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July 22, 2006
Finally a GUI Worth Posting About!
Anyone that has worked with Cisco for any amount of time knows that they're definitely not a GUI company. Their command line interface is beautiful, but for the folks who want a point-and-click setup, one look at CiscoWorks will cause them never to buy a piece of Cisco gear again.
Thankfully, the competition has forced Cisco to create a point and click GUI that works quite well, it's called Cisco SDM. SDM has been out for quite some time, but I'm mentioning it now becuase I feel it's finally a "complete" product. The original SDM versions required you to copy it into a router's flash memory and run it remotely. This would cause everything to load slowly initially and ate up quite a bit of flash memory for those that were running slim.
The modern SDM version allows you to install it locally on a PC (Windows, of course...someday I'm hoping Cisco will break away from that paradigm and make something for my MAC) and manage any modern router (2600, 3600, 1700, 1800, etc...) remotely. Since it's installed on the local PC, it runs much faster and doesn't require you to install ANYTHING in the remote flash. You don't even need a CCO login to download this utility.
To obtain it, go to http://www.cisco.com/go/sdm.
Of course, you realize, REAL cisco admins still use the command line :o).
Posted by JC at July 22, 2006 10:25 AM
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Comments
I definitely agree on SDM! Cisco took the premise behind PDM (PIX Device Manager) and made SDM and now even ASDM. I'm still a sucker for the CLI, but our intern for the summer took one look at SDM and fell in love with it. You have a right to pick on CiscoWorks, but I have to say Resource Manager Essentials is great along with the new Cisco Security Manager. Keep up the good work on the blog... you've inspired me to start a security-based one (http://cs-mars.blogspot.com).
Posted by: Mike at July 22, 2006 4:15 PM
I did take a look at it, some time ago, and wasn't all that impressed. Maybe I'll have another go-round with it.
Thanks for the news!
Posted by: Aaron Paxson at July 23, 2006 2:19 PM
I agree. I really like SDM although I wish there was an "undo" command :) ...watching "40 commands" going down is kinda scary....I started using SDM after watching your new series on ISCW (the exam I passed last week gratefully due to your video!).
- Kamran
Posted by: Kamran at April 24, 2007 5:33 PM
Strange, can't seem to get this from the Cisco site, seems they have realized it has some comercial value and now you have to log in or pay for it from a dealer.
Posted by: Greg Baird at September 4, 2007 9:20 AM
Guys......I need a trainer in Northern New Jersey for Ciscoworks LMS. The client needs 10 people trained on its use in a 1/2 day session in April. Anyone want to take the day off from their regular jobs and make $1500 for the day let me know.
THX!
kat
Posted by: KATIRINA TRACY at February 18, 2008 1:16 PM