Creating rules

About this task

You can create rules that assign targets to target groups if their computer name or IP address matches conditions set in the rules. For example, you can assign targets to one or more target groups when they first register with the BigFix® Remote Control Server or every time they contact the server. For more information about properties that affect the group assignment, see Define when membership rules are applied.

To create a rule, complete the following steps:

Procedure

  1. Click Admin > Target Membership Rules.
  2. Select Create new rule.
  3. On the New Rule screen, enter the information that is required to create the rule.
    Computer name
    Enter all or part of the computer name to be checked against the target computer name. You can use wildcard characters. Use ? to denote one character and use % to denote multiple characters.

    For example:

    If you enter test, any targets whose computer name is test satisfy this rule.

    If you enter admin%, any targets whose computer name starts with admin satisfy this rule.

    If you enter admin??, any target whose computer name starts with admin and then another 2 characters satisfy this rule, for example, admin22, adminGB.

    IP start
    Enter the IP address that is at the start of the range of IP addresses that match with this rule.
    Note: IPv6 is also supported in the IP ranges.
    IP end
    Enter the IP address that is at the end of the range of IP addresses that match with this rule.
    Stop processing
    Enable this option if you want the group membership assignment to stop when the target details match this rule. If you define multiple rules, the computer name and IP address of the target is checked against every rule. However, if you enable stop processing for a rule, and a target matches the rule, the server does not check the targets details against any other rules. The target is assigned to the target groups that are associated with this matching rule and any previously processed matching rules.
    Comments
    Can be used to enter a description for the rule or for some other information. Optional field.
    Priority
    You can give the rule a priority level that determines when it is checked against the target. The priority level starts at 1 and increments by one as each new rule is created. Priority 1 is the highest priority. This rule is the first to be checked against the target.

    The first rule that is created is automatically assigned a priority 1 value. When you create the next rule, you have the option of selecting priority 1 or 2 for this new rule. Selecting 1 makes the new rule the first rule to be checked. Each time that you create a new rule, you can select a priority level. The rules are then rearranged according to their priority level, from 1 to n, where n is the number of rules that are created.

    Note: If you have rules that must be checked, you can make them a higher priority to ensure that they are checked against the target. Rules with a lower priority, might not be reached if you have a rule with Stop processing enabled near the top of the rules list.
  4. Select the required groups that you want the target to be assigned to if it matches the conditions for the rule.
  5. Click Submit.