User guide

136 CHAPTER 7: AGENT UPDATE
Key Concepts This section describes the key concepts associated with the Agent Update
feature.
Agent Image Files 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.
The Internal TFTP
Server
3Com Network Administrator 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 Administrator 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.
Scheduling 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.
3Com Network Administrator for HP OpenView.book Page 136 Wednesday, November 12, 2003 2:33 PM