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Chapter 4      Setting Up Vision Client Maps
  Grouping Network Elements into Aggregations
Grouping Network Elements into Aggregations
An aggregation is a group of NEs. You specify the NEs to add to the group, and then name the 
aggregation as needed. These are some examples of ways to use aggregations:
Group NEs that are in a logical segment of the network
Group NEs located in a geographical fragment of the network.
Group NEs that have the same device type or role
NoteYou cannot aggregate service entities that exist within a service. For example, you cannot aggregate 
VRFs that exist within a VLAN. 
To aggregate network elements, follow this procedure. The aggregation name can include Chinese 
characters.
Step 1Select multiple NEs by pressing Ctrl.
Step 2Aggregate the network elements by choosing Node > Aggregate.
Step 3In the Aggregation dialog box, enter a unique name for the aggregation and click OK. The aggregation 
is displayed in the navigation pane and the map pane. The aggregation icon changes color according to 
the alarm severity. For more information about severity colors, see Severity Icons and Colors for Events, 
Tickets, and NEs, page A-14.
Applying a Layout to a Map
The Vision client provides four standard layouts that you can apply to your map. The layout determines 
how the topology should be displayed: Circular, hierarchical, orthogonal, or symmetric. By default, 
maps use a circular topology. To select a layout, choose View > Layout from the main menu. You can 
also move individual NEs as desired. When you have finished, choose File > Save Map.
The following screen shots provide examples of the same map using the different layouts. 
						

							  
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Chapter 4      Setting Up Vision Client Maps
  Applying a Layout to a Map
Figure 4-2 Hierarchical Map Layout
Figure 4-3 Circular Map Layout (The Default Layout) 
						

							  
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Chapter 4      Setting Up Vision Client Maps
  Labelling NEs to Associate Them with Customers (Business Tags)
Figure 4-4 Orthogonal Map Layout
Figure 4-5 Symmetrical Map Layout
Labelling NEs to Associate Them with Customers (Business 
Tags)
A business tag is a string that is meaningful to the business, and which can be used to label a component 
of a network element for use in Prime Network screens and reports. Figure 4-6 shows two devices with 
a business tag named ABC Company.  
						

							  
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  Labelling NEs to Associate Them with Customers (Business Tags)
Figure 4-6 Find Business Tag Dialog Box With Results
Business tags are normally applied to business elements, which are constructions or organizations of 
certain network elements and their properties into a logical entity (such as Layer 2 VPNs, Layer 3 VPNs, 
and virtual routers). You can also apply business tags to individual entities, such as a single port or 
interface. Business tags allow you track business elements and individual entities in a way that makes 
sense from your business perspective. For example, a business tag might identify a new subscriber to a 
port, or other information that is relevant in your environment. 
NoteBusiness tags support Chinese characters, but your system must be properly configured to support this. 
See the Cisco Prime Network 4.3.2 Installation Guide.
By default, business tags replace the NE name. If you want to change this setting, or disable business 
tags completely, see Changing Vision Client Default Settings (Sound, Display, Events Age), page 4-15.
Step 1Right-click the required network object and choose Attach Business Tag.  
						

							  
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Chapter 4      Setting Up Vision Client Maps
  Labelling NEs to Associate Them with Customers (Business Tags)
Step 2Enter the information for the business tag in the Attach Business Tag dialog box:
Step 3Figure 4-7 provides an example. (After the tag is attached, the Vision client allows you to search for 
business tags based on type or on partial strings that appear in the Unique Key, Name, and Notes fields.
Figure 4-7 Attach Business Tag Dialog Box
Step 4
Click Save. The business tag is attached to the network object and displayed throughout the Vision 
client. A new Business Tag tab is also added to the device’s inventory window, as shown in Figure 4-8. 
(The tab is displayed when you select the entity that contains the business tag.) Field Description
Unique Key A letter or number string that identifies the entity throughout the deployment. For 
example, if three devices have the ABC Company business tag, you could use 
abc1, abc2, and abc3.
Name Name that is displayed in the clients. Names are case-sensitive.
Type Subscriber, Provider Connection, or Label.
NoteIf you select Label, the name of the network object changes to display the 
business tag name if the Replace name with Business Tag option is selected 
in the Options dialog box (Tools > Options). For more information about 
display options, see Changing Vision Client Default Settings (Sound, 
Display, Events Age), page 4-15.
Notes Text-free message. 
						

							  
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Chapter 4      Setting Up Vision Client Maps
  Applying a Background Image To a Map
Figure 4-8 Vision Cllient Device Inventory—Business Tag Tab
You can edit or delete business tags by right-clicking them and using the appropriate command.
Applying a Background Image To a Map
You can apply GIF, JPG/JPEG, and PNG images as a map background. Subordinate windows (such as a 
detailed view of an aggregation) can use the same or a different image. 
Step 1Navigate to the required map in the Vision client. 
Step 2Right-click the map background and choose Set Map Background. 
Step 3In the Manage Map Background dialog box, provide the following information. 
Table 4-1 Manage Map Background Options
Field Description
Select Image Applies the selected image to the current map background: 
1.Choose Select Image. 
2.Click Browse. 
3.In the Open dialog box, select the desired image and click OK. 
4.Click OK in the Manage Map Background dialog box.
Use Image From 
Upper LevelIndicates whether the selected subordinate map should use the same image as the 
parent map or a different image: 
To use the same image, choose Use Image from Upper Level. 
To use a different image, choose Select Image and complete the steps.
Remove Image Removes the current image from the map background.  
						

