Getting started with NetPM TM

ETAP 2024

Network Project Modeling & Management (NetPM) is a tool that lets multiple users dynamically collaborate on the same project via internet connection. This document describes installation, configuration, and start-up of NetPM.

To establish communication between multiple ETAP Desktop Applications, ETAP DataX Manager (DXM) must be installed and configured. An active internet connection is required for the ETAP projects to communicate. 

ETAP DXM is a web service using ASP.NET web framework hosted in Microsoft IIS. ETAP DXM provides multi-user, queued messaging between ETAP and etapAPP mobile devices. Since DXM can communicate with ETAP machines outside the corporate LAN, it should be hosted in a DMZ with an outward internet facing NIC and an inward, corporate LAN facing NIC. Alternatively, DXM can be installed onto a Cloud, such as Microsoft Azure, Amazon WS, etc.

1. Install DataX Manager (DXM)

Prerequisites & Notes

4. The PC must have internet access during installation.
5. Administrative privileges are required to perform install.
6. DXM should be installed both on the NetPM server itself as well as on each end-user PC in the planned NetPM environment.
7. DXM and ETAP versions should match.

Install Process

1. From the ETAP installer, click the option for DataX Manager (DXM).

2. DXM License Agreement

3. Welcome / Installation Type

1. Full installation – Requires internet to enable Windows features (IIS and .NET)
2. Application Files and MongoDB Setup Only – For workstation or offline setup. 

4. License Agreement & Improvement Program

 

5. System Requirements

6. Database & Notification Setup

7. Server Administrator Setup

8. Application Destination

9. DXM Install Setup Complete. 

NOTE: Checking “Launch NetPM Portal” will open the NetPM site with the system’s default web browser. By default, NetPM is deployed using a self-signed certificate that your browser may flag as unsafe. Advanced options in the browser can be used to continue past the warning. To completely address this, ask your IT to use IIS to bind a signed certificate issued by a valid certificate authority.

2. NetPM Server Administration

After DXM installation, the designated NetPM Server Administrator is responsible for activating the server, issuing registration tokens, and high-level maintenance of projects hosted on the server. Additional server configurations/customizations can also be performed using the NetPM Console.

Server License Activation

Like the ETAP bus limit, each NetPM license allows for a specific number of active projects on the NetPM server. To initialize or update the NetPM Server’s project limit, the Server Admin can do the following:

1. Enter the DXM (NetPM) address into a web browser then log in using the NetPM Server Administrator credentials (established during DXM installation). 

Note that the address itself can vary depending on IT setup. For example…

3. https://localhost/etapdxm - Default initial address for every local installation.
4. https://IP.00.00.000/etapdxm - IP or Machine-Name can be used for connection with other PCs within the same network.
5. https://examplesite.com/etapdxm - For installations on cloud VMs a purchased domain can be associated with the etapDXM web application. 

2. On the License page, input your ETAP Serial Number then click Update NetPM Server ID. Next, copy or download the NetPM Server ID and send it to your ETAP Sales Representative requesting the corresponding NetPM Activation Code. Paste or upload the code into the Update License field and hit Update.

Registration Tokens

From the License Page, the Server Administrator can generate and issue tokens necessary for registering projects on that specific NetPM Server. Expiration options let the administrator customize how long each token will be valid for. 

Project Activity Maintenance

The NetPM Projects page can be used by the Server Administrator to Activate, Deactivate, Archive, or Delete existing projects on the NetPM server.

So long as the Active project count is within the Allowed limit for the given license, Project Managers will be able to register and upload ETAP projects to NetPM.

NetPM Console

From the NetPM Server (machine where DXM was installed), the Server Administrator can navigate to the installed NetPM Console app from the Windows Start Menu to configure connection, notification, and admin settings for NetPM. 

8. General – Filter pages based on installation type and view NetPM version. 
9. MongoDB – Reconfigure locally installed MongoDB services.
10. Notifications – Optional setup to allow NetPM server to send email notifications when projects are registered or uploaded.
11. Admin – Reconfigure server administrator credentials or customize encryption method
12. NetPM – Reconfigure connection to MongoDB service for NetPM Server.
13. Local – Reconfigure connection to MongoDB service for ETAP on local PC.

3. Register ETAP Project Users to NetPM

Registering an ETAP project to NetPM tells the server which users belong to the project. 

