Installation & Basic Settings

Overview

Welcome to ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager!

This section provides information on how to install Network Configuration Manager solution in your system. This section also deals with the system requirements for Network Configuration Manager, how to install the solution, how to start and shutdown the product, the ports occupied by Network Configuration Manager and licensing information.

Prerequisite Software

There is no prerequisite software installation required to use Network Configuration Manager. The standard system (hardware and software) requirements as mentioned below plus an external mail server (SMTP server) are essential for the functioning of Network Configuration Manager server, to send various notifications to users.

System Requirements

Following table provides the minimum hardware and software configuration required by Network Configuration Manager:

Components of Network Configuration Manager

The ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager consists of the following components:

• The Network Configuration Manager server consisting of server and database

• Built-in TFTP server running on port 69

• Built-in syslog server running on port 514

• JRE 1.7.0 bundled with Network Configuration Manager

• PostgreSQL 9.2 bundled with Network Configuration Manager

Editions & scalability:

Network Configuration Manager comes in two editions:

    - Free edition : 2 devices, free forever

    - Trial edition : unlimited devices, free for 30 days

    - Professional edition: unlimited devices, paid version.

Network Configuration Manager can monitor upto 5000 devices. 

Installing Network Configuration Manager

In Windows

• Download and execute ManageEngine_NetworkConfigurationManager.exe. The installation wizard will guide you through the installation process

• Choose an installation directory - by default, it will be installed in C:/ManageEngine/NCM; Henceforth, this installation directory path shall be referred as "NCM_Home".

• While installing Network Configuration Manager, you have the option to install Network Configuration Manager as a service. Just uncheck the checkbox, in case, you do not wish to install it as service

• In the final step, you will see two check-boxes - one for viewing ReadMe file and the other one for starting the server immediately after installation; if you choose to start the server immediately, it will get started in the background. As unpacking of jars will be done during the first startup, it will take sometime to fully start.

• If you choose to start the server later, after installation, you can start it from the Start >> Programs >> ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager menu. 

In Linux

• Login as root user

• Download ManageEngine_NetworkConfigurationManager.bin for Linux

• Assign executable permission using command chmod a+x <file-name>

• Execute the following command: ./<file_name>

• Follow the instructions as they appear on the screen

• Network Configuration Manager is installed in your machine in the desired location. Henceforth, this installation directory path shall be referred as "NCM_Home".

Starting & Shutting Down Network Configuration Manager

Windows:

Click on Start > Programs > ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager to start the server.

Alternatively you can navigate to the <NCM_Home>\bin folder and invoke the run.bat file.

Linux:

Navigate to the <NCM Home>/bin directory and execute the run.sh file.

When the server is started, a command prompt window opens up showing startup information on several modules of Network Configuration Manager. Once all the modules have been successfully created, the following message is displayed:

Server started.

Please connect your client at http://localhost:8080

where 8080 is replaced by the port you have specified as the web server port during installation.

Starting as Service :

Windows:

If you have chosen the Start as Service option during installation, Network Configuration Manager will run as a service on Windows.

Linux:

1. Login as root user.

2. Navigate to the <NCM_Home>\bin directory.

3. Execute the linkAsService.sh file

4. Then execute the command /etc/init.d/networkconfigurationmanager start

This starts Network Configuration Manager as a service on Linux.

Ports Used by Network Configuration Manager

Network Configuration Manager uses the following three ports:

• TFTP port : 69

• SSHD Port : 22 [for binding SCP server]

• Syslog Server : 514

• PostgreSQL port : 13310 [configurable through <deviceexpert_home>/conf/database_params.conf  file]

• Web client port : 8080 [configurable through <deviceexpert_home>/conf/server.xml]

Using MSSQL Database

Network Configuration Manager supports PostgreSQL, MySQL and MSSQL databases as backend. PostgreSQL database is bundled with the product and by default, it is configured to run with PostgreSQL. In  case, you wish to use MSSQL databases, follow the steps detailed below:

Important Note:

• MSSQL backend is supported from Network Configuration Manager version 5500 only. Earlier versions do not have provision to run with MSSQL

• At present, data migration from MySQL to MSSQL is not supported. You need to start afresh only. That means, if you already using MySQL and wish to switch to MSSQL, the current configurations, settings and other data cannot be migrated to MSSQL

Steps to Change to MSSQL

1. Stop Network Configuration Manager Server, if running.

2. Open a console and navigate to <deviceexpert_home>/bin directory (as root user).

3. In Windows, execute the batch file "ChangeDB.bat". In Linux, execute the script "sh ChangeDB.sh".

4. The DB Configuration window pops up. Select MSSQL option. Configure the following information:

   • DB Host: The name or the IP address of the machine where MSSQL is installed.

   • Port: The port number in which Network Configuration Manager must connect with the database. Default is 1433.

   • User Name and Password: The user name and password with which Network Configuration Manager needs to connect to the database.

   • Click 'OK'

   • Start Network Configuration Manager. It will run with MSSQL.

Moving Network Configuration Manager installation to another machine or Moving to a different location within the same machine

If you want to move the Network Configuration Manager installed in one machine to another or to a different location within the same machine, follow the procedure detailed below:

Prerequisite

1. Do not remove existing installation of Network Configuration Manager until the new installation works fine. This is to ensure backup, to overcome disasters/data corruption during the movement.

Procedure

If you are using MySQL as backend database

• Stop Network Configuration Manager server / service, if running

• If you have installed Network Configuration Manager to run as a startup service, remove it as service before proceeding further. See the table below for the procedure to remove it as service.

• Take a zip of the entire Network Configuration Manager installation folder; move the zip to a different machine or to a different location in the same machine as required

• Then, install it to run as service.

Note:

• In this option, you will not be able to uninstall the program through windows Add/Remove programs console. If you want to uninstall anytime, just delete the entire installation folder.

• You need not reapply the license after moving the installation

Licensing

There are three license types:

• Evaluation download valid for 30 days capable of supporting a maximum of 50 devices

• Free Edition - licensed software allows you to manage up to 5 devices. To get a free license for additional 5 devices, please fill the form in this link - https://www.manageengine.com/network-configuration-manager/download-free.html

• Professional Edition - need to buy license based on the number of devices to be supported

• For more information and to get license, contact sales@manageengine.com

Acknowledgement: This product includes software developed by SSHTools (http://www.sshtools.com/).

© 2015, ZOHO Corp. All Rights Reserved.