Overview of Device Relationships

Skylar One automatically defines parent and child relationships for certain devices. Users can also manually define some types of relationships. Devices can have the following types of relationships:

Layer-2 devices and their clients. Layer-2 relationships are automatically discovered by Skylar One and can be created in the Subnet Map (L2) page (Maps > Classic Maps > Topology Maps > Layer-2).

Layer-3 devices and layer-2 devices. Layer-3 relationships are automatically discovered by Skylar One and can be created in the Layer 3 Map page (Maps > Classic Maps > Topology Maps > Layer-3).
Network devices that use CDP (Cisco Discovery Protocol) and devices that are specified as neighbors in the CDP tables. CDP relationships are automatically discovered by Skylar One and can be created in the Subnet Map (CDP) page (Maps > Classic Maps > Topology Maps > CDP).
Network devices that use LLDP (Link Layer Discovery Protocol) and devices that are specified as neighbors in the LLDP tables. LLDP relationships are automatically discovered by Skylar One and can be created in the Classic Maps > Topology Maps > LLDP page (Maps > Classic Maps > Topology Maps > LLDP).
Component devices and their parent devices using Dynamic Application data. For example, virtual machines and their hypervisors.
Device relationships between root devices, parent devices, and component devices (Component Mapping).
Device relationships created using Dynamic Application data. For example, the Dynamic Applications in the VMware vSphere and NetApp PowerPacks are configured to create relationships between VMware Datastore component devices and their associated NetApp Volume component devices.
Generic parent-child relationships, sometimes referred to as Event Correlation relationships or Ad-Hoc relationships, can be manually created. These relationships can be created in the Device Children page for the parent device.

NOTE: Skylar One also automatically discovers relationships between VMWare hypervisors and VMWare virtual machines using SNMP data, but only for legacy versions VMWare ESX 3.5 and VMWare ESX 4.x.

All device relationships are displayed as child and parent relationships. For example:

A layer-2 switch is a parent device and a firewall attached to the switch is a child device.
A layer-3 router is a parent device and a layer-2 switch attached to the router is a child device.
A VMware ESX server is a parent device and a Linux VM on that server is a child device.

Viewing the List of Device Relationships

The Device Relationships page displays information about every parent-child relationship that has been automatically created by Skylar One or manually defined by a user.

For each child device, the Device Relationships page displays at least the MAC address of the child interface and, if possible, the device name of the child device, the IP address associated with the child interface, the name of the child interface, and the manufacturer of the child interface.

For each parent device, the Device Relationships page displays the device name, the name of the parent interface, the MAC address of the parent interface, and the manufacturer of the parent interface.

For example, suppose a switch has been discovered by Skylar One. Suppose that 12 interfaces on that switch are in use. Suppose that only three of those 12 interfaces are connected to child interfaces that have been discovered by Skylar One. The Device Relationships page will display whatever ARP information Skylar One can retrieve about the remaining nine child interfaces. In most cases, Skylar One can retrieve the MAC address and manufacturer associated with the child interface, even if the child interface has not been discovered by Skylar One.

The relationships in the Device Relationships page are dynamically updated. If Skylar One discovers a new relationship, Skylar One updates the Device Relationships page.

You can view information for each parent-child relationship between two devices managed by Skylar One or for a single parent device managed by Skylar One and an unknown child device.

To view information on Device Relationships:

Go to the Device Relationships page (Registry > Networks > Device Relationships).
The Device Relationships page displays the following information:

You can sort the list of user device relationships by column. To sort by ascending column value, click on a column heading. To sort by descending column value, click on the same column heading a second time.

The Device Relationships page respects multi-tenancy rules. This means that you can view relationships in this page only if both devices are aligned with an organization of which you are a member.

Child. If the child device has been discovered by Skylar One, this column contains the name of the device and a link to the Device Relationships page for the child device.
Child IP. If the child device has been discovered by Skylar One, this column contains the IP address through which the child communicates with the parent device.
Child Interface. If the child device has been discovered by Skylar One, this column contains the name of the interface through which the child device communicates with the parent device and a link to the Interfaces Found page for the child interface.
Child Phys Addr. The physical address (MAC address) for the interface through which the child device communicates with the parent device.
Child IF Manufacturer. If included in the MAC address, the manufacturer of the child interface.
Parent. The name of the parent device and a link to the Device Relationships page for the parent device.
Parent Interface.The name of the interface through which the parent device communicates with the child device and a link to the Interfaces Found page for the parent interface.
Parent IF Alias. Easy-to-remember, human-readable name for the interface on the parent device.
Parent Phys Addr. The physical address (MAC address) for the interface through which the parent device communicates with the child device.
Parent IF Manufacturer. If included in the MAC address, the manufacturer of the parent interface.
Type. Describes the relationship between the parent device and child device. Possible values are:

CDP
LLDP
Component Mapping
Component Relationship
Event Correlation
Layer-2
Layer-3
VMware

Viewing the Relationships for a Single Device

You can view all links for a single device on the Relationships tab of the Device Investigator (or on the Device Relationships page in the Device Properties panel in the classic Skylar One user interface).

To view all links for a single device:

Go to the Relationships tab of the Device Investigator. (Alternatively, in the classic Skylar One user interface, go to the Device Manager page (Devices > Classic Devices, or Registry > Devices > Device Manager in the classic SL1 user interface), click the wrench icon for a device () and click the Relationships tab in the Device Properties pane.) The Device Relationships page appears.

The left pane of the Device Relationshipspage displays links to parent devices. The right pane of the Device Relationships page displays links to child devices. For each relationship, the Device Relationships page displays the following information:

Type of relationship. Possible values are:

Layer 2. Layer-2 devices and their clients.
Layer 3. Layer-3 devices and layer-2 devices.
VMware. Hypervisors and their virtual machines.
CDP. Network devices that use CDP (Cisco Discovery Protocol) and devices that are specified as neighbors in CDP tables.
LLDP. Network devices that use LLDP (Link Layer Discovery Protocol) and devices that are specified as neighbors in LLDP tables.
Event Correlation. Relationships defined manually by users through the user interface.
Component Mapping. Relationships defined using Dynamic Applications.

Parent Device. The name of the parent device and a link to the Device Properties page for the parent device.
Parent Interface. The name of the interface through which the parent device communicates with the child device and a link to the Interfaces Found page for the parent interface.
Child Device. The name of the child device and a link to the Device Properties page for the child device.
Child Interface. The name of the interface through which the child device communicates with the parent device and a link to the Interfaces Found page for the child interface.

NOTE: Clicking on a device reloads the Device Relationships page and makes the selected device the primary device.