							  
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  Adding a Static Link When a Network Link is Missing
Step 4Click OK. The current map background is updated as specified. 
Step 5To retain the background image for subsequent logins, choose File > Save. 
Adding a Static Link When a Network Link is Missing
If Prime Network does not discover a link that you know exists in the network, you can create a static 
link that will be displayed in the map, but exists only at the model level. This allows correlation flows 
to go through the links, as if they were real physical or logical links. Static link properties are not updated 
because the links do not really exist in the network, but the link will change color under certain 
conditions, such as when a port is down.
You can also use static links to create a link between a device and an unmanaged network, or to connect 
a tunnel to a VPN.
Static links are created between a device or port on the A side, and a device or port as the Z side. Prime 
Network validates the new link by checking the consistency of the port types (for example, RJ45 on both 
sides), and Layer 2 technology type (for example, ATM OC-3 on both sides). You can also create static 
links between Ethernet Link Aggregation Groups (LAGs) by choosing a LAG and the desired port 
channel for the A or Z side as described in the following procedure. 
Step 1Right-click the required A Side device in the navigation pane or in a map, and choose Topology > Mark 
as A Side. (You can also perform this operation from the inventory window.)
Step 2Right-click the required Z Side device or LAG in the navigation pane or properties pane to display the 
right-click menu and choose Topology  > Mark as Z Side. The Create Static Link window is displayed 
as shown in Figure 4-9, so that you can select the ports to connect. 
						

							  
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  Check Global Settings for Vision Client Maps
Figure 4-9 Create Static Link Window
Step 3
Select the required port on both the A Side device and the Z Side device.
Step 4Click Create to validate the connection and create the new link. 
For information about removing a static link, see the Cisco Prime Network 4.3.2 Administrator Guide.
Check Global Settings for Vision Client Maps
The following map behavior is controlled from the Administration client:
The Vision client actions users can perform, and the devices users can view and manage. When a 
user account is created, the administrator assigns:
–A user access level to the user account (Viewer, Operator, Operator Plus, Configurator, or 
Administrator). It controls what actions the user can perform using the Vision client, such as 
adding and removing NEs from a map, or applying a background image to a map.
–One or more device scopes. Device scopes determine which devices a user has permission to 
access, and the actions a user can perform on those devices. For example, a user might have 
sufficient privileges to add a device to a map, but the user can only do so if the device is in their 
device scope. 
For a matrix of actions users can perform depending on their user access level and device scope 
assignments, see Vision Client Permissions, page B-1. 
						

							  
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Chapter 4      Setting Up Vision Client Maps
  Changing Vision Client Default Settings (Sound, Display, Events Age)
Which maps users are permitted to use. By default, Vision client users can view all maps made by 
other users. Administrators can instead control which maps users can see using the Registry 
Controller.
Whether users can view links with only one endpoint in their device scope. By default, users will be 
permitted to see links only if both link endpoints are in their scope.
Users with Administrator privileges can change these settings by following the directions in the Cisco 
Prime Network 4.3.2 Administrator Guide. For information on fault-related settings that affect all of the 
Prime Network clients, see Changing Vision Client Default Settings (Sound, Display, Events Age), 
page 4-15.
Changing Vision Client Default Settings (Sound, Display, Events 
Age)
All map users can adjust these Vision client options. Changing these options applies only to the client 
machine (that is, the machine from where the client is launched).
These options control which items are displayed in maps, how items are displayed in maps, whether to 
use audio sounds, and when to remove NE tickets and events from the map. To change them, choose 
Tools > Options from the main menu.
To Do the Following: Select the following from Tools > Options Default
When Vision client 
starts, display Open 
Map dialog with last 
maps viewedStartup tab—Load Workspace on Startup Enabled 
Change NE Label 
Font SizeDisplay tab—Map Labels Font Size 30pt
Change what severity 
information is 
displayed with NE 
iconsSeverity tab—Show Severity Text Enabled
Severity tab—Show Acknowledged Enabled
Severity tab—Show Propagated Enabled
Change how labels 
(business tags) are 
displayed
(choose one)Display Name tab—Do not use business tags Disabled (tags 
are enabled)
Display Name tab—Add business tags to name Disabled (tag 
replaces name)
Display Name tab—Replace name with business tag Enabled 
						

							  
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Chapter 4      Setting Up Vision Client Maps
  Changing You Vision Client Password
Changing You Vision Client Password
Users can change their own Vision client passwords at any time by selecting Tools > Change User 
Password from the Vision client main menu. You may be required to change your password on a regular 
basis according to the password rules set by the Administrator. Enable or disable 
audio alerts and 
control audio soundsAudio tab—Enable Audio Response for Alarm Disabled
Audio tab—Critical, Major, Minor
If audio is enabled, specifies .wav file for sound.(see client)
Audio tab—Loop Sound on Critical Alarm
If audio is enabled, continuously plays .wav file for critical 
event.Disabled
Control how long 
events are displayed in 
inventory windowMaximum age of events to display in the Tickets and Latest 
Events tabs. To only display active events, enter 0 (zero). The 
default (6 hours) is controlled from the Administration client 
client. 
NotePrime Network also has a limit of 15,000 events that 
can be sent from the server to clients. Older events 
are purged when either the maximum age or the 
maximum number of events is exceeded. The purging 
mechanism runs once per minute.6hours  To Do the Following: Select the following from Tools > Options Default