Configuring the topology layout and display settings

Use the Edit Map: Network Devices dialog Layout tab to select the topology map layout format you want to display. To understand the layout modes, you must first be familiar with the layout strategy used by the WhatsConnected topology engine. For each map, the topology viewer automatically selects a root device, which becomes the starting point of the diagrams. The root device is selected based on finding the device on the diagram with the most network connections. Additionally, you can manually select the root device. For more information, see Changing the root device selection.

Using the connectivity model, the topology viewer sets the root as the parent and then assigns all connected devices as children. This process continues until all devices on the topology map are given a parent/child relationship.

With the parent/child relationships calculated, the WhatsConnected topology viewer provides three layout modes for any topology map. These modes describe the manner in which each child node (or device) is given its position on the topology map. The layout modes are described as follows:

• Radial. In this mode, each child node is connected to its parent in a radial (or circular) pattern. For more information, see About Radial layout settings.
• Hierarchy. In this mode, each child node is given a position in a hierarchical or tree-like view with the root being either on the left, top, right or bottom. For more information, see About Hierarchy Layout settings.
• Manual. In this mode, you can use the drag-and-drop features of the topology view to position the device on the topology map where you want to locate it. For more information, see About Manual Layout setting.

How to get here:

1. From the main menu of the WhatsConnected console, select View > Topology Maps. The Topology Maps view appears.

   Tip: You can also view topology maps from the WhatsConnected console shortcut menu. Click (Topology maps shortcut icon). The Topology Maps dialog appears.

2. Select the topology map, in the topology tree view, that you want to export.
3. Right-click in the topology map area. The right-click menu appears.
4. Click Layout / Display Settings. The Edit Map: Devices dialog appears.

To change a topology map layout settings:

1. From the Edit Map: Network Devices dialog, select the Layout tab.
2. Use the Layout Settings tab to adjust the layout options.
3. Click OK. The selected devices will be repositioned on the topology map.

See Also Managing dynamic topology map updates Filtering devices and dynamically updating the topology map Automatically exporting scheduled map discoveries to WhatsUp Gold Scheduling dynamic topology map updates