Working with Host Sets

A host set is a logical grouping of hosts. A host set can include any of the following:

• one or more hosts (referenced by name)

• one or more host searches (which adds all the hosts found by the host searches to the host set)

• one or more other host sets

When you define a host set to include a host search, the host search is performed and the resulting list of hosts determined whenever the provisioning software acts upon the host set. For example, when the provisioning software uses the host set as a target for an installation or a comparison. Host sets based on host searches enable the provisioning software to group hosts based on their actual configurations at run time. They enable you to be sure you really have found all the hosts that match the search criteria, rather than having to try to remember which hosts are configured a certain way.

Host sets enable you to perform operations on groups of hosts. For example, to install new IIS global filter settings on all the hosts in the Chicago data center, on a host named barolo2, and on all the servers running the application SalesExpress, you would define a host set to include:

• the host barolo2

• a host search for all the hosts in the Chicago data center (using a host type attribute you have already defined, such as location)

• a host search for all the hosts that are running the application SalesExpress

A host can appear in a host set only once. If, in the previous example, the two host searches happened both to retrieve the same hosts (hosts that were both in Chicago and configured to run SalesExpress), each of these hosts would appear in the host set just once.

Platform Host Sets

The N1 Service Provisioning System software includes a hierarchy of nested host sets that are based on the OS platforms of hosts. The top host set is any, which includes hosts running any of the supported OS platforms.

The Host Sets User Interface

The Host Sets Page

The Hosts Sets page allows you to view and create host sets. Host Sets are user definable categories that are used to group hosts together. These Host Sets are used with host searches and plans to facilitate identifying and displaying selecting groups of hosts.

You can sort the host sets list by clicking on one of the sort arrows in the header area host sets column. Click either the ascending or descending arrow to select the desired sort order.

The Host Sets Page has the following fields.

(Check Box)

Marks a host set for inclusion when host sets are deleted.

Host Set

A user definable text string that names the host set object.

Description

An optional user defined text string that describes the host set object. This attribute is not used by the provisioning software but can provide meaningful information to the user.

Action

Links that take you to other host sets related pages to either create a host set, view more information about a specific host set, or find a specific host set.

Actions for Checked Host Types

Permanently deletes all checked host sets.

The Host Sets Detail Page

The Host Sets Details Page allows you to view and change a specific Host Sets' information and attributes.

The Host Sets Details Page has the following fields.

Top Area

This section of the Host Sets Details page allows you to assign a host set name and description.

Host Set

A user definable text string that names the host set object.

Description

An optional user defined text string that describes the host set object. This attribute is not used by the provisioning software but can provide meaningful information to the user.

Member of Set

This section of the Host Sets Details page allows you to assign membership in one or more host sets. The fields in this section are grouped into three columns, Member Type, Name, and action.

Member type

Lists the type of objects that can be included in this host set. The objects included are Host, Hosts Set, and Host Search.

• Host - Allows you to assign individual hosts to this host set.

• Host Set - Allows you to make this host set a member of other host sets.

• Host Search - Displays the Attribute name.

• Current Member Hosts - Displays a list of the hosts that are a member of this host set.

Other

Allows you to either hide or display the host set.

How To View Host Sets

Steps

1. In the left-hand navigation menu, click Host Setup.

   The HTML user interface displays the Host Setup page.

2. In the Host Setup page, click Host Sets.

   The HTML user interface displays the Host Sets page. By default, this page lists all the unhidden Host Sets. To include the hidden Host Sets click the checkbox in the upper right hand corner of the page.

3. Find the row listing the host set you are interested in, and click details.

   The HTML user interface displays the Host Set Details page for the host set. This page will list the host set's member criteria and the hosts that currently match this criteria and are included in the host set.

How To Create Host Sets

Steps

1. In the left-hand navigation menu, click Host Setup.

   The HTML user interface displays the Host Setup page.

2. In the Host Setup page, click Host Sets.

   The HTML user interface displays the Host Sets page. By default, this page lists all the unhidden Host Sets. To include the hidden Host Sets click the checkbox in the upper right hand corner of the page.

3. In the top row of the table listing host sets, enter a name and a brief description for the host set you want to create. In the action column of this row, click create.

   The HTML user interface displays a Host Set Details page for the new host set. This page includes:

   • a text field listing the name for the host set

   • a text field listing the description for the host set

   • a table labeled members of set which includes controls for defining selection criteria for the host set

   • a display field labeled current member hosts that lists the hosts that meet the criteria of the host set as it is currently defined.

4. Use the controls on this page to define the host set. Each time you add a host, host set, or host search to the host set, The HTML user interface displays this page and updates the list of hosts in the host set.

   • To add a host by name, enter its name in the name field, and click add.

   • To add a host based on its configuration attributes, click select from list. In the Select Hosts from List popup window, define a host search that selects the hosts you want, and then click return selected hosts to main window.

   • To include another host set within this host set, select the other host set's name from the host set pull down menu, and click add set.

   • To include the hosts found by a host search, select the host search from the host search pull-down menu, and click add search.

   • To highlight the hosts in the host set that match a criterion you have defined, click the highlight link in the row listing that criterion.

   • To remove a criterion from the host set configuration, click the remove link in the row listing that criterion.

   • To hide the host set, click the check box labeled hidden.

5. Click the save button at the bottom of the page.

How To Edit Host Sets

Steps

1. In the left-hand navigation menu, click Host Setup.

   The HTML user interface displays the Host Setup page.

2. In the Host Setup page, click Host Sets.

   The HTML user interface displays the Host Sets page. By default, this page lists all the unhidden Host Sets. To include the hidden Host Sets click the checkbox in the upper right hand corner of the page.

3. Find the row listing the host set you are interested in, and click details.

   The HTML user interface displays a Host Set Details page for the host set. This page will list the host set's member criteria and the hosts that currently match this criteria and are included in the host set.

4. Use the controls on this page to define the host set. Each time you add a host, host set, or host search to the host set, The HTML user interface displays this page and updates the list of hosts in the host set.

   • To add a host by name, enter its name in the name field, and click add.

   • To add a host based on its configuration attributes, click select from list. In the Select Hosts from List popup window, define a host search that selects the hosts you want, and then click return selected hosts to main window.

   • To include another host set within this host set, select the other host set's name from the host set pull down menu, and click add set.

   • To include the hosts found by a host search, select the host search from the host search pull-down menu, and click add search.

   • To highlight the hosts in the host set that match a criterion you have defined, click the highlight link in the row listing that criterion.

   • To remove a criterion from the host set configuration, click the remove link in the row listing that criterion.

   • To hide the host set, click the check box labeled hidden.

5. Click the save button at the bottom of the page.