Embedding device groups within another device group

By embedding device groups or routes within another device group—by inserting device group references—you can tell at a glance if there is a problem on the network, and then navigate to the source of the problem with a few quick mouse clicks.

With embedded device groups, you can monitor everything that a device group provides and everything that a route provides in one place, including device properties and route response times. When you combine all of these attributes into one place, you see a broad view, but can also quickly see where a specific issue is.

For multi-tier applications, create a device group with a device representing each tier. By separating the devices, you can see at a high-level if the application as a whole has an issue and then click through to view the individual tiers to identify where the issue is and which tiers are functioning fine.

Note: By default, adding devices that have multiple network interfaces places them in a Device Group Reference. To modify or disable this behavior, choose Options > Program Options > Discovery tab . There, clear the option “Create group-boxes for devices with multiple network interfaces”.

1.	Choose Tools > Add Device Group Reference. The Add New Reference window appears. Click OK. The cursor becomes a large + symbol.

2.	Move your cursor on the map to the place where you want the new reference to appear and click. It does not matter where you add it because you can move it later. The Reference Properties window appears.

3.	In the Reference Label box, type the name of the device group you want to reference.

4.	In the Device Group/Route box, click the … to find and add your device group. Circular references—where group A is embedded in group B, group B is embedded in group C, and group C is embedded in group A are not valid. They create an infinite loop.

5.	Make any other changes to the icon and label, and click OK.

An icon appears on the map with the name of the device group. The icon indicates the device group’s overall status. That is, if there is a problem with any device within, the icon reflects that—allowing you to double-click to see what is causing the issue. By creating a device group that has your other device groups in it, you can easily see the status of your entire network and its devices.

Every time the device group is polled, the status of all groups is updated. If the embedded device group contains devices that are displaying both marginal and critical states, the reference displays a red flag, as it is more important.