Creating a Device Group

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Creating a Device Group

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Overview

 

From a device management point of view, it is important to start by ensuring the existence of appropriate Device Groups within the site, meaning, compatible with the devices to be used in the site. This is fundamental because most of the tasks involving devices are executed at Device Group level (creating a configuration, planning a deployment, etc.).

 

Step-by-step

1. In the Site Dashboard's "Control Panel", click Devices Button and, in the resulting row below, click Device Groups Sub Module Button to access the "Device Groups" page.

 

Device Groups Page Grid View

 

2. Click Add Device Group Header Button to open the "New Device Group" page.

 

New Device Group Prop Tab

 

3. This page is set to edit mode. Fill in the following options (the mandatory fields are marked with an asterisk) on the "Properties" tab:

 

Name *

Define the name for the new device group.

 

TIPWe recommend you avoid special characters and consider the related best practices when you define a device group's name:

•Use alphabetic/numeric characters (a-z; A-Z; 0-9)

•Underscore and/or dash characters are allowed

•Always start the entity's name with an alphabetic character

Select Device Model *

Select the device group's manufacturer and the model from the corresponding drop-down boxes.

As an alternative, click lupa button and select a device type. See Details on the "Select Device Type" window below.

 

Note

The Samsung manufacturer provides a "Generic Device Android" option - this "generic device model" is compatible with all Samsung Android devices. This means you can create a device group for "Generic Device Android" devices (it can contain different Samsung models). This is NOT available for other manufacturers.

 

Note

The "Model" drop-down includes a few listed models with an "*" as a wild card. Selecting one of these models allows the device group to include the variations of the referenced model. Ex: A device group with "Panasonic / TOUGHPAD FZ-G1 (FZG1*)" defined as "Device Model" can accept Panasonic's "FZG1A", "FZF1B", "FZG1C", etc. devices.

Available on selected device models ONLY.

Filebox Sync. Folder

Define a folder to synchronize files between the MCL-Mobility Platform's Filebox and the device group's private filebox (see Filebox). Any files sent to this folder will be redistributed to all the devices included in the device group.

1. Click lupa button to open a window with a drop-down list of available folders in the Outbox area of the platform's filebox (see Creating a New Folder).

 

Device Group Details Select Folder

 

2. Select the required folder.

 

3. Click Confirm button to conclude and return to the "Properties" tab OR cancel gray button to abort the operation.

 

TIP

Instead of selecting an existing folder in the "Filebox Sync. Folder" option, you can enter a name for the folder and it will be created/displayed in the platform's Outbox area. However, we recommend following all the steps described in Creating a New Folder to ensure the synchronization between platform and target device group.

 

Remote Control Mode

Considering your use of the "Remote Control" feature, select the most appropriate option:

Disabled - Check this option if you do NOT intend to use this feature for the devices included in this device group.

Public Network - Check this option if you want MCL-Mobility Platform's Remote Control Service to manage the device's remote connection, meaning, to have a device > MCL-Mobility Platform's Remote Control Service > PC/browser connection.

Private Network - If you check this option, the required remote connection is managed by the PC/Browser - the connection is established within a local network and there is NO MCL Mobility Platform involvement. See Remote Control.

Custom Field Label 1 >5

If required, enter new labels to substitute the default device field labels (Info 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5).

 

TIPRemember that customizing these device field labels will only affect the devices contained in this particular device group. To modify the device field labels of all the devices included in the site's device groups, you must edit them in the Site Details sub-module. For more information, see Site Details.

Description

If relevant, add notes regarding the new device group.

 

hmtoggle_plus1        Click Here for Details on the "Select Device Type" window

 

Select a device A

 

To select a device type, proceed as follows:

 

a. In the "New Device Group" page, click the lupa button button of the "Select Device Type" option. This opens a "Select Device Type" window with the available device types in a grid view.

 

NoteThe “Device Type “ list only displays the devices selected when the current site was created. For more detailed information, see "Site Details" - Device Types tab.

 

b. Select the appropriate device type by checking the corresponding Check box.

 

c. Click Select Green Button to conclude and return to the "New Device Group" page OR cancel gray button to abort the selection.

 

Use the following options to control the display of listed items:

 

•search boxUse the search box to filter the information:

 

a. Enter what you want to search for.

b. Click lupa button or press <ENTER> in your PC keyboard to initiate the search.

c. To conclude the search operation, click Delete Search Icon OR empty the search box and click lupa button OR  press <ENTER> in your PC keyboard.

 

•Manufacturer drop down boxFilter the display by selecting a specific manufacturer from the drop-down list.

 

 

4. Go to the "Server" tab.

 

New Device Group Server Tab

 

5. Select an available server from the "Server" drop-down list.

The fields below will automatically display information regarding the selected server (Address, Port, Subnet, Gateway) which is entered in the "Servers" sub-module.

For more information, see Server Details.

If you select "-Custom-", you will have to fill in the remaining fields.

 

Address

Enter the custom server's address.

Port

Enter the custom server's port.

Subnet

Enter the custom server's subnet mask.

Gateway

Enter the custom server's gateway.

 

6. Go to the "Network Profiles" tab.

 

New Device Group Network Profiles Tab

 

 

7. Fill in the available options:

 

Cellular

Select the cellular network profile from the drop-down.

Use the Edit Profile button_New button to access the selected profile's details page. If "<Default>" or "<None>" is selected, it opens the "Profile Management" page.

See The "Network - Cellular Profile" Page.

Use the Button_Refresh option to refresh the corresponding drop-down.

Wifi

Select the wifi network profile from the drop-down.

Use the Edit Profile button_New button to access the selected profile's details page. If "<Default>" or "<None>" is selected, it opens the "Profile Management" page.

See The "Network - Wifi Profile" Page.

Use the Button_Refresh option to refresh the corresponding drop-down.

 

8. Click Confirm button to conclude the operation.

 

The new device group is displayed in the "Device Groups" page.