Connecting directly to a monitored device through the WhatsUp Gold interface

First, select any device on the map view to display the corresponding device information card. Click , then select Tools from the device management actions menu. You can also access the menu of device management actions, and more specifically the three connection tools, by right-clicking the device's icon on the map. Use the following tools to connect to the selected device:

• Browse. Launches the selected device's user interface in a new browser tab.
• SSH. Launches a secure, encrypted Secure Shell window pointed to the selected device.
• Telnet. Launches a telnet window where the user can interact with the selected device using a command line interface.
• Remote Desktop. Launches a Remote Desktop Connection window displaying the desktop for the selected device.

Before attempting to connect to a device using the Browse tool, access Device Properties for that device, select the Links tab, and create a Custom Link called Browse that points to the device's name or IP address in URL format. If no Custom Link is defined, the Browse tool will attempt to dynamically create one using the IP address. If the tool is unable to create the link automatically, a blank browser tab will appear.

While the Browse tool can be used without the need for any additional action on the part of the user, any client device that will be accessed by WhatsUp Gold must be configured prior to connecting through SSH, Telnet, or Remote Desktop. Use the following operating system-specific guidelines and examples to enable your client device to be accessed directly from the WhatsUp Gold map or list view.

Windows

To utilize Telnet, SSH, or RDP tools in WhatsUp Gold from a Windows client:

1. Enable/Install the applicable program or feature on the device to which you are connecting.
   1. For SSH, install a third party SSH client. (Please note, during development of this feature, PuTTY was used to test SSH connections originating from WhatsUp Gold, though other SSH client options are available for use.)
   2. For Telnet, ensure Telnet Client is enabled in Programs and Features on that device.
   3. For Remote Desktop, ensure the option for allowing remote access is enabled in System Properties on that device.
2. Create a batch script file specific to your desired connection method, then place it in an accessible location on the machine from which you access WhatsUp Gold. Please note, you must modify this script for your specific configuration, potentially to include adding flags to the command line such /v for Remote Desktop.
   
   Examples of batch script files required:
   telnet_launcher.bat
   
   that contains:
   @echo off
set var=%1
set extract=%var:~9,-1%
start "telnet window" "C:\Path_To_Telnet\telnet.exe" %extract%
   
   Please note, Path_To_name refers to the path needed to find the specified file on your client machine that is accessing WhatsUp Gold.
   
   ssh_launcher.bat
   
   that contains:
   @echo off
set var=%1
set extract=%var:~6,-1%
start "putty window" "C:\Path_To_putty\putty.exe" %extract%
   
   Please note, putty.exe is used as the SSH client example; you may utilize a different SSH client.
   
   rdp_launcher.bat
   
   that contains:
   @echo off
set var=%1
set extract=%var:~6,-1%
start "rdp window" "C:\Path_To_RDP\mstsc.exe" /v:%extract%
   
3. Create a registry file specific to your desired connection method and modified for your individual needs. Place it in an accessible location on the device, then double-click the file to add it to your registry.
   
   Examples of registry files required:
   
   telnet.reg
   
   that contains:
   
   REGEDIT4
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\telnet]
@="URL:telnet Protocol"
"URL Protocol"=""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\telnet\shell]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\telnet\shell\open]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\telnet\shell\open\command]
@="\"C:\\Path_To_Batch_Files\\telnet_launcher.bat\" %1"
   
   Please note, the double backslashes are required inside the "" as single backslashes are dropped.
   
   
   
   ssh.reg
   
   that contains:
   
   REGEDIT4
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ssh]
@="URL:ssh Protocol"
"URL Protocol"=""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ssh\shell]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ssh\shell\open]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ssh\shell\open\command]
@="\"C:\\Path_To_Batch_Files\\ssh_launcher.bat\" %1"



rdp.reg
   
   that contains:
   
   REGEDIT4
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\rdp]
@="URL:rdp Protocol"
"URL Protocol"=""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\rdp\shell]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\rdp\shell\open]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\rdp\shell\open\command]
@="\"C:\\Path_To_Batch_Files\\rdp_launcher.bat\" %1"
   
4. Test the connectivity by right-clicking on the device from the map or list view, then selecting the desired tool from the device management actions menu.

Mac OSX

No additional configuration is necessary when connecting to a monitored device running Mac OSX. At the time of this WhatsUp Gold release, SSH and Telnet protocols are configured for use by default and Microsoft offers an application used for Remote Desktop connections for Mac.

See Also Tools Using Tools in WhatsUp Gold