Device Roles (Detecting Categories)

Roles and Sub roles Library (similar to "Device Role Settings" in WhatsUp Gold 16.x and 17.0 Console Application) provides a simple workflow for extending how WhatsUp Gold classifies devices detected during discovery and refresh scans. Role determination directly influences a device's default monitor selection.

You can extend and customize device discovery by adding and editing device roles:

Add/Edit Role/Sub Role Wizard. Guides you through the new role creation, definition, and monitor selection.
Roles and Sub Roles Library. Stores roles and sub roles you create and modify using the Add/Edit Role Wizard.
Create a Custom Device Role. Demonstrates the steps needed for adding and enabling a custom role within your WhatsUp Gold instance.
Fit Default Roles with Custom Monitors. Demonstrates how to extend existing roles with monitoring optimized for your site.

Before You Begin: Access Discovery Permission Needed

To use Role Editor features a WhatsUp Gold user needs the Access Discovery permission selected from the User and User Groups library. This is also needed to discover devices. See Administering Users and User Groups, for more information.

Tip: After you run Discovery, device group access rights (when provisioned) can affect which discovered items your user can visualize, monitor, and manage from MY NETWORK.

Typical Leverage Points

Roles and Sub roles Library enables you to:

Enable/disable list of device roles considered for a discovery/refresh.
Customize device classification and identification.
Create/apply sub roles for monitoring multipurposed systems or hardware.
Apply custom monitor lists at discovery or refresh scan time (wrapped in new/customized role).
Configure custom roles to include specific host and system attribute data.
Accurately identify and appropriately monitor the vast and varying landscape of IoT devices.

Note: For a detailed explanation of how device roles work and influence default monitor selection in WhatsUp Gold, see the topic titled About Device Roles.