Targeting devices by properties

You can dynamically filter and select a specific set of target devices that satisfy one or more defined conditions based on their BigFix properties.

About this task

You can create a Target by properties condition with reserved properties (already present in BigFix) and also with custom properties (created by users). You can define a single condition or build nested conditions using AND and OR statements.

Procedure

To define conditions:

  1. On the deploy sequence, when you are in Select targets action, select the Target by properties tab.
    Target by properties.png
  2. Click Apply Condition. You can filter targets based on their properties by defining a single condition or by combining conditions using AND and OR operators.
  3. To add conditions:
    1. From the Apply Condition section, open the Select menu. Use the following menu options:
      • Single condition: Select this option to define a single condition to filter by a single property.

      • And: Select this option to define multiple conditions where all the specified conditions must match.

      • or: Select this option to define multiple conditions where any of the specified conditions must match.

        Note: The operator menu item works differently from the others.
        • Operator:
          • Depending on the selected Property, the Operator options are displayed dynamically.
          • With In operator you can add a list of values. Click the + symbol to add values to the list.

          • You can have as many conditions as you want at the same level, but you can have a maximum of three nested conditions.

          • You can also define a condition with a value that is not in your database yet.

        • In the Property menu, if a property is not listed, click Add property, select the a property, and click Add.
        • You can add, clear, or remove a condition with the three-dots menu in the upper-right corner.
        • To remove all the conditions, click Remove All.
  4. Click Apply. This button is available only after you defining conditions correctly.
    • The Deployment Summary section shows the total number applicable devices.
      Note: The target estimation does not include the fixlet relevance but only those that match with properties combination.
    • You must have web reports installed and active to use session relevance, because BigFix dynamically evaluates and estimates the number of devices that match the condition based on information in the database. The Next button is enabled only after you click the Apply button and BigFix completes estimating the targets. With this estimate, you can avoid submitting unwanted or large deployments by mistake.
      Note: If you have "Allow operators to use plain relevance for targeting enabled" permission you can bypass the evaluation of targets in targeting by properties in case web reports is not installed or is temporarily not available
  5. Optional: To view the Relevance statement for the defined condition by clicking View client relevance.
  6. Save: To save the defined conditions and reuse later, click Save, and in the Save condition window, complete the following steps:
    1. In Condition name, enter a name for the condition to be saved.
    2. In Share mode, select one of these options:
      • Private: To save this condition for your use only, select this option.
      • Public: To share the saved condition with others, select this option, enter a label, and click tick [is that a check mark?] sign.
    3. Optional: To add another label click the plus icon (+).
    4. Click OK.

Results

To access the saved conditions, click Conditions > Saved[A click path is never a noun or a location. The elements of the path are objects of the transitive verb, "click" or "select"]. The following restrictions apply to saved conditions:
  • Anybody can save private or public conditions.
  • Only master operators have full access to all the saved conditions.
  • If you do not have permissions for one or more of the properties used in a condition that another user created, you cannot reuse that condition. In this case, you get an error message.
  • If you do not have permission to delete a private or public condition, the Delete icon is disabled.
  • Conditions saved as public can be deleted only by master operators or by the originator.
You can select a condition to load and view its details, view the client relevance, or delete it. You can also search the saved conditions by name, labels, originators, or last modifier.

In the window, you can use the following options:
  • Load: Click to load a filter.
  • View client relevance: Click to view the corresponding client relevance in a window.
  • Delete: Click to delete the filter, and then click Delete in the confirmation window.
    Note: If you do not have the permission to delete a private or public filter, the Delete icon is disabled.