Interacting with Devices

Executing requests on devices

The CoB platform allows for two types of interaction with devices: collecting configuration and executing commands. Both of them can be done on a on-demand basis or scheduled for automatic execution.

When collecting configuration, you can use a preset list of commands which will differ with the brand of equipment. These commands can be executed on one or more devices via the supported communication protocols: SSH, Telnet, or Mewtocol*. The communication protocol will also vary according to the device’s brand.

Each command will, when executed, generate a different output. This output is parsed, processed and stored in a file with a predetermined name. The application tracks any changes made over time to each configuration file.

Besides enabling the execution of buit-in commands, the platform also allows you to execute custom commands on one or more devices via the communication protocol predetermined by the brand. If you want to write a specific command to be executed in a device, you can opt between two interfaces. The first is a simple interface comprised of a command editor where you can enter the list of commands to execute. The second is a custom User Interface (UI) design developing specifically for a given brand of devices using a language developed by CoB for device communication: COBML ([C]ult of [B]its [M]arkup [L]anguage).

Finally, the CoB platform also allows for the scheduled automatic execution of commands. This feature allows you to configure a set of commands to be executed by the platform at preset times on a set of devices. The target devices can be selected by way of a query string. This method of command execution enables a system administrator to generate a configuration collection request to all Enabled and Quarantined devices available on the platform that is scheduled to occur according to a specific timetable. The scheduling is configured via a Cron expression on a configuration file.

* Mewtocol is a proprietary communication protocol created by Panasonic for its FP series of programmable controllers.