Device Subtypes

Description

A "device subtype" is similar to a device type, but is a more specialized blueprint that is used to identify a more specific type of device (such as a Windows server that is specifically an Exchange server or SQL server). Device subtypes tell Netreo what additional statistics a managed device should be polled for, beyond the base device type. Each device subtype can also have a device template specified for it that will be applied to any devices using that subtype at the "device subtype" level—performing a further degree of automatic configuration. Devices may have multiple subtypes assigned to them—and, by extension, multiple device templates—if their parent device types allow it.

Device subtypes can also be manually assigned to a device when it is added to Netreo. It is also possible to change the device subtype of any currently managed device. If a device subtype you want to use is not available, you can easily create your own. Alternatively, additional device subtypes can be downloaded from the Netreo cloud libraries.

While device types are generally assigned automatically, subtypes are not. However, subtypes can be automatically assigned through the use of the autoconfiguration rules.

Device Subtypes Available in Netreo

See Device Subtype List.

Working with Device Subtypes

Device Subtype Configuration

Device subtypes work in exactly the same way as device types.

The following settings are available on the configuration page of a Netreo device subtype.

See Device Type/Subtype Management for instructions on creating and editing device subtypes.

Device subtypes are created and managed in Polling Administration (Administration > Change Devices > Edit Device Types/Subtype in the main menu).

Also see Device Types/Subtypes for information about device subtypes.

Basic Settings

• SUBTYPE TITLE - Specify the name used to identify this device subtype in various Netreo configuration settings.
• Enabled - Enable or disable this device subtype for use in Netreo. This field provides an option to deleting device subtypes that you don't wish to use.
• TEMPLATE - Specify the device template (if any) that should be automatically applied at the "device subtype" level of the device template hierarchy for managed devices using this device subtype.

Related Types

This table shows the device types with which this device subtype is associated. Meaning that this subtype may be assigned to a managed device using any of those device types in order to collect additional specialized performance data from the device. The list of device types with which this subtype is associated may be edited by selecting the edit icon. The configuration settings for a device type in the table may be edited by selecting its magnifying glass icon in the ACTIONS column.

Pollers

The tables in this section show what pollers are configured for this device subtype. New pollers may be added, and existing pollers may be edited or deleted.

Subtypes use the same pollers as device types. See Device Types for specific information about configuring the various poller types.

Devices

This table shows the managed devices that currently have this device subtype assigned to them. The Device Dashboard for a device in the table may be opened by selecting its magnifying glass icon in the ACTIONS column.

Creating a New Device Subtype

To create an entirely new device type in Netreo, follow the steps below.

1. Log in to Netreo as a user with the SuperAdmin access level.
2. Go to the main menu and select Administration > Change Devices > Edit Device Types/Subtypes to open the Polling Administration page.
3. Select View Subtypes to open the Polling Administration: Sub Types page.
4. Select Create Subtype.
5. On the POLLING ADMINISTRATION: Subtype page:
   1. In the SUBTYPE TITLE field, enter a name for your new device subtype.
   2. Configure the device subtype settings as desired. See Device Types/Subtypes for information about each setting.
   3. Select Create.
      • Your new device subtype is created and appears in the device subtype table on the Polling Administration: Subtypes page.
   4. You may now add pollers to your device subtype to collect data from the managed device  to which it is assigned.
      • You must add pollers to your device subtype if you want it to collect data from a managed device.

In order for your new subtype to be available to assign to a managed device, it must first be associated with a device type (see "Associate a Subtype With a Device Type" under "Edit a Device Type" above for instructions on how to do this).

Edit a Device Subtype

If you would like edit an existing device subtype, follow the steps below.

1. Log in to Netreo as a user with the SuperAdmin access level.
2. Go to the main menu and select Administration > Change Devices > Edit Device Types/Subtypes to open the Polling Administration page.
3. Select Device Subtypes Cloud Library to open the Device Subtype Cloud Library page.
4. In the device subtype table, locate the device subtype that you wish to edit.
   • By default, the table is sorted alphabetically by device subtype name. Or, use the search box at the top of the table to show only device subtypes with names that include the entered search terms.
5. Select the device subtype's edit icon in the ACTIONS column to open its configuration settings page.
6. Edit the device subtype as desired. See Device Types/Subtypes for information about each setting.
7. When finished, select Update.

