Using the DataPower appliance manager

The DataPower® appliance manager automatically starts if you issue a request to the DataPower appliance manager and it is not already started. You can initiate a request using the wsadmin tool, or by selecting any of the administrative console pages that enable you to view or change settings for DataPower appliances, firmware, or managed sets, or the administrative console page that is used to monitor DataPower appliance manager tasks. The appliance manager also automatically starts when the deployment manager starts if there are any DataPower appliances configured in the appliance manager.

Before you begin

The first time that you use the DataPower appliance manager, you must add at least one appliance to the appliance manager. Before adding an appliance to the appliance manager, you must verify that:

  • The appliance that you are adding is at a Version 3.6.0.4 or higher firmware level. The appliance manager cannot manage an appliances that is not at a Version 3.6.0.4 or higher firmware level.
  • The appliance manager can communicate with the port that is used for the XML Management interface AMP endpoint on the appliance. The appliance manager uses this port to send commands to an appliance.
  • The appliance can communicate with the port that is used for the DataPowerMgr_inbound_secure endpoint on the deployment manager. The appliance uses this port to send events to the appliance manager.
  • The Appliance Management Protocol (AMP) endpoint is enabled for each appliance. If the XML Management interface AMP endpoint was disabled during installation, use the DataPower WebGUI to enable the AMP endpoint.
  • There is not a firewall between the deployment manager and the appliances that will be part of a managed set. If there is a firewall between the deployment manager and the appliances, that firewall might prevent the appliance manager from communicating with the appliances in a managed set.
Avoid trouble: Remember that the XML management interface port, which defaults to port number 5550, is different from the Web Management Service port, which defaults to port number 9090. The DataPower appliance manager uses the XML management interface port to manage the DataPower appliances. You use the Web Management Service port to access the WebGUI on the DataPower appliance. You can use the same user ID and password to access both the XML management interface and the WebGUI.

About this task

When the DataPower appliance manager starts, it automatically starts the channel chain which causes a bind to the port that is defined for the DataPower appliance manager.

To access the DataPower appliance manager, in the administrative console, click Servers > DataPower, and then perform one or more of the following actions. As previously stated, if this is the first time that you are using the DataPower appliance manager, you must add at least one appliance to the appliance manager before completing any of the other actions.

If you need to shut down the DataPower appliance manager, in the administrative console, click Servers > DataPower > Appliance manager, and then click Shutdown Manager.

Procedure

What to do next

You can configure Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) for the DataPower appliance manager.