Configuring Device Groups

Overview: Device Groups in Backup Manager

Device Groups allow you to organize your network devices into logical collections. This makes it easier to manage large numbers of devices and perform targeted operations.

Benefits of Using Device Groups:

• Organization: Group devices by location, function, department, or any criteria
• Backup Profiles: Assign backup schedules to entire groups at once
• Batch Operations: Perform bulk backups or restores on groups
• Filtering: Quickly filter dashboards and reports by group
• Scalability: Manage hundreds of devices efficiently

Common Group Examples:

• By Location: "Data Center", "Branch Office London", "Building A"
• By Function: "Core Switches", "Access Switches", "Firewalls", "Routers"
• By Department: "Finance", "Engineering", "HR"
• By Criticality: "Critical Infrastructure", "Non-Critical", "Development"

Step 1: Navigate to Device Groups

Access the Device Groups page from the sidebar menu.

How to Access:

• Click on Settings in the sidebar to expand the submenu
• Click on Device Groups to open the page

Page Features:

• New Group: Button to create a new device group
• Refresh: Reload the groups list
• Search: Find groups by name
• Filter: Show groups with or without devices
• Groups Table: List of all groups with device counts and actions

Step 2: Create a New Device Group

Click the "New Group" button to create a new device group.

To Create a Group:

• Click the New Group button in the header
• A modal dialog will open for group configuration

Group Details Section:

• Group Name (required): A descriptive name for the group
  • Examples: "Branch Offices", "Data Center", "Core Switches"
  • Use clear, meaningful names that describe the group's purpose
• Description (optional): Additional details about the group
  • Helps team members understand the group's purpose
  • Example: "All switches in the London branch office"

Step 3: Enter Group Details

Fill in the group name and optional description.

Group Name:

• Enter a unique, descriptive name
• Keep names concise but meaningful
• Consider using a consistent naming convention

Description:

• Optional but recommended for documentation
• Include details like location, purpose, or contact person
• Helps with future maintenance and audits

Naming Best Practices:

Step 4: Assign Devices to the Group

Select which devices should belong to this group.

Assigned Devices Section:

• Shows all available network devices
• Use the search box to find specific devices
• Check the box next to each device to add it to the group

To Assign Devices:

• Browse the device list or search by name/IP
• Click the checkbox next to each device you want to include
• The "devices selected" counter shows how many are assigned
• Use pagination controls if you have many devices

Tips:

• A device can belong to multiple groups
• You can add devices later by editing the group
• Use search to quickly find devices by IP or name

Step 5: Save the Group

Save your new device group.

To Save:

• Review your group name, description, and selected devices
• Click the Save Group button
• The modal will close and the new group appears in the list

After Saving:

• The group is immediately available for use
• You can assign it to backup profiles
• Use it for batch operations and filtering

Note: You can always edit the group later to add or remove devices.

Step 6: View and Manage Groups

The groups table shows all your device groups with key information.

Table Columns:

• Group Name: The name you assigned
• Description: Optional description text
• Devices: Number of devices in the group
• Actions: Edit and delete buttons

Filtering Options:

• Search: Type to filter groups by name
• Filter dropdown:
  • All Groups - Show everything
  • With Devices - Only groups that have devices assigned
  • Without Devices - Empty groups

Step 7: Edit an Existing Group

Modify a group to change its name, description, or assigned devices.

To Edit a Group:

• Find the group in the table
• Click the Edit button (pencil icon) in the Actions column
• The edit modal opens with current settings

You Can Modify:

• Group name
• Description
• Add new devices to the group
• Remove devices from the group (uncheck them)

Save Changes:

• Click Save Group to apply your changes
• Changes take effect immediately

Step 8: Delete a Group

Remove groups that are no longer needed.

To Delete a Group:

• Find the group in the table
• Click the Delete button (trash icon) in the Actions column
• Confirm the deletion when prompted

Important Notes:

• Deleting a group does NOT delete the devices
• Devices remain in the system, just no longer assigned to this group
• Check if any backup profiles use this group before deleting
• Consider editing the group instead of deleting if devices need reassignment

Tip: Use the "Without Devices" filter to find and clean up empty groups.

Using Device Groups

Once created, device groups can be used throughout Backup Manager.

Backup Profiles:

• Assign backup schedules to entire groups
• All devices in the group get backed up automatically
• New devices added to the group inherit the schedule

Batch Operations:

• Select a group for bulk backup operations
• Backup all devices in a group with one click
• Ideal for maintenance windows

Filtering & Reports:

• Filter dashboards by group
• Generate reports for specific groups
• Track backup compliance per group

Best Practices for Device Groups

Organization Strategy:

• Start Simple: Begin with a few broad groups, refine over time
• Be Consistent: Use a standard naming convention
• Document Purpose: Always add descriptions to groups
• Review Regularly: Clean up empty or obsolete groups

Recommended Group Types:

• Location Groups: One group per site or building
• Function Groups: Core, Distribution, Access layers
• Criticality Groups: Critical vs Non-Critical infrastructure
• Backup Schedule Groups: Daily, Weekly, Monthly backup targets

Maintenance Tips:

• When adding new devices, assign them to appropriate groups immediately
• When decommissioning devices, remove them from groups
• Use the search function to verify device assignments
• Audit groups periodically to ensure accuracy