1.4.2 Grouping managed computers

When executing a job such as remote installation from the managing server, you specify the hosts (destinations) that are the targets of the executed job. Although you can specify the destinations individually using the system configuration information, this method is inefficient when the job targets a large number of computers. JP1/IT Desktop Management 2 lets you organize computers into a number of groups according to their purpose without being tied to the physical network configuration. You can then execute jobs that target these individual groups.

Organization of this subsection

(1) Types of groups
(2) Grouping destinations

(1) Types of groups

You can create two types of groups: host groups and ID groups. Both types of group can be created based on any criteria, such as for a specific department or project. You can also register the same host in multiple host groups or ID groups. This allows a particular computer to belong to a department group and a project group, for example. These groups allow you to manage destination hosts in an efficient way.

(a) Host groups

Host groups are a way of grouping hosts on the managing server. Because host groups are not tied to the system configuration, you can group hosts hierarchically based on any criteria, such as for a specific department or project. You can also give a host group any name you wish. By grouping hosts by department or project and assigning descriptive names to the groups, you can make the process of job execution more intuitive.

When you specify a host group as the destination of a job, the job is executed on every computer that belongs to that group.

(b) ID groups

ID groups are a way of grouping hosts in which the managing server only assigns a name to the group and specifies a relay system or management relay server that manages the ID group (called the ID-management relay computer). The user determines the ID groups to which the managed computer belongs. A managed computer can belong to multiple ID groups.

You can also use a file on the managing server to register multiple computers in an ID group. Note that ID groups cannot be managed hierarchically.

When a job that specifies an ID group as the destination (ID group job) is transferred to an ID-management relay computer, the ID-management relay computer executes the job on the computers that belong to the ID group.

Users place their own managed computers into the appropriate ID groups. This means that the administrator does not have to keep track of the individual computers that are the destination for ID group jobs. When a new computer is added, provided that the user registers the computer in the appropriate group, the jobs meant for that group will be executed automatically on the new computer. This allows the system to dynamically handle changes to the system configuration.

You can set passwords that the user must specify to register a computer in an ID group. This prevents a computer from being registered in the wrong ID group.

To Page Top

(2) Grouping destinations

You can set host groups and ID groups in the Destination window of Remote Install Manager.

Figure 1‒14: Destination window

For details about how to create host groups, see 5.2 Creating host groups.

For details about how to create ID groups, 5.3 Creating ID groups.

The left pane of the Destination window displays the hierarchical structure of the groups. Double-clicking on an item in the left pane displays the hierarchy below. The right pane displays information about the host selected in the left pane.

The destination window uses the following icons to represent groups:

: Host group
: ID group

In most circumstances, you use the Destination window to specify a computer as a target of a job. Although you can also use the System Configuration window, it is harder to identify hosts in this window because hosts are displayed by their IP address or host name. In the Destination window, you can use groups to specify the hosts that are targets of executed jobs.

In broad terms, system configuration information is used to manage the network configuration of individual managed computers, while host groups and ID groups are used to manage computers in groups. Consider the grouping criteria so that jobs will be executed in the most efficient way possible.

To Page Top