Working with Sessions

When working in SmartDashboard with sessions enabled, you must either open a new session or continue a session in progress in order to modify rules or objects. A session in progress is the last session not yet submitted for approval. You can, however, use SmartDashboard in the read-only mode (no modifications allowed) without opening a session.

Note - There can only be one session in progress at any time. The option to start a new session is not available if a session is in progress.

Starting a New Session

You can only start a new session if there is no session currently in progress.

If the SmartWorkflow Session Information pane is not visible, click the Show Information Pane icon on the toolbar.

To start a new session:

1. From the Session Management window, click Open New Session.
2. Enter a unique, descriptive Name for the session.
3. Optional: In the Notes area, enter a comment, description, or more information.

   The new session opens.

Continuing a Session in Progress

If you close SmartDashboard while working on a SmartWorkflow session, the next time you log in to SmartDashboard, you continue working with the session in progress.

To continue a session in progress:

1. In the Session Management window, click Continue Session in progress.

   The Session in progress window appears.

2. To add a note, click Add and enter the note text.
3. Click OK.

   The SmartDashboard login process completes and you can continue working in the session in progress.

Working Without a SmartWorkflow Session

You can open SmartDashboard without a SmartWorkflow session (read/write blocked) to perform session management tasks (such as adding notes to sessions or installing policies).

To work in SmartDashboard without a session temporarily:

1. In the Session Management window, click Continue Without Session.
2. Confirm the message.
3. Do your tasks.

   You cannot make changes to objects or rules.

Viewing Sessions

SmartWorkflow highlights changed objects in the Network Objects tree and rule bases.

To enable highlighting:

1. In the SmartWorkflow tab, click Settings.

   Global Properties window > SmartWorkflow opens.

2. Select Highlight Session Changes.

After you make the first changes, the top of SmartDashboard shows Previous and Next buttons. You can navigate easily to see the changes you made.

Submitting Sessions for Approval

When you complete all the changes you want to make in a session, submit the session for approval by an authorized manager.

To submit a session for approval:

1. In SmartWorkflow Session Information, click Submit for Approval.
2. Enter a note to the manager.

   Optional: click Send email notification and enter an email address. This could be a way to get the manager's attention faster, or acknowledgment to someone else that the task is done.

3. Click Submit.

   The session status changes from In progress to Waiting for approval (or Approved if the Require session approval feature is disabled). If you selected the email notification option, the email message opens in your email client.

   If the Role Segregation feature is disabled, the session is automatically approved and you can install the policy immediately.

Discarding Session Changes

You can always undo all changes made during the current SmartWorkflow session.

To discard changes made during a session:

Click Discard Changes. This action reverts SmartDashboard to its state at the beginning of the session.