVUE software? |
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Yes, because IntraVUE works on the premise of IP identity, you will have to manually add any device that is not detected. This is useful for full visualization and the topology of the network. Login as administrator and select Add Child from the System Menu on a device that will be the 'parent' of the non-Ethenet device. This adds a new node that is a user node, such as a Device Server (Serial to Ethernet converter). Another example is to have a PLC with a serial port connection to the Device server. This allows the user not only to view the Ethernet device but also the connected device. The PLC would be able to have a device property and even Web Links (via proxy) without the device containing an embedded Ethernet port. To be clear, the actual properties of the PLC would not be 'viewable'; but IntraVUE could be used to show what is connected to the Device Server and information (such as html files) could be associated with the manually inserted device. A field bus to Ethernet device can also be manually inserted in this manner. |
| What is hovering and what can it do? |
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Hovering is accomplished by placing the mouse over any line between connections or over a device. When the cursor is placed over a device or a line without clicking the mouse, a yellow box, or tool tip, will appear. A hover over a device box will open a yellow box with the ability to show any two of the six names defined by the six views, and any additional interfaces the device might have. Hovering over a line connection will first enlarge the width of the line. A yellow box will then appear with the device names (in the current view) followed by a colon (:) and the port number, if the device contains the SNMP port information. This feature is very useful in helping the user determine which cables connect to devices in an equipment enclosure or closet full of switches. |
| Where is the User Manual? |
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The User Manual is located in the IntraVUE installation folder and is named Manual.pdf. View on line here |
Auto IP Answers |
| The automatic mode does not work, what is wrong? |
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Versions of autoip before V1.3.26 incorrectly handled the SNMP community of switches that were not set to 'public'. You may download Auto IP V1.3.26 here. After download, using the Add/Remove Programs tool to uninstall your current version. Say yes to uninstalling the ping daemon when asked. Then run the new setup program you just downloaded. That's all. |
