Key Concepts; Agent Image Files; The Internal Tftp Server; Scheduling - 3Com 3C15500 - Network Director User Manual

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HAPTER PGRADING

Key Concepts

Agent Image Files

The Internal TFTP
Server

Scheduling

D S
EVICE OFTWARE
This section describes the key concepts associated with the Agent Update
feature.
You can use the Agent Update Wizard to import agents that you have
obtained from elsewhere, for example downloaded from the web. This
allows you to import older agents, to create a comprehensive database of
agent versions.
Some agent files can be applied to more than one specific type of device
or to any type of device within a particular device family.
3Com Network Director contains a built in TFTP server that is started
when you begin an Agent Update operation. The server is responsible for
transferring agent software to each device when the device requests an
agent image file. The Agent Update operation stops the internal TFTP
Server once the operation has completed.
TFTP is an insecure file transfer protocol that requires no username or
password. Therefore, 3Com Network Director places restrictions on any
requests in order to prevent any unauthorized TFTP activity. The internal
TFTP Server incorporates the following safeguards:
TFTP requests are accepted only from the IP address of the devices
included in the current Agent Update operation.
Only requests for file downloads are permitted.
The TFTP server only runs for the duration of an Agent Update
operation.
You can schedule an Agent Update operation to be carried out when the
network is at its least active and will cause the least disruption to you on
the network. Scheduling requires the application to be running when the
operation is due to take place. It is dependant on the system clock, so in
order for a scheduled agent update to run at the correct time, the system
clock must be accurate.