Dynamic Group Properties

You can create a new Dynamic Group using the WhatsUp Gold Dynamic Group Builder or by using the more advanced dialog to write your own SQL code.

Note: Dynamic groups in the web interface: Dynamic groups do not follow group access rights. Anyone with the ability to view the device group that a dynamic group is in can access that dynamic group. However, only devices the user has the ability to view appear in the group.

To create a new Dynamic Group using the Dynamic Group Builder:

  1. Enter a name and description for the new dynamic group:
    • Group Name. Enter a name for the Dynamic Group as it will appear in the WhatsUp Gold Device List.
    • Description (Optional). Enter a short description for the new Dynamic Group. This description is visible to all users who can open the dynamic group.
  2. In Filter, select which groups to search for devices that match the dynamic group criteria.
    • Select All devices to show all devices that match the criteria of the dynamic group.
    • Select All devices in the parent group to show all devices that match the criteria of the dynamic group and are located in the group in which the dynamic group is located.
    • Select All devices in the parent group and its children groups to show all devices that match the criteria of the dynamic group and are located in the group in which the dynamic group is located or any of that group's children groups.
  3. Create and edit rules to form an SQL filter for the Dynamic Group.

    To begin writing the rules for your SQL filter, click Add. The Dynamic Group Editor appears.

  4. In the Dynamic Group Editor, enter the appropriate information (for more information, see the help topic for this dialog). As you create rules, they are added to the Dynamic Group Builder dialog where you can add more rules, edit, or delete existing rules by clicking the Add, Edit, or Delete buttons.

Parentheses (single, double, triple, and quadruple) are available for use in your filter code - add them by selecting them from the lists before and after your rules.

You can move existing rules up or down within your filter code by selecting a rule and then clicking on the Up and Down buttons.

Validating your filter code

Keep in mind that as you configure your rules, the SQL filter is displayed at the bottom of the Builder dialog. When you are satisfied with the filter code that is displayed, click the Validate button to test the filter code sytnax. If the test returns no errors, click OK to save the configured SQL filter and to add the new Dynamic Group to your Device List.

If the code returns errors, either make the needed changes at this time, then click OK. Additionally, you have the option to save the filter code so that you may edit it at a later time. You can then select the Dynamic Group from the Device List and right-click, then select Properties to edit the group filter code.

Converting your filter code

You can convert a Dynamic Group created with the Dynamic Group Builder to the SQL dialog by clicking the Convert button. It is important to note that once you convert the Dynamic Group to the SQL dialog, you will not be able to edit the group in the Dynamic Group Builder again - you will only be able to make changes to the group from the SQL dialog. If you aren't an advanced SQL user, we recommend that you make a copy of the Dynamic Group so that you can keep a copy available for edit in the Dynamic Group Builder.

To create a new Dynamic Group using the Advanced SQL dialog:

  1. Enter the appropriate information into the following fields:
    • Group name. Enter a name for the dynamic group. This name appears on the device list.
    • Description. (Optional) Enter a statement that describes the dynamic group.
    • SQL Filter. Enter the SQL query statement that retrieves the list you want from the database. For the dynamic group to appear in your device list, the first line must be 'SELECT DISTINCT nDeviceID'.
  2. Click OK to save and add the Dynamic Group to your Device List.

Validating your filter code

When you are satisfied with the filter code that is displayed, click the Validate button to test the filter. If it runs as you expect, click OK to save the configured SQL filter and to add the new Dynamic Group to your Device List. If the code does not run as you expect, but you would still like to save the filter code so that you may edit it at a later time, click OK. You can then select the Dynamic Group from the Device List and right-click, then select Properties to edit the group filter code.

If you do not know how to formulate SQL queries, you can use the WhatsUp Gold Dynamic Group Builder, or cut and paste filter entries from existing dynamic groups, then edit them to read data from other tables.

WhatsUp Gold is pre-configured with dynamic group examples, which you can see in the Devices view, under Device Groups. For more information on these groups, see Using Dynamic Groups.

In addition to the pre-configured dynamic groups, we have provided several sample filters for you to create some very interesting dynamic groups.

Note: You can learn more about the database structure by downloading the database schema file on the WhatsUp Gold support page.