Machine Group Dialog: Top Section

When viewing a machine group, the top section of the machine group dialog contains buttons, links, and filters that apply to the entire group.

This section contains the following items:

  • Name: Provide a descriptive name for the new machine group.
  • Path: If you want to add the group to a new or existing folder in the navigation pane, type a folder path into the Path box; see Organizing Machine Groups for more information.
  • Description: Provide a description that identifies the purpose of the group.
  • There are several buttons that apply to the group as a whole.

Action

Description

Credentials

Enables you to select one of the following options:

  • Set credentials: Enables you to assign common credentials to every machine in the group. Be sure the credential you select includes the domain name when defining the user name (for example: SampleDomain\Sample.Name).

    • When credentials are assigned, the button name will change to the name of the assigned credential.

    For more information see Defining Credentials.

  • Remove credentials: Enables you to remove any credentials defined for the group. When credentials are not defined the icon will be dimmed ().

Email

Defines email options for the entire group. The email options enable you to define which reports (if any) will be automatically sent— and to whom they will be sent— whenever this group is used in a scan.

To specify which reports should be automatically sent and to whom they should be sent:

  1. Click Email > Set email.
  2. In the Automated Email Settings dialog, select a report in the Reports list.
  3. In the Report recipients list, select the groups and/or individuals you want to email the report to.
  4. Repeat Step 2 and Step 3 for each report you want to be automatically sent.
  5. When finished, click Close.

Connect by

Specifies the method to use when connecting to your client machines. There are three options:

  • IP address: The console will connect to clients using the IP address of the machines. This is the default setting.
  • Fully qualified domain name (FQDN): You may need this method if Kerberos authentication is used in your environment, and if Service Principal Name (SPN) validation is required for Server Message Block (SMB) endpoint connections.
  • Use console-wide setting: The option specified on the Tools > Options > Scan dialog will be used. This is the default setting.

For more detailed information, see IP Address vs FQDN.

This setting can be overridden at the machine level for scans that are initiated from Machine View or Scan View.

Duplicate

Copies the current machine group to a new group. Type a name for the new group and then click OK.

Export

TIP: To import an existing machine group, select New > Import Machine Group.

Enables you to export the group definition to an encrypted XML file. This file can be imported into another machine group on the same console or on a different console.

You will be asked to supply a passphrase when exporting a group file. This is done to secure the contents of the file and prevent an unauthorized person from learning about your network topology, from discovering your machine credentials, etc.

Displays online Help information about machine groups.
  • Scan only: There are a variety of filters that can be applied to the machines in this group.

Filters enable you to specify the types of machines you want included in a scan. For example, if you want to scan all the print servers within a domain, you would specify the desired domain on the Domain Name tab and then in the Scan only area you would select Print Servers. All other machine types are ignored.

To specify one or more machine types, simply enable the check box in front of the machine type(s) you want included in the scan. If no check boxes are enabled then no filters are applied.