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Configuration Methods Overview
All terminal configuration methods operate on the same database of terminal configuration information. Daemons running in the terminal manage the terminal's configuration database.
This section briefly describes configuration system components.
The Configuration daemon loads the initial configuration from NVRAM when the terminal boots and reads the initial configuration file. The daemon also provides both network and local access to all of the terminal's configuration data.The User Preferences daemon provides network and local access to user preferences data only.
The two basic types of parameters are read/write and read-only. Some parameters take single values, others take several, and others are organized into tables of values. The parameters essential for terminal booting are saved in the terminal's NVRAM; others must be loaded from remote configuration files when a terminal boots. Parameters are grouped and named according to their functions; for example, the names of parameters in the "boot" group all start with boot. For details about the different types of parameters and about parameter groupings, see "Parameter Types and Groups".
Remote configuration files and interactive remote configuration through a TELNET connection use a common language. For details about the language and assignment statements, see "The Configuration Language".
The default configuration of an NCD terminal is a combination of settings in the terminal's NVRAM and settings in the X server. X server settings take effect after the X server is loaded and executed.
Default configuration values allow the terminal to run with a minimum of configuration effort. Some default values change during operations as a result of network operations and the status of processes. For more information about default and optional values for specific parameters, see the alphabetical listing of configuration parameters in the Remote Configuration Parameter Quick Reference.
The methods of configuring NCD terminals are:
- Remote configuration files-NCD terminals can download configuration files from network host computers. Values in a downloaded configuration file override the default values in NVRAM and the X server.
Some parameters in remote configuration files can be written to NVRAM, thus altering the values read from NVRAM the next time the terminal boots.
Remote configuration files are described in "Creating Remote Configuration Files" and in the NCDware System Administrator's Guide for UNIX Systems.
- Interactive configuration through TELNET-After the server is running, you can a use a TELNET connection (via the NCD Terminal Emulator or the TELNET utility on a host computer) to the Configuration daemon or the User Preferences daemon to read or change a terminal's current configuration parameters. You can write parameters set through a TELNET connection to configuration files and to NVRAM.
Access to configuration data through a TELNET connection is controlled through passwords and host access control.
This method of configuring a terminal is described in the System Administrator's Guide.
- Interactive configuration through Change Setup Parameters and Change Quick Setup-You can use these local clients, accessible through the Console, for configuring the terminal locally while the X server is running. You can use also use these clients as the primary configuration tool and save settings to a configuration file and to NVRAM.
You can allow users to write their own settings to files and control which parameters, if any, they can set. Also, you can completely disable the clients or restrict access to them by enforcing passwords locally.
From one terminal's configuration client, you can access another terminal's configuration data remotely. Such access is controlled through passwords and host access control.
The System Administrator's Guide describes how to use the Change Setup Parameters and Change Quick Setup local clients. The configuration clients (including all their fields) are described in Chapter 9, Using Configuration Menus.
- Interactive configuration through Change User Preferences-This local client, accessible through the Console, allows users to configure user preferences parameters (such as keyboard LED usage and mouse acceleration) locally for the current session.
Users can also write their preference settings to a file in their home directories, and you can use the ncdloadprefs utility in a startup file to load the file each time the X server resets. This allows users to retain their own preference settings, no matter which terminal they are using. This utility is described in the System Administrator's Guide.
From one terminal's Change User Preferences client, you can modify or display another terminal's user preference parameters. You can disable the client or require passwords to use it.
The Change User Preferences client, including all of its fields, is described in the User's Guide and in Chapter 9, Using Configuration Menus.
- The NVRAM utility and Boot Monitor Setup menus-From the Boot Monitor, you can use these utilities to configure many parameters saved in NVRAM. The NVRAM utility allows you to change some parameters that cannot be accessed in any other way.
For information about using the NVRAM utility and Boot Monitor Setup menus, see Chapter 11, Boot Monitor and NVRAM.
- Interactive configuration through SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)-Using NCD's MIB (Management Information Base) and your host-based SNMP utilities, you can set and display configuration parameters. For information on configuring terminals for SNMP, see Chapter 16, Using SNMP for Terminal Management. The SNMP names and paths for all configuration parameters are listed in the Remote Configuration Parameter Quick Reference.
Access Control for Terminal Configuration Data
NCDware provides the following types of access control for terminal configuration data:
Controlling access to configuration data, statistical data, and local clients is described in the System Administrator's Guide, except for parameter protection, which is described in "Protecting Configuration Parameters".
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