HP Insight Control Software for Linux - Manual (Page 69)

SYNOPSIS
ipmtab2txt input_file_name
DESCRIPTION
The purpose of this tool is to convert a spreadsheet tabular representation of data center topology generated
from a Configuration Management Database (CMDB) into a flat text representation. This tool writes to
standard out and can be redirected to a file. After converting to this common text format, users can edit the
topology on any operating system. Users can then convert this text file to any supported format, but the most
common use for this file is to then import the device names and relationships into IPM via the ipmimport
command. Any user with file permissions can read a spreadsheet or text file, but only the superuser may
execute ipmimport.
The common attribute:value text format is described in ipm.1m in detail.
There are four kinds of spreadheet rows (lines). Different formats cannot be mixed on the same line or errors
will be generated.
Attribute:value
Attributes set in this way persist for the whole sheet. This is a handy way to set defaults for
incomplete lines or to avoid typing for data that is repeated. The pair DatacentreID:string
in the first attribute:value cell of the workbook is required. Other settings line RackHeight:48,
DeviceHeight:1 are common shortcuts. These defaults are cumulative and apply to every
line following. The values may be changed within the spreadsheet, and the new default
applies to every line following that change.
Heading
At the top of each column in a table, include a label to identify what this column contains,
such as DeviceType or RowNumber. These labels will be the attribute name for all values
below them until another heading line appears. Each heading line must contain either
DeviceName, CircuitName, or RackName to be legal. Heading lines should not have any
gaps, as empty cells in the sequence are not currently supported.
Value
Each line contains all known data about a given rack or device necessary to uniquely
identify it. Empty fields are set to default values if defaults have been set; otherwise, they
will generate errors.
Blank
This line type is used for spacing and readability and is ignored by the parser.
EXAMPLES
This tool extracts as much information as it can, even with errors. Follow the error indicators, correct the
input sheet, and reconvert. It may take a couple of iterations to get the output to look exactly as expected.
This is a sample text output file.
DatacentreID:hemisphere
RowNumber:1
RackName:northamerica, PositionRow:1, rackHeight:42
RackName:southamerica, PositionRow:2, rackHeight:18
DeviceName:ecuador, StartU:17, HeightU:4
DeviceName:bolivia, StartU:13, HeightU:8
DeviceName:peru, StartU:5, HeightU:2
In the input file, the DatacentreID:name should appear in the file line. Specify racks before devices. If no
PositionRow field is specified, list racks in physical order, not alphabetical order. Otherwise, the ordering
of lines has no meaning. The ordering of heading labels is not important as long as it matches the data
underneath.
| A | B | C | D
--+------------------------+------------+--------------+--------
1|DatacentreID:hemisphere | | |
|RowNumber:1 | | |
--+------------------------+------------+--------------+--------
2|RackName | RackHeight | PositionRow |
SYNOPSIS 69