4.3 Smart Bridge (Optional)
netLD Smart Bridge (SB) feature allows you to manage the multiple separate remote networks from a single netLD server. Assume you are managing the
devices in the corporation networks of your customers and those local networks do not share the local IP namespace. Without SB you had to set up a new
netLD server in each networks, but now you can manage those network via a single terminal!
Figure 4.3.1: Smart Bridge concept
In Sec. 2.5, we described the concepts of Networks as a special terms for a device grouping method in netLD. (do not confuse with network groups described in Sec. 3.1).
The default network is named as Default while you can name the other networks as you like. You can also assign privileges to users on those networks.
Each SB-managed remote network is added to the list of networks, and devices in the remote networks are treated as a member of corresponding networks.
You can manage those devices by simply switching to that network (through the drop- down menu in the global menu in the top-left corner.)
When you switch to a certain network, the graphical interface is identical to what it used to be - which means any operations described until now is also
available in those remote networks, including credentials, access controls (Sec.2.4) and so on.
Operating Smart Bridge reduces both the CPU workload on the server and the network bandwidth usage. Rather than making one netLD server monitors all
devices in one network, you can subdivide a large network into a set of smaller networks and delegate server’s task to each Smart Bridge. The server only has
to manage the result data sent from each SB and the workload on the server decreases. Also, on a system with Smart Bridges, the total amount of
data communicated through the global network is significantly reduced because the data sent by each SB consist only of changes from the previous state.
In the following sections, we describe how to set up Smart Bridge feature into fully working state.
4.3.1 Installation
Smart Bridge program is a standalone program that works on the server. You need to install them in each network segment.
Save the netLD Smart Bridge install program (i.e. netld-Bridge-version-32bit or 64bit.exe) to the target server and double-click on the program to start.
Select a language to use from the drop-down menu and click on the OK button to start the Setup wizard.
Click on the Next to go to License Agreement dialog.
License Agreement dialog. Press page down key to read the rest of the agreement and click on the I Agree to continue.
Specify the install directory by clicking on Browse. . . button. Click on the Next button to continue.
Installation continues.
Click on the Next button if Installation Complete dialog is displayed.
Click on the Finish button to close the setup wizard.
4.3.2 Registering Smart Bridges to the Core Server
You have to register the installed Smart Bridges to the core netLD Server. Go to the settings window → Smart Bridges. Click on the 
.
Enter the required information in Bridge Host dialog. Then click on the OK button to finish.
Menu Items Description
Name Enter a name for the Smart Bridge.
Host or IP Specify a server by hostname or IP address that the Smart Bridge is installed.
Port Specify a port that the Smart Bridge uses by the up and down arrow keys.
Once the Smart Bridge is added to the network list on the core server, you will be soon able to check the connection status to the Smart Bridge in
this dialog. The icons in the first column indicates the status of the Smart Bridge. Now, the status is because the connection is not established.
Sooner or later, if the configuration is correct, the icon should turn into 
. If it never do so, review the configuration again. If the problem still exists, please
contact out support.
If you need further assistance or technical support about Net Line Dancer, please fell free to contact below. We will be pleased to help you when you
find any errors or ambiguities in this manual, or any questions regarding them as well. Please note that we are closed on weekends, national holidays,
New Year and summer holidays in Japanese time.
We accept e-mails for 24 hours but we will only reply on those business hours.
Thank you for your
cooperation.
LogicVein, Inc. Technical Support
Mail: support@logicvein.com
The name of Smart Bridge can not be modified after it has been registered in the core server. If you do have to change the name, you have to delete the original one and re run the entire registration.
Adding a network is exactly the same as what you do in order to add a local network, except that you should specify the registered Smart Bridge while
adding it. First, Open Settings window → Networks section.
Click on the 
to create a new network.
Enter the required information in the dialog. In the Bridge Host field, select a SB that you have just added in the previous section. Finally, click on the OK button to save the network.
Menu Items Description
Name Enter a name for the new network.
Bridge Host Select a Smart Bridge to use for the network from the drop down list.
Once a network is added, it appears in the Network drop down list in the global menu. Selecting its entry switches the network.
4.3.4 Adding devices to a SB
Finally, add devices to the SB network. Again, the manipulation required to add devices, credentials and so on, in the remote network, is nearly exactly the
same as those required in the local network.
The only difference is that you have to switch the current network to the target remote network which was added in the previous section. Once you have switched
to the appropriate network, you can discover, add and change the devices as usual. Credentials can also be handled just the same way as you did. When you
add a device, it is polled, checked, backed up by the Smart Bridge, instead of the core netLD server.
For information on adding devices and credentials, see Sec. 3.3.1 and Sec. 3.1.