Delete a Device Subtype

If you would like to permanently delete an existing device subtype from Netreo, follow the steps below.

1. Log in to Netreo as a user with the SuperAdmin access level.
2. Go to the main menu and select Administration > Change Devices > Edit Device Types/Subtypes to open the Polling Administration page.
3. Select View Subtypes to open the Polling Administration: Sub Types page.
4. In the device subtype table, locate the device subtype that you wish to delete.
   • By default, the table is sorted alphabetically by device subtype name. Or, use the search box at the top of the table to show only device subtypes with names that include the entered search terms.
5. Select the device subtype's delete icon in the ACTIONS column.
6. In the confirmation dialog that appears, select OK.
7. The device subtype is permanently deleted from your Netreo deployment.

If you would like to restore a deleted device subtype, they may typically be re-downloaded from a cloud library. However, custom device subtypes that exist only within your deployment cannot be restored in this way.

Change the Device Subtype(s) Assigned to a Managed Device (Add/Remove)

To change the device subtypes assigned to a managed device, follow the steps below.

1. Log in to Netreo as a user with the SuperAdmin access level.
2. Open the Device Dashboard of the managed device to which you wish to assign the subtype, either by selecting its name in a device group or by searching for the device using the search box at the top of the user interface.
3. Select the gear icon at the top right of the Device Dashboard to open the device's administrative view.
4. Select Show Advanced Options at the bottom of the Details area.
5. Locate the DEVICE/SUBTYPE field and select the edit icon to its left to open the device type assignment page.
6. In the Secondary Type(s) field select the subtype(s) you would like assigned to this device (multiple subtypes may be selected).
7. Select Update.

If assigning a new subtype to a device, it may take a while after updating for Netreo to begin collecting performance data based on the new device subtype.

Uploading a Device Subtype to the Netreo Cloud (or Overview) Library

If you have created a new device subtype and would like to upload it to the Netreo Cloud Library (must be approved by Netreo) for public use or to the cloud library of a Netreo Overview for private distribution within your organization, follow the steps below. The cloud library to which you upload is determined by your Netreo deployment. Netreo Overview and stand-alone Netreo deployments upload to the Netreo Cloud Library (which is public), while Netreo appliances deployed as clients of a Netreo Overview upload to the cloud library of that Netreo Overview.

1. Log in to Netreo as a user with the SuperAdmin access level.
2. Go to the main menu and select Administration > Change Devices > Edit Device Types/Subtypes to open the Polling Administration page.
3. Select View Subtypes to open the Polling Administration: Sub Types page.
4. In the device subtype table, locate the device subtype that you wish to upload.
   • By default, the table is sorted alphabetically by device subtype name. Or, use the search box at the top of the table to show only device subtypes with names that include the entered search terms.
5. Select the device subtype's upload icon in the ACTIONS column.
6. In the confirmation dialog that appears, select OK.

Device subtypes uploaded to the Netreo Cloud Library must be approved before they appear in the library.

Device subtypes uploaded to a Netreo Overview cloud library appear immediately.

Download a Device Subtype From the Netreo Cloud (or Overview) Library

If you would like to download a device subtype from a cloud library to be installed in your Netreo deployment, follow the steps below. The cloud library from which you may download is determined by your Netreo deployment type. Netreo Overview and stand-alone Netreo deployments download from the Netreo Cloud Library (which is public), while Netreo appliances deployed as clients of a Netreo Overview download from the cloud library of that Netreo Overview. Attempting to download a device subtype that already exists in your deployment causes the downloaded version to overwrite the existing version, so be sure that this is what you want (typically used for updating device types).

