Using Drawing Tools

IRISnet drawing tools allow you to draw and save your network block diagram.

Figure 1. IRISnet Drawing Tools
note You must have radarop privileges to change the IRISnet menu.
  1. Collect information from you system manager on the names of network nodes, what nodes are running IRIS, and so on.
  2. Select Options > Tools.
    tip Select left or right to define if the tool bar is displayed on the left side or the right side of IRISnet.
  3. To add nodes:
    1. Select the tool icon for either a radar site icon or an analysis/display site icon.
    2. Move your cursor to the menu and click to plant the icon.
    3. To position an icon, use click and drag (dragging is only available if the tool bar is displayed).
  4. To name or re-name network nodes:
    1. Switch off the Tools.
    2. Double-click the node name field at the bottom of the icon

      The Server appears.

      The Hostname must be the name recognized by the network (as assigned by your network manager).

      The Alias Name is the name that appears on the icon in IRISnet.

    note

    Vaisala recommends that you set the Alias Name to something logical like a radar location or a workstation function and that the host name is the same.

    You can alias hostnames as well in the Unix network configuration. Check with your network manager if you want to alias an un-friendly hostname such as xnrf0327 to something more recognizable such as BOS_Radar.

  5. To connect the network nodes:
    1. Select the line drawing tool.
    2. Select a node attachment point.

      There are 4 attachment points on a node icon – one on each side.

    3. Drag the line over to the attachment point on another icon and release the mouse.
    4. If you miss, re–select the line tool and try again.
    tip After you have made connections between nodes, you can still move them. The node lines "rubber–band".
  6. If you make a mistake or want to remove a node or a line, select the eraser tool and then select the object to delete.
  7. IRIS provides tools for customizing your control display with a background image. If you wish to use a background image:
    1. Select a .gif, such as a photograph of your headquarters so you can show the location of each computer.

      Save the background image in the /etc/vaisala/irisrda/images directory.

    2. Import the image to IRISnet by selecting IRISnet > Options > Config.

      Select the .gif file you want to use as IRISnet background.

      The .gif image MUST be in the ${IRIS_CONFIG}overlay directory.

      The background GIF image filename must be the exact name of the image in the /etc/vaisala/irisrda/images directory. If filename is blank, no image is displayed.

    3. Save and restart IRISnet.
    4. Set the icons by moving the radar and computer icons so that each site is approximately at its geographical location on the map.
  8. You can monitor other computers in your network, even if they do not run IRIS. They are shown as red or yellow, indicating if they are connected to the network.
  9. To save your work, select File > Save.