Difference between revisions of "+ Web UI Overview"

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Storage grid technology also enables management of systems across sites thereby reducing cost of managing, maintaining, and automating multi-site storage configurations, aka, storage grids.  
 
Storage grid technology also enables management of systems across sites thereby reducing cost of managing, maintaining, and automating multi-site storage configurations, aka, storage grids.  
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[[File:qs5_wui_full.png|1000px|QuantaStor web management interface]]
  
 
=== Tab Sections ===
 
=== Tab Sections ===
 
When you initially connect to QuantaStor manager you will see the feature management tabs across the top of the screen (shown in the orange box in the diagram below) including tabs named ''Storage Management'', ''Users & Groups'', ''Remote Replication'', etc.  These main tabs divide up the user interface into functional sections.  The most common activities are provisioning file storage (NAS) in the Network Shares section and provisioning block storage (SAN) in the Storage Volumes section.  The most common management and configuration tasks are all accessible from the toolbars and pop-up menus (right-click) in the Storage Management tab.
 
When you initially connect to QuantaStor manager you will see the feature management tabs across the top of the screen (shown in the orange box in the diagram below) including tabs named ''Storage Management'', ''Users & Groups'', ''Remote Replication'', etc.  These main tabs divide up the user interface into functional sections.  The most common activities are provisioning file storage (NAS) in the Network Shares section and provisioning block storage (SAN) in the Storage Volumes section.  The most common management and configuration tasks are all accessible from the toolbars and pop-up menus (right-click) in the Storage Management tab.
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[[File:qs5_wui_tabs.png|1000px|Management Section Tabs]]
  
 
=== Ribbon/Toolbar Section ===
 
=== Ribbon/Toolbar Section ===
 
The toolbar (aka ribbon bar, shown in the red box) is just below the features management tab with group sections including ''Storage System'', ''Network Port'', ''Storage System Grid'', etc.  The toolbar section is dynamic so as you select different tabs or different sections in the tree stack area the toolbar will automatically change to display relevant options to that area.
 
The toolbar (aka ribbon bar, shown in the red box) is just below the features management tab with group sections including ''Storage System'', ''Network Port'', ''Storage System Grid'', etc.  The toolbar section is dynamic so as you select different tabs or different sections in the tree stack area the toolbar will automatically change to display relevant options to that area.
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[[File:qs5_wui_ribbon.png|1000px|Management Toolbar]]
  
 
=== Main Tree Stack ===
 
=== Main Tree Stack ===
 
The tree stack panel appears on the left side of the screen (shown in the blue box in the screenshot/diagram below) and shows elements of the system in a tree hierarchy. All elements in the tree have menus associated with them that are accessible by right-clicking on the element in the tree.
 
The tree stack panel appears on the left side of the screen (shown in the blue box in the screenshot/diagram below) and shows elements of the system in a tree hierarchy. All elements in the tree have menus associated with them that are accessible by right-clicking on the element in the tree.
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[[File:qs5_wui_tree.png|1000px|Management Tree Stack]]
  
 
=== Center Dashboards & Tables/Grids ===
 
=== Center Dashboards & Tables/Grids ===
 
The center of the screen typically shows lists of elements based on the selected tree stack section that is active.  This area also often has a dashboard to show information about the selected item be it a storage pool, storage system or other element of the system.
 
The center of the screen typically shows lists of elements based on the selected tree stack section that is active.  This area also often has a dashboard to show information about the selected item be it a storage pool, storage system or other element of the system.
  
[[File:qs_initial_scrn.png|1000px|Main Tree View & Ribbon-bar / Toolbar]]
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[[File:qs5_wui_dashboard.png|1000px|Management Dashboards]]
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=== Dynamic Sections & Pop-up Menus ===
  
=== 100% Native HTML5/JS with Desktop application ease-of use===
 
 
By selecting different tabs and sections within the web management interface the items in both the toolbar, tree stack panel, and center panel will change to reflect the available options for the selected area.  Although the QuantaStor web UI is all browser native HTML5 it has many of the ease-of-use features one would find in a desktop application.  Most notably, one can right-click on most items within the web user interface to access context specific pop-up menus.  This includes right-clicking on tree items, the tree stack headers, and items in the center grid/table views.
 
By selecting different tabs and sections within the web management interface the items in both the toolbar, tree stack panel, and center panel will change to reflect the available options for the selected area.  Although the QuantaStor web UI is all browser native HTML5 it has many of the ease-of-use features one would find in a desktop application.  Most notably, one can right-click on most items within the web user interface to access context specific pop-up menus.  This includes right-clicking on tree items, the tree stack headers, and items in the center grid/table views.
  

Revision as of 11:32, 20 August 2019


Navigating the QuantaStor Web Management User Interface

The QuantaStor web management interface makes it easy to manage all QuantaStor systems in a given storage grid via a single-pane-of-glass.

