Manual Chapter : Network Object Lists

Applies To:

Show Versions Show Versions

Enterprise Manager

  • 3.1.1
Manual Chapter

Overview: Custom lists for network objects

A custom list is a collection of selected network objects that can span multiple devices in your network. Creating custom lists allows you to monitor a group of objects from one screen, without restricting the view to an associated device.

There are two types of custom network object lists that you can create: static lists and dynamic lists. A static list is a fixed selection of network objects. A dynamic list is a selection of network objects, which match characteristics that you define in the list's rules.

Note: Custom lists are available only for Enterprise Manager version 2.1 and later. Data collection must be enabled to use this feature. You have the opportunity to enable data collection as part of the process of creating a list. However, if you upgraded to the current version of Enterprise Manager from a version prior to 1.7, you must re-license the system before you can enable data collection. Due to the processing power required to collect and store statistical information, data collection is available only for the Enterprise Manager 4000 platform.

About custom static lists

Custom static lists that you create retain the network objects that you selected until you remove the objects from the list, or you delete the list.

Creating a static list

If you want to simultaneously view a collection of network objects, or change the status of certain nodes and pool members from one screen, you can create a custom static list that contains those objects. For example, you could create a custom static list of devices managed by a particular department, or containing all of the network objects specific to a certain office location.
  1. On the Main tab, click Enterprise Management > Custom Lists. The Custom Lists screen opens.
  2. Click the Create List button. The Create a Custom List pop-up opens.
  3. In the List Name field, type a name for the custom list.
  4. From the List Type list, select Static List and click OK. The screen refreshes to displays the custom static list that you created (as part of the Custom Lists) on the left of the screen.
  5. At left of the screen, below Custom Lists, click the name of the object type (devices, nodes, pool members, pools, or virtual servers) that you want to add to the list. The screen refreshes to display (in the center of the screen) a summary list of all the objects in your network for that object type.
  6. Select the check box next to each object that you want to add to the list.
  7. Place your cursor over one of the items you selected, click the left-mouse button, and drag the selected items onto the name of the list that you created. The screen refreshes, displaying the details of the list with all of the selected objects.
  8. Repeat steps 5-7 for each object type that you want to add to the list.

Removing network objects from a custom static list

Custom static lists retain the same selected network objects until you remove the objects from the list.
  1. On the Main tab, click Enterprise Management > Custom Lists. The Custom Lists screen opens.
  2. At left of the screen, below Custom Lists, click the name of the custom static list that you want to modify. The screen refreshes to display (in the center of the screen) a summary list of all the objects in the custom list.
  3. Select the check box next to the network object that you want to remove from the custom static list, and click the Remove From List button. The screen refreshes to display the custom static list without the objects you removed.

Deleting a custom static list

Custom static lists remain active until you delete them.
  1. On the Main tab, click Enterprise Management > Custom Lists. The Custom Lists screen opens.
  2. Click the name of the custom static list that you want to delete.
  3. Select the check box next to the custom static list that you want to delete and click Confirm. The screen refreshes and the list displays without the custom network object list that you deleted.

About custom dynamic network object lists

You can create a custom dynamic list to contain network objects that have specific characteristics. After you create this list, you can use it to view (from one page) all of the network objects that match the rules you specify, and to change the status of nodes and pool members. Enterprise Manager removes an object from a custom dynamic list when the object's characteristics have changed, and adds an object to the list when it detects that the object matches the defined rules.
  1. On the Main tab, click Enterprise Management > Custom Lists. The Custom Lists screen opens.
  2. Click the Create List button. The Create a Custom List pop-up opens.
  3. In the List Name field, type a name for the custom list.
  4. From the List Type list, select Dynamic List and click OK. The Specify a rule for your dynamic list popup screen opens.
  5. In the Name or address should contain field, type all or part of an object's name or IP address.
  6. Specify one or more of the following elements to prompt Enterprise Manager to add a matching network object to this custom dynamic list.
    Perform this action: To:
    Select a network object type from the Object Type list Limit the list to a specific of network object type
    Select a status from Object Status list Limit the list to network objects with a particular status
    Select the Objects that have reached one or more thresholds check box Limit the list to network objects that have reached a defined threshold
    Select the Objects that currently have no connections check box Limit the list to network objects with no current connections
  7. Click the Add Another button to specify additional rules, or click the Done button to save your changes. The list you created displays at left of the screen, under Custom Lists and below the Advanced Search field, as well as in the custom lists summary section in the center of the screen.

About managing network objects using custom lists

With Enterprise Manager, you can view the following details for devices, nodes, pools, pool members, and virtual servers (collectively called network objects) for every managed device in your network.

  • Current connections
  • Object name or IP address
  • Object state (for nodes and pool members only)
  • Object status

Using custom lists, you can narrow the type of object displayed, then select specific objects and change the status for those objects without having to log in to each device individually.

Viewing network object details

When you have data collection enabled, you can view information about objects associated with managed devices in your network from the Custom Lists screen.
Note: You can view only the objects for which you have administrative partition rights. For information about administrative partitions, see the TMOS Management Guide for BIG-IP Systems.
  1. On the Main tab, click Enterprise Management > Custom Lists. The Custom Lists screen opens.
  2. Left of the screen, below the Advanced Search field and under Custom Lists, click the name of the network object type (nodes, pool members, pools, or virtual servers) that you want to view. The screen refreshes to display the associated details for every object of the selected type.

Modifying the status of a network object

When you have statistics enabled, you can enable, disable, or force offline, any network object without having to log in to each associated device.
Note: You can modify the status of network objects only if you have administrative partition rights to that object. For information about administrative partitions, see the TMOS Management Guide for BIG-IP Systems.
  1. On the Main tab, click Enterprise Management > Custom Lists. The Custom Lists screen opens.
  2. Below the Advanced Search field, click the object type that you want to change. The screen displays a list and associated details for every object of the selected type.
  3. Select the check box next to the object for which you want to change the status.
  4. Below the list, select an option.
    Select this option: To:
    Enable Allow traffic to the selected objects.
    Disable Allow only persistent or active connections to the selected objects.
    Force Offline Allow only active connections to the selected objects.
    The Task List Properties screen opens, displaying the status of the task.