Creating a custom static or dynamic group

To create a group

  1. In the Group name field, enter a name for the group being created.
  2. Choose the type of group:
    1. Static – to create a group that will contain machines added manually.
    2. Dynamic – to create a group that will contain machines added automatically according to the specified criteria.

      Click the Add criteria and select the criterion pattern.

      • Operating system

        All the machines running the selected operating system will be members of the dynamic group.

      • Organizational unit

        All the machines belonging to the specified organizational unit (OU) will be members of the dynamic group.

      • IP address range

        All the machines whose IP addresses are within the specified IP range will be members of the dynamic group.

      • Listed in txt/csv file

        All the machines that are listed in the specified .txt or .csv file will be members of the dynamic group.

  3. In the Comments field, enter a description of the created group.
  4. Click OK. 
  Adding multiple criteria

Adding multiple criteria forms a condition according to the following rules:

  1. All the entries of the same criteria are combined by logical addition (OR).

    For example, the following set of criteria

    Operating system: Windows Server 2008

    Operating system: Windows Server 2003

    will add to the same group all the machines whose operating system is Windows 2000 OR Windows 2003.

  2. Entries of different criteria are combined by logical multiplication (AND)

    For example, the following set of criteria

    Operating system: Windows Server 2008

    Operating system: Windows Server 2003

    Organizational unit: SERVERS

    IP range: 192.168.17.0 – 192.168.17.55

    will add to the same group all the machines whose operating system is Windows 2000 or Windows 2003 and belong to the SERVERS organizational unit and whose IP addresses are within the range 192.168.17.0 – 192.168.17.55. 

  How long does a dynamic group member remain in the group?

A dynamic group member remains in the group as long as the member meets the criteria. The member is removed from the group automatically as soon as

  • the member changes so that it no longer meets the criteria
  • the administrator changes the criteria so that the member no longer meets the criteria

There is no way to remove a machine from a dynamic group manually except for deleting the machine from the management server.

Creating a custom static or dynamic group