Managed and unmanaged devices

The Hardware Assets workspace displays asset records for managed and unmanaged devices.

Managed devices typically have a unique serial number and can be automatically mapped to one of the known asset types (such as Computer, Mobile Device, and so on) during discovery. Managed devices display by default.

All other assets are considered unmanaged—these are usually specialized devices (for example, X-Ray and CT scan machines) that generally don't have a serial number and don't map conveniently to an asset type when discovered. By default, these devices display in the Unmanaged Devices saved-searches list. The asset record page for unmanaged devices contains only the tabs for Details, Discovery, Installed Software, and Audit History.

To manage specialized devices, you first need to re-allocate them to the General Asset type. As part of this process, you'll also want to create a new subtype under General Asset for these devices (from the example above, a suitable subtype might be X-Ray or Medical).

To change an unmanaged device to a managed one

1.Open the Hardware Assets workspace. The list of managed devices in your system displays by default.

2.In the saved-searches list, select Unmanaged Devices to view the list of unmanaged devices in your system.

3.Double-click an unmanaged device. Its asset record displays. You now need to decide which asset type and subtype to allocate to the asset.

The Discovery tab includes a Discovered Type field that might help you to decide. If the asset is not one of the existing types, select General Asset and a suitable subtype. For details about creating new asset subtypes, see Asset validation lists.

4.Click the More drop-down menu at the top right of the list, then click Administration Actions > Change Asset Type.

5.Select the required Asset Type and Asset Subtype, then click OK. The asset updates. For details about working with managed asset records, see Hardware assets.