Prerequisites & Notes

3. Project must have passwords enabled
4. File must be opened using Project Manager & Editor access
5. Administrator access can be used to reconfigure passwords and access levels

New Project Setup

1. Go to File > New Project then be sure to check Enable Passwords.
2. Configure login credentials then open the project. (Note that the first user is automatically assigned Project Manager access).

Existing Project Setup

1. If the project is already open, go to File > Log Off.
2. At the ETAP Login window enter the project Administrator credentials (default: Admin / password).
3. From the User Manager window click Enable Passwords.
4. Add users, specify credentials, and designate the Project Manager.
5. Close the User Manager then again re-open the project.

Login, Establish Users, and Register

1. Open project as designated Project Manager

 

2. Open the User Manager from the Project or Collaborate tab. 

At this point, the Manager can make necessary adjustments to project users.

3. Click Register to NetPM.

4. Enter the NetPM URL and corresponding valid Registration Token from the NetPM Server Administrator.

 

4. Upload Project to NetPM

Once you are ready to share the baseline project file with the other project users do the following to upload to NetPM.

1. From the Collaborate tab, click Upload Project to NetPM. Check any additional ETAP files you wish to include in the project upload.

2. Upon completion, ETAP will generate and highlight the Project URL. 

3. You must copy and send this Project URL to registered users so they can download the project from NetPM. At this point, the NetPM page of the Project Information window will also update accordingly.

Notes: 

2. Original ETAP projects uploaded to NetPM are identified as the Primary Project.
3. If your IT personnel configured E-mail notifications during DXM installation or via NetPM Console, then registered users will receive automated e-mails indicating the project is available for download.

5. Download Project from NetPM

1. From a Client machine, Launch ETAP and click Download NetPM Project from either the LaunchPad or Collaborate tab.

2. Paste the Project URL into the “Address” line of the ETAP Login window and enter the registered user’s credentials then designate where the project should be downloaded.

3. Select the desired access level and log into the project. 

Note that the project type can be determined from Project Information > NetPM page or directly in the Collaborate tab. 

Primary – Original project that was registered and uploaded by the manager.

Client – Downloaded copy of primary project. 

Non-NetPM – Project that hasn’t been registered to NetPM.

6. Change Logs and Synchronization Modes

Change Logs

All approved or pending incremental changes made by each user since the baseline Primary project was uploaded to NetPM are logged in the Upload and Download queues at both the Server and Local level. These logs can be accessed from within the ETAP project. 

1. From the Collaborate tab, click the Server/Local status icons or the NetPM Log button to view the corresponding change logs.

Server – Incoming changes from all clients accessible only from the manager’s primary project.

Local – Incoming/outgoing changes maintained on the individual manager or client PCs.

 

2. For each Download and Upload tab, configure the synchronization method to either be Auto or On-Demand. 

Auto

Automatically process changes that are sent or received.

On-Demand

Manually processed incoming or outgoing changes (Default).

Notes:

3. From the Primary project, clicking the NetPM button will show you the interface for both the NetPM server queue as well as the Local Primary queue.
4. Managerial options (Approve, Hold, Reject, and Review) are reserved for the NetPM Server Download tab (Queue that opens in web browser).
5. Projects set to Inactive or Archived by the Server Admin will be fixed to On-Demand.

7. Definitions

DMZ

In computer security, a DMZ or Demilitarized Zone (sometimes referred to as a ‘perimeter network’) is a physical or logical subnetwork that contains and exposes an organization's external-facing services to a larger and untrusted network, usually the Internet.

ASP.NET

ASP.NET is a unified Web development model that includes the services necessary to build enterprise-class Web applications with a minimum of coding. ASP.NET is part of the .NET Framework.

NIC

A Network Interface Controller (NIC, also known as a network interface card, network adapter, LAN adapter, or physical network interface, and by similar terms) is a computer hardware component that connects a computer to a computer network.

DXM

Also known as NetPM Server. This application allows for communication between etapAPP and ETAP. In a NetPM environment, it also provides a communication channel between Primary and Client ETAP projects.

User Manager

Interface used by the Project Manager or Administrator to establish or reconfigure the users associated with a project. 

Primary Project

This is the original ETAP project that is registered and uploaded to NetPM. 

Client Project

Any projects downloaded from NetPM will be designated as Client projects.

Project Manager

This access level combines the capabilities of both the Project Editor and the Administrator access levels. Each project can have, at most, one Project Manager. Project Manager access is required for registering ETAP projects to NetPM and launching Data Exchange Manager (DataX Manager).

NetPM Server Administrator

Superuser that can access and manage the projects and mobile etapAPP publications on DXM (NetPM Server).