If you prefer to use a graphic interface instead of the command-line interface (CLI) for accessing and managing a cluster, you can do so by using ONTAP System Manager, which is included with ONTAP as a web service, is enabled by default, and is accessible by using a browser.

Beginning with ONTAP 9.12.1, ONTAP System Manager is integrated with BlueXP.

With BlueXP, you can manage your hybrid multicloud infrastructure from a single control plane while retaining the familiar ONTAP System Manager dashboard.

See ONTAP System Manager integration with BlueXP.

What you’ll need

You must have a cluster user account that is configured with the “admin” role and the “http” and “console” application types.
You must have enabled cookies and site data in the browser.

About this task

You can use a cluster management network interface (LIF) or node management network interface (LIF) to access ONTAP System Manager. For uninterrupted access to ONTAP System Manager, you should use a cluster management network interface (LIF).

Steps

Point the web browser to the IP address of the cluster management network interface:
- If you are using IPv4: https://cluster-mgmt-LIF
- If you are using IPv6: https://[cluster-mgmt-LIF]
  
  Only HTTPS is supported for browser access of ONTAP System Manager.
If the cluster uses a self-signed digital certificate, the browser might display a warning indicating that the certificate is not trusted. You can either acknowledge the risk to continue the access or install a Certificate Authority (CA) signed digital certificate on the cluster for server authentication.
Optional: If you have configured an access banner by using the CLI, then read the message that is displayed in the Warning dialog box, and choose the required option to proceed.

This option is not supported on systems on which Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) authentication is enabled.
- If you do not want to continue, click Cancel, and close the browser.
- If you want to continue, click OK to navigate to the ONTAP System Manager login page.

Beginning with ONTAP 9.11.1, when you log in to ONTAP System Manager, you can specify the locale. The locale specifies certain localization settings, such as language, currency, time and date format, and similar settings. For ONTAP 9.10.1 and earlier, the locale for ONTAP System Manager is detected from the browser. To change the locale for ONTAP System Manager, you have to change the locale of the browser.

Optional: Beginning with ONTAP 9.12.1, you can specify your preference for the appearance of ONTAP System Manager:

In the upper right corner of ONTAP System Manager, click to manage user options.

Position the System Theme toggle switch to your preference:

Toggle position	Appearance setting
(left)	Light theme (Light background with dark text)
OS (center)	Default to the theme preference that was set for the operating system’s applications (usually the theme setting for the browser that is used to access ONTAP System Manager).
(right)	Dark theme (Dark background with light text)

Toggle position

Appearance setting

(left)

Light theme (Light background with dark text)

OS (center)

Default to the theme preference that was set for the operating system’s applications (usually the theme setting for the browser that is used to access ONTAP System Manager).

(right)

Dark theme (Dark background with light text)

Related information

Managing access to web services

Accessing a node’s log, core dump, and MIB files by using a web browser