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Computer Groups

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Computer groups allow you to categorize servers and workstations into groups so can manage large amounts of servers and workstations more easily. EventSentry will need at least one group to function properly, and the local computer is always automatically added to the first available group if it does not exist in another group.

 

Group Types

There are three different kind of groups that you can create in EventSentry:

 

Server 16 n g Regular Windows Group

This is the default group type. You can assign packages to this group type, and use remote update to manage remote EventSentry agents (e.g. install agents, update agents, etc.).

 

Server 16 n p Heartbeat Heartbeat-Enabled Windows Group

This is the same as a regular windows group, only that the heartbeat agent will also monitor the uptime of computers in this group. After you make a group a heartbeat-enabled group, you will be able to set monitoring options such as PING and TCP checks.

 

Heartbeat-Only Group

This group type is intended to be used to monitor hosts without the use of an agent through PING and TCP checks only. This group type is useful to monitor Unix-based computers, routers, and IP-enabled switches and hubs.

 

Managing Groups

Adding a Group

You can add a new group by right-clicking the "Computer Groups" and selecting "Add Group".

 

Deleting a Group

You can delete a group by right-clicking the group container and selecting "Delete". All information, including all package assignments will be permanently removed as soon as you save the configuration.

 

Renaming a Group

You can rename a group by right-clicking the group container and selecting "Rename" or by selecting the group and pressing the F2 button on your keyboard.

 

Assigning Packages

You can assign filter, health and tracking packages either to a group or a computer. To assign a package to a group, right-click the group and select "Assign Package(s)...". To assign a package to a computer, right-click the computer and select "Assign Package(s)...".

 

Adding Computers

You can add computers that are to be monitored either manually or import them using the import wizard. Click here for more information.

 

Setting additional authentication

If you cannot use your current credentials to manage remote computers (administrative privileges are needed), for example when you need to manage computers that are not part of a domain or are part of a different domain then you can specify alternative credentials either on a group or computer level. To assign credentials to a group or computer, simply right-click the respective container and select "Set Username / Password". Enter the username and password in this dialog.

 

Alert or Warning 1 24 n g

The username and password you enter will be encrypted in the registry, and can only be decrypted by the user who encrypted them. For example, if Admin1 logs on to a computer and sets a username/password on a group or computer and Admin2 logs on to the same computer, then Admin2 will not be able to see the username and password entered by Admin2.

 

To remove previously set credentials, follow the same procedure but click on the "Remove Authentication" button instead.

 

Alert or Warning 1 24 n g

If you  intend on monitoring the EventSentry agent status on computers in a group where you set Authentication, then please read this note.

 

Managing EventSentry agents

You can use Remote Update to manage remote agents (install agents, updating agents, pushing the latest configuration etc.).

 

Using Variables

You can use variables throughout EventSentry to make the configuration and administration of the product easier. Variables are created and defined by right-clicking the Computer Groups container, and can be overwritten on a per-group level. Please see "Variables" for more information.