Working With Host Searches

A host search is a query run on the repository that yields a list of hosts whose attributes match those specified in the query. You can use host searches to create lists of hosts that have the same host type, are running the same applications, are configured with the same subnet masks, and so on.

In Host Searches are objects with names and attributes. Therefore, when you create a host search, you assign it a name, a description, search parameters, and save it in the repository. Because host searches are objects and saved, you can invoke them later whenever you need to determine which hosts match the criteria described in the host search.

Invoking host searches provides you with up-to-the-moment information about host configurations. Which hosts are configured with a certain host type? With a certain application? Which have applications running on a specified port? Host searches enable to you generate lists of hosts meeting conditions like these.

By defining a host set (a group of hosts) to include the list of hosts returned by a specific host search, you can dynamically generate a list of hosts for use as targets based on the host configurations at run time.

For more information on host sets see Working with Host Sets.

The Host Search User Interface

The Hosts Search Page

The Hosts Search page allows you to view, create, and run host searches.

(Check Box)

Marks a host search for inclusion when host search are deleted.

Host Search

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

Description

An optional user defined text string that describes the host search 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 search related pages to either create a host search, view more information about a specific host search, or find a specific host search.

Actions for Checked Host Types

Permanently deletes all checked host search.

The Hosts Search Details Page

The Hosts Search page allows you to view, create, and run host searches.

Top Area

This section of the Host Searches Details page allows you to edit host search information.

Host Search

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

Description

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

Search for Hosts Meeting ALL of the Following Conditions

This section defines the criteria for the search and displays the result. The search criteria fields are grouped into three columns labeled Attribute, Comparison, and Value.

Attribute

Contains a pull down menu and two other sets of criteria to set the parameters of a search. You can search by any of several attributes such as host name, host type, or domain name.

It is possible to define what to include as well as what to exclude.

Comparison

Allows you to set whether the search is to equal or contain the value set in the Value column.

Value

Allows you to specify wether the attribute either equals or contains a value.

Host

Allows you to limit a search to either physical host or virtual hosts.

Physical Host

Allows you to limit a search to hosts that are Master Servers, Local Distributors, or have a Remote Agent installed.

Current Found Hosts

Lists the result. of a search.

Other

Allows you to either hide or display the host search.

How To View Host Searches

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 Searches.

   The HTML user interface displays the Host Searches page. By default, this page lists all the unhidden Host Searches. To include the hidden Host Searches 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 Searches Details page.

How To Create Host Searches

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 Searches.

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

3. In the top row of the Host Searches table, enter:

   • a name for the new host search

   • a brief description of the host search

4. Click create.

   The HTML user interface displays the Host Searches Details page. This page will display the name and description you entered on the Host Searches page.

5. Use the controls on this page to define your host search.

   • Use the pull-down menu in the attribute column to select an attribute to be added to the search. This menu will list any attributes you have defined as part of host types, as well as the following standard attributes:

     • host name

     • description

     • host type

     • ip address

     • parent

     • os

     • os version

     Once you have selected an attribute, use the pull-down menu in the comparison column to select either equals or contains.

     In the value column of the table, enter a string that the attribute should equal or contain.

     In the action column of the table, click add to add this attribute-comparison-value criterion to the search.

     You can add as many of these criteria as you like.

   • Use the check boxes labeled physical and virtual to indicate whether the search should look only for physical hosts, only for virtual hosts, or for both.

   • Use the check boxes in the bottom row of the search criteria table to indicate whether the search should be limited to hosts running a specific provisioning software application: the Master Server, a Local Distributor, or a Remote Agent.

   • To view the list of hosts that match the criteria you have defined so far, click refresh list.

6. When you have defined your host search, click save.

   The HTML user interface saves the host search and displays the Host Searches page, which now lists the host search.

How To Edit a Host Searches

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 Searches.

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

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

   The HTML user interface displays a Host Searches Details page for the host Search. This page displays the search criteria for the host search.

4. Use the controls on this page to define the search parameters for the host search.

   • Use the pull-down menu in the attribute column to select an attribute to be added to the search. This menu will list any attributes you have defined as part of host types, as well as the following standard attributes:

     • host name

     • description

     • host type

     • ip address

     • parent

     • os

     • os version

     Once you have selected an attribute, use the pull-down menu in the comparison column to select either equals or contains.

     In the value column of the table, enter a string that the attribute should equal or contain.

     In the action column of the table, click add to add this attribute-comparison-value criterion to the search.

     You can add as many of these criteria as you like.

   • Use the check boxes labeled physical and virtual to indicate whether the search should look only for physical hosts, only for virtual hosts, or for both.

   • Use the check boxes in the bottom row of the search criteria table to indicate whether the search should be limited to hosts running a specific provisioning software application: the Master Server, a Local Distributor, or a Remote Agent.

   • To view the list of hosts that match the criteria you have defined so far, click refresh listing

5. When you have defined your host search, click save.

   The HTML user interface saves the host search and displays the Host Searches page, which now lists the host search.