Table of Contents

Virtual elements

The term “virtual element” is used for two different kinds of elements:

Virtual elements in a redundancy group

When a redundancy group is created, for each of the primary elements a virtual element is created. The virtual element will either represent the corresponding primary element or its backup, depending on which is operational. Typically these elements will have names surrounded by curly brackets, e.g. {Virtual Element 1}.

For more information, see About redundancy groups.

Virtual elements used for element connections

It is possible that for a certain element, not all parameters can be communicated through the regular connection. For instance, for an element with an SNMP connection, there may be a few sensors that require an extra element, e.g. an ADAM I/O Box, to communicate their readings to DataMiner. In that case, a virtual element can be created that combines a number of parameters from different “real” elements. In contrast to those “real” elements, the virtual element does not represent a physical device.

A virtual element can also be used to combine multiple elements into a single virtual element (i.e. element consolidation). For instance, a TX element and an RX element can be combined into one virtual RX/TX element.

A virtual element is based on a virtual protocol. This is different from a normal protocol in that it only consists of a list of parameters to be included to the virtual element. When a virtual element is added, the parameters listed in the virtual protocol will be linked to their counterparts found in the “real” elements.

A virtual element can also have new parameters, which often contain the result of a mathematical calculation based on the values of one or more parameters from “real” elements. You could, for instance, retrieve the output level and the input level from a “real” element, calculate the transmission loss and store the result in a new parameter of your virtual element.

Configuring virtual elements with the Element Connections module

To configure virtual elements in Cube, the Element Connections module can be used:

  1. In DataMiner Cube, go to Apps > Element Connections.

    The module consists of two tabs:

    • The configure tab on the left is where element connections can be configured.

    • The overview tab on the right provides an overview of the existing element connections.

  2. In the list of elements in the configure tab, expand the element for which you want to configure the element connections.

    Note

    Only elements of which the protocol has at least one virtual parameter are displayed in the module.

  3. For each parameter of the virtual element that you want to connect to a parameter from another element:

    1. In the Instance column, select the table index if necessary.

    2. In the Linked element column, select the element you want to link to the selected parameter.

    3. In the Linked parameter column, select the parameter you want to link to the selected parameter.

    4. In the Linked instance column, select the table index if necessary.

    5. In the Include element column, clear the checkbox if you do not want the state of the connected element to influence the state of the virtual element. Otherwise, keep the checkbox selected.

    Note

    To duplicate a row, for example because different rows in the same table need to be linked to a different element, right-click the row and select Duplicate.

  4. Click the Save button at the bottom of the card.

Note
  • You can export an overview of the element connections to a CSV file using the Export button in the lower right corner of the module.
  • If there is incorrect or corrupt data in the element connections configuration, the Element Connections module is only available for users with full root view access.
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