QuantaStor storage grid technology and core service architecture enables the web (and REST/CLI) management interface for a given storage grid to be available and accessible via all systems at the same time and by multiple users. No additional software is required, simply connect to any IP address of any system within the grid via HTTPS to connect and manage the storage.

Storage grid technology also enables management of systems across sites thereby reducing cost of managing, maintaining, and automating multi-site storage configurations, aka, storage grids.

QuantaStor web management interface

Tab Sections

When you initially connect to QuantaStor manager you will see the feature management tabs across the top of the screen (shown in the orange box in the diagram below) including tabs named Storage Management, Users & Groups, Remote Replication, etc. These main tabs divide up the user interface into functional sections. The most common activities are provisioning file storage (NAS) in the Network Shares section and provisioning block storage (SAN) in the Storage Volumes section. The most common management and configuration tasks are all accessible from the toolbars and pop-up menus (right-click) in the Storage Management tab.

Management Section Tabs

Ribbon/Toolbar Section

The toolbar (aka ribbon bar, shown in the red box) is just below the features management tab with group sections including Storage System, Network Port, Storage System Grid, etc. The toolbar section is dynamic so as you select different tabs or different sections in the tree stack area the toolbar will automatically change to display relevant options to that area.

Management Toolbar

Main Tree Stack

The tree stack panel appears on the left side of the screen (shown in the blue box in the screenshot/diagram below) and shows elements of the system in a tree hierarchy. All elements in the tree have menus associated with them that are accessible by right-clicking on the element in the tree.

Management Tree Stack

Center Dashboards & Tables/Grids

The center of the screen typically shows lists of elements based on the selected tree stack section that is active. This area also often has a dashboard to show information about the selected item be it a storage pool, storage system or other element of the system.

Management Dashboards

Dynamic Sections & Pop-up Menus

By selecting different tabs and sections within the web management interface the items in both the toolbar, tree stack panel, and center panel will change to reflect the available options for the selected area. Although the QuantaStor web UI is all browser native HTML5 it has many of the ease-of-use features one would find in a desktop application. Most notably, one can right-click on most items within the web user interface to access context specific pop-up menus. This includes right-clicking on tree items, the tree stack headers, and items in the center grid/table views.

QuantaStor Web Administration Overview

This guide outlines all of the dialog screens presented in the QuanaStor web management interface and how to use them. This guide is also accessible within the QuantaStor web manager directly by pressing the question mark help button in the upper right hand corner of the web UI (?). Select a topic for more detail on a specific dialog or area of management. Note that for scripting and automation all operations presented via the QuantaStor web management interface are also accessible via the QuantaStor command line interface (CLI) tool (qs) and via REST APIs as outlined in the QuantaStor Developer Guide.

How to Login

The QuantaStor web administration interface is accessible via all major web browsers (Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Opera, & Internet Explorer) and has been developed in native HTML5 to be fast and responsive. After a system boots the text mode system console (also accessible via IPMI) will display the public facing IP addresses. On a new unconfigured system the first network port is assigned an IP address via DHCP. Simply select one of the assigned IP addresses and enter it as the address/URL inside your web browser to access the QuantaStor web administration interface.

Configuring a secure connection to the QuantaStor Manager

The Web Administration will support a secure connection when using https:// to connect. By default both types of connections are supported.

Login Screen

QuantaStor Manager Login

The default admin password for QuantaStor is simply 'password'. If you do not enter a password it will assume the default and will attempt to login to the system with 'password'. The administrator user name is simply 'admin'. It is recommended that you change the administrator password the first time you login to the system. If you are having trouble logging in, try hitting the reload button on your browser (Ctrl-F5) or clear your browser cache. Sometimes, especially after an upgrade one may need to clear the browser cache.

About this Guide

The following guide provides details into the various dialog windows used to manage the QuantaStor system. Using the help button (found in the upper right hand corner of each dialog in the QuantaStor web administration interface) on you will be taken directly to the specific page for that dialog within the wiki or you can directly browse the documentation here through the following guide.

Viewing Object Properties

Every item you see in the QuantaStor Manager web interface is internally stored as an 'object' in the scale-out grid management system. All objects have a name and a unique ID (UUID) and several other properties. As an example a Storage Volume is a block device and is accessible via iSCSI so 'iqn' is a property of the Storage Volume. Details like 'iqn' can be viewed via the Properties' pane on the right side of the manager screen or by right-clicking on the object and selecting Properties from the menu. The resulting Properties window also contains a Security tab and a Tags section for assigning user defined custom key/value pairs to objects. Within the security tab, administrators can choose to limit who has access to the particular object.

Qs4 dialog properties.png

Properties Dialog Window

Storage Management Section

Users & Groups Section

Cloud Containers Section

Remote Replication Section