Overview

You want to create and assign attributes to manage your computers.

This article describes how to configure the attributes in the Computer Tree panel and provides information on how to remediate vulnerabilities or deploy software on specific computers based on the assigned attribute.

Solution

Attributes are an extension of existing search parameters. You can configure Attributes and use them to group computers or mobile devices in the Computer Tree panel for performing the various LanGuard tasks as a single consolidated action, including fixing vulnerabilities, deploying software, changing computer/Agent configuration.

To achieve this, you have to configure the attributes first and then assign them to computers or groups.

• Configuring Attributes
• Assigning Attributes to a Computer
• Assigning Attributes to a Group
• Using Attributes

Configuring Attributes

To configure (add or edit) attributes for any device or group: 

1. Locate the machine or group in the Computer Tree.
2. Right-click on it and go to Properties.
3. Click the Attributes tab.
4. Click Add to launch the New attribute dialog.
   
5. From the Name drop-down menu, select an attribute to edit or key-in a name to create a new attribute.
6. Specify a value for the attribute in the Value field. Click OK.
   
7. Repeat the steps to add more attributes, as needed.
8. Click OK to save your settings.

Assigning Attributes to a Computer

Follow these steps to assign attributes to a single computer:

1. Open to the LanGuard console Dashboard tab.
2. From the Computer Tree panel, locate the specific computer and right-click on it to select Assign attributes.
   
3. In the Properties > Attributes tab windows click Add.
4. Configure new attributes settings and click OK.

Assigning Attributes to a Group

It is possible to assign attributes to specific groups, domains, organizational units, and networks. Once attributes are assigned, each member of the selected group inherits the attributes settings.

1. Open to the LanGuard console Dashboard tab.
2. From the Computer Tree panel, locate the group you would like to edit, right-click on it and select Assign attributes.
   
3. Click Add.
4. Configure the respective attributes and click Ok.

Using Attributes

This functionality was introduced to make easier computer and mobile device management in big organizations. Every time an attribute is configured, it is added to the Attributes drop-down menu list Group feature in the Computer Tree.

The attribute option is greyed out if no attributes have been assigned to any machines.

Attribute-based grouping can be used to group the devices by the location, department, role, or any other criteria that would be useful for your use case. For example, this way, you can separate patching days for devices so that every machine is not updating at the same time and affecting network bandwidth.

It isn't possible to export or import just the attributes from the LanGuard console or add them in the configuration file. They are stored not in the file system but are written directly to the database - default name LNSSScanresults12 - and saved to the ComputerSetting table, along with other per computer or computer group settings.