Managing Sockets

Overview

This article describes these features that help you manage Cato Sockets that are configured for your account:

  • Use the Cato Management Application Socket page (or Socket WebUI) to manage a Socket from one site, and then reassign it to a different one

  • Changing the Socket password from the Socket WebUI

  • Using the Socket reset button to:

    • Reset the Socket password

    • Unassign the Socket from the site

Managing Cato Sockets for a Site

You can use the Socket screen to manage your Sockets for a site, and it shows a detailed overview of each Socket's ports and their state. You can also enable and disable ports.

 

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it is possible to assign and unassign Sockets for a site via this page. This feature can be helpful to replace a Socket, or move a Socket from one site to a different one.

After you unassign a Socket, it is automatically reset to factory default settings. When you assign a Socket to a site, the Cato Management Application pushes the settings to the Socket and overwrites any manual configurations.

To unassign a Socket from a site:

  1. From the navigation menu, click Network > Sites, and select the site with the Socket you are unassigning.

  2. From the navigation menu, click Site Settings > Socket.

  3. From the Actions menu of the site you are unassigning, select Unassign.

    A warning window opens.

  4. Click OK.

    The Socket is unassigned from the site. The account receives a new Notification to activate a new Socket.

To assign a socket to a site:

  1. Click the notification icon notification.png.

  2. In the Notifications panel, click Activate New Socket.

    The message shows the serial number (S/N) for each available Socket.

  3. Click Accept.

    The Assign Socket to a Site window opens.

  4. From the drop-down menu select the site for the Socket.

  5. Click Continue.

    The Socket is added to the site.

Unassigning a Socket Using the Socket WebUI

There are some situations where after using the Cato Management Application to unassign a Socket, you can't then assign the same Socket to a different site. For example, if the Socket was disconnected from the Cato Cloud before clicking Unassign. In this case, use the Socket WebUI to unassign the Socket and reset the Socket settings, and then you can use the Cato Management Application to assign it to a different site. The Socket remains at the same hardware version.

Only use the Socket WebUI to unassign a Socket after performing the unassign procedure in the Cato Management Application (see above).

Supported from Socket v15 and higher.

To use the Socket WebUI to unassign a Socket:

  1. Log in to the Socket WebUI locally, see Using the Socket WebUI.

  2. From the Administrations tab, click Unassign.

Changing the Socket Password

You can change the password for the Socket from the Socket WebUI.

The password policy for Cato Sockets is that you must change the password every 90 days. After 90 days, the password expires and the login window for the Socket WebUI prompts you to authenticate and enter a new password. The new password can't be the same as the previous three passwords.

To change the Socket password from the Socket WebUI:

  1. From the navigation menu, click Network > Sites and select the site.

  2. From the navigation menu, click Site Configuration > Socket.

  3. From the Actions menu of the socket, select Socket WebUI.

    The browser opens a new tab and logs in to the Socket WebUI.

  4. From the menu bar, select Administration.

  5. In the Administrator Password section, enter the current and new password.

  6. Click Confirm. The Socket password is changed.

Resetting the Admin Password and Resetting a Socket

You can use the Socket reset button to perform these actions on the physical Socket:

  • Reset the admin password to the factory default password (admin), which has no impact on the network traffic

  • Reset the Socket to the default settings

    After physically resetting a Socket, you can contact Support to re-assign it to a different site.

You must have physical access to the Socket to perform these reset actions. Make sure to press and hold the reset button for the reset actions, instead of repeatedly pressing the button.

Note

Note: You need to use a paper clip and push the button inside the hole for the relevant Socket model. For more information about identifying the correct Socket model see, Overview of Reimaging Cato Sockets.

To reset the admin password on the Socket:

  • X1500 and X1500B Socket models - Press and hold the F/D button for about 10 seconds, and then release it. The password is reset to the default value: admin.

  • X1700 Socket models - Press and hold the FD button for about 10 seconds, and then release it. The password is reset to the default value: admin.

  • X1700B Socket models - Press and hold the Reset/FD button for about 10 seconds, and then release it. The password is reset to the default value: admin.

To unassign a Socket from the site:

  • X1500 and X1500B Socket models - Press and hold the reset button for about 30 - 35 seconds, and then release it. The Socket is reset to the default settings and the configurations are erased.

  • X1700 Socket models - Press and hold the FD button for about 30 - 35 seconds, and then release it. The Socket is reset to the default settings and the configurations are erased.

    Pressing the Reset button powers on and off the Socket.

  • X1700B Socket models - Press and hold the Reset/FD button for about 30 - 35 seconds, and then release it. The Socket is reset to the default settings and the configurations are erased.

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13 comments

  • Comment author
    Yaakov Simon

    Added section for Unassigning a Socket Using the Socket WebUI

  • Comment author
    Ryu Lekranty

    The F/D button on the X1700 also works now, I've tested this out and the admin password was reset.

  • Comment author
    Yaakov Simon

    Ryu Lekranty thanks for the comment.

    I updated the section Resetting the Admin Password and Resetting a Socket to include information about the X1700 and X1700B Socket models.

  • Comment author
    JM

    The statement "Press and hold the Reset/FD button for 25 - 45 seconds." is logically meaningless unless there is a way to tell when the pressure may be released. Either just say 45 seconds or add "...until the LEDs are blinking in so-and-so way".

  • Comment author
    Yaakov Simon

    JM - Thanks for the comment, and excellent point.

    I updated the article to say about 45 seconds.

  • Comment author
    Yaakov Simon

    Based on discussions with RnD and Support, we changed the time range for resetting the Socket to about 30 - 35 seconds.

    This smaller time range is supported for all Socket versions (the larger time range is partially supported).

  • Comment author
    JM

    There is still a flaw in the logic there - how do I know whether I can let go of the button after 30 vs 35 seconds? Also, what does it mean that the «time range is partially supported»?

  • Comment author
    Yaakov Simon
    • Edited

    JM You can let go of the button between 30-35 seconds and then the Socket resets.

    All Sockets support the 30-35 second time range, however only some Socket versions support the larger time range (up to 45 seconds)

  • Comment author
    JM

    Right, but in the absence of a timer at hand - what happens if I accidentally hold the button for more than 35 seconds? Or slightly less than 30? How can I tell whether the reset is sucessful?

  • Comment author
    Said Abouelouyoune

    @JM, for X1500, hold the reset button for 30sec, once you release it, the WAN and LAN leds will go off then you know for sure that the reset has been initiated.

    @Cato, if i unassign a socket in CMA, the unassign option in Socket WebUI is not available anymore.

    The below note is therefore not correct:

     

    Note: Only unassign the Socket with the Socket WebUI after performing the unassign action using the Cato Management Application (shown above).

  • Comment author
    Yaakov Simon

    Said Abouelouyoune Excellent point! It is only necessary to use the unassign option in the Socket WebUI in specific situations, for example if the Socket was disconnected from the network before an admin clicked Unassign in the Cato Management Application. However, in these situations, you need to first unassign the Socket in the Cato Management Application, and then the Socket WebUI.

    I updated the article to make it more clear when you need to use the Socket WebUI to unassign the Socket.

  • Comment author
    Francesco Pilittu

    Hi, 
    why don't I see my socket on the Sockets Inventory page? 
    Why wasn't it associated with the account?

  • Comment author
    Yaakov Simon

    Francesco Pilittu Thanks for your comment about a Socket not showing up on the Sockets Inventory page. Please open a Support ticket for more help with this issue. 

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