1. Log in to Netreo as a user with the SuperAdmin access level.
2. Go to the main menu and select Administration > Change Devices > Edit Device Types/Subtypes to open the Polling Administration page.
3. Select View Subtypes to open the Polling Administration: Sub Types page.
4. Select Device Subtypes Cloud Library to open the Device Subtype Cloud Library page.
5. In the device subtype table, locate the device subtype that you wish to download.
   • By default, the table is sorted alphabetically by device subtype name. Or, use the search box at the top of the table to show only device subtypes with names that include the entered search terms.
6. Select the device subtype's download icon in the ACTIONS column.
7. In the confirmation dialog that appears, select OK.
8. The device subtype is installed in your Netreo deployment.
   • Repeat until all desired device subtypes are downloaded.

Manually Assign a Subtype to a Managed Device

To change the type/subtype assigned to a specific device managed in Netreo:

1. Log in to Netreo as a user with the SuperAdmin access level.
2. Navigate to the Device Dashboard for the device you want to change by clicking its name anywhere in Netreo (if you know the device name, you can search for it using the search at the top of the page).
3. On the Device Dashboard of the device, click the gear icon to the right of the navigation tabs to switch to Device Administration.
   
4. On the "Main" tab, in the "Details" section, click Show Advanced Options.
   
5. Click the edit icon next to the DEVICE/SUBTYPE field.
   
6. On the page that follows:
   
   1. In the Primary Type field, select the device type to apply to this device.
   2. In the Secondary Type(s) field, select the subtypes to apply to this device (multiple subtypes can be selected) or leave as "None."
   3. Click the Update button.

A message will appear indicating that an immediate repoll of the device has been scheduled.

The new type/subtypes are applied immediately, and no further action is required on your part. If desired, you can navigate back to the "Main" device administration page to confirm the change.

Downloading Additional Subtypes

Netreo already ships with a large variety of subtypes, but additional subtypes can also be downloaded from the Netreo cloud library.

After a module has been downloaded and installed, it is ready for immediate use in Netreo.

Download a Single Device Subtype

Follow the procedure below to download and install a device subtype from the Netreo cloud (or a Netreo Overview) device subtype library.

1. Log in to Netreo as a user with the SuperAdmin access level.
2. From the Netreo main menu, select Administration > Change Devices > Edit Device Types/Subtypes to open the Polling Administration page.
   
3. At the top of the page, click the View Subtypes button to open the Polling Administration: Subtypes page. This page contains the Netreo device subtype library, which displays the device subtype modules currently installed on your Netreo appliance.
   
4. At the top of the page, click the Device Subtypes Cloud Library button to open the Device Subtype Cloud Library page. This page contains the Netreo cloud device type library, which displays the device type modules available for download.
   
5. The list of available modules can be sorted by any column. Use the page buttons at the bottom to navigate the list. Or, you can enter terms in the search box to filter the list to show only modules containing those terms.
6. When you've found the module you want, click its download button in the ACTIONS column to automatically download and install the module.
   • If the download button for a module appears in yellow, it indicates that this module is a newer version of a module already installed on your Netreo appliance. Downloading this module will overwrite your existing module and update it to the latest version.

Download Multiple Device Subtypes

Follow the procedure below to download and install multiple device subtypes from the Netreo cloud (or a Netreo Overview) device subtype library.

1. Log in to Netreo as a user with the SuperAdmin access level.
2. From the Netreo main menu, select Administration > Change Devices > Edit Device Types/Subtypes to open the Polling Administration page.
   
3. At the top of the page, click the View Subtypes button to open the Polling Administration: Subtypes page. This page contains the Netreo device subtype library, which displays the device subtype modules currently installed on your Netreo appliance.
   
4. At the top of the page, click the Device Subtypes Cloud Library button to open the Device Subtype Cloud Library page. This page contains the Netreo cloud device type library, which displays the device type modules available for download.
   
5. The list of available modules can be sorted by any column. Use the page buttons at the bottom to navigate the list. Or, you can enter terms in the search box to filter the list to show only modules containing those terms.
6. When you've found the module(s) you want, select the checkbox to the left of the module name.
7. From the pull-down menu above the table, select Download.
   
8. A dialog appears listing the modules selected for download. If you would like to remove any modules from the selection, click the X for the module row.
   
9. Select Download.
10. The selected modules are downloaded to the local library of your Netreo deployment and automatically installed.