Visual DataCenter

I'
m trying to create a drill-down display of my datacenter. I'm starting out with a floorplan already done in visio, linking each rack on the floorplan to another page that comes up with a front-view of the rack and all the servers in it, then linking each server to a SQL database that shows all of the properties of each server.

Here's where the fun starts = 1.) I'm exporting it out to HTML and 2.) I want to find an easy way to drop a new server into the rack diagram, tell it which server it is in the database (or create a new record) and then have it pull existing data from the DB or have it populate the SQL table with the new info...

Whew. OK. I'm not expecting anyone to do my job for me, but help here in automating the DB lookup would be a HUGE help.

Thanks,
CyberAJ

quick question, are you saying you want the UI to be in HTML or is that just
the final display? Also what versions of software are you using (sql 7 or
2000, visio ?, office?)
Al

"CyberAJ" wrote in message
...
I'
m trying to create a drill-down display of my datacenter. I'm starting out
with a floorplan already done in visio, linking each rack on the floorplan
to another page that comes up with a front-view of the rack and all the
servers in it, then linking each server to a SQL database that shows all of
the properties of each server.

Here's where the fun starts = 1.) I'm exporting it out to HTML and 2.) I
want to find an easy way to drop a new server into the rack diagram, tell it
which server it is in the database (or create a new record) and then have it
pull existing data from the DB or have it populate the SQL table with the
new info...

Whew. OK. I'm not expecting anyone to do my job for me, but help here in
automating the DB lookup would be a HUGE help.

Thanks,
CyberAJ

SQL2000, Visio Pro 2003, Office XP. I've already gotten this to work, but I have nearly 1200 servers in multiple datacenters. I'm trying to find a way to automate the object--database link.

Here are the Dell Server templates: http://www1.us.dell.com/content/topi...555&l=en&s=gen

Just to try it out, start with a blank Network Rack Diagram, add a server rack from the 2XXX template. Then add any server. Then I am linking that server to a record in the SQL DB that holds all of the asset and basic config info on that server. When I export the visio doc to HTML, I am able to CTRL-Click on the server and it displays the fields I have chosen from the DB.

I'm just searching for a way to automate the process. I'd like Visio to ask me (pipe dream, I know) when I drop a new server from the template onto a rack if this is either a new or existing server (I'm thinking ahead to the days when this project is through it's initial build and we are adding servers into our datacenter). Then I can either select the record from the database, or enter new data and it will populate a new record in the database.

I am just dreaming, or can this be done? Preferablly without re-coding Visio 2003...

OK. I think I figured it out. If I run the DB wizard in Visio and have it link my stencil shapes to the SQL DB I can then set a "on-drop" event, which I've set to select the record. I don't think I'll be able to create a new record in the DB though. So I will be forced to create a new record through our current data-entry process then add it to the rack map and link it to the DB.

Onward!

-AJ

Good enough, I've got some sample 'rack' code that I'm willing to share. The
database code is aimed at MS Access but that is fairly easy to change.
Have a great one,
Al
"CyberAJ" wrote in message
...
OK. I think I figured it out. If I run the DB wizard in Visio and have it
link my stencil shapes to the SQL DB I can then set a "on-drop" event, which
I've set to select the record. I don't think I'll be able to create a new
record in the DB though. So I will be forced to create a new record through
our current data-entry process then add it to the rack map and link it to
the DB.

Onward!

-AJ

CyberAJ i read about your plan to create a Visio/database model of an
entire enterprise network with attributed related to the network object
stored in a sql 2000 database. I have also been given the task of
producing the same system for 150 servers. Any help you could give as
to how you achieved this would be life changing and I would be
eternally grateful.

your statement "I've already gotten this to work" has given me hope.

links, forum references ,ideas would be eternally appreciated.

Bentzu:what



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bentzu
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