Automatically Including and Excluding Devices Using Custom Discovery Rules

For sites managed by an Onsite Manager, you can set up a Custom Discovery rule that includes new devices found on the network based on specific features, or you can set up a Custom Discovery rule to exclude devices.

Inclusion and exclusion rules cannot be combined in a single Custom Discovery rule, and you cannot set up both an inclusion and exclusion rule. You can either include specific devices in a site or exclude specific devices from a site.

Setting up a custom rule automates the task of deciding what devices are added to your Onsite Manager-based site. For example, if you want to create a site for all devices, but didn’t want to include routers, switches, or firewalls, you could create a Custom Discovery Rule that excludes routers, switches, and firewalls. All other devices would be included. If you want to create a site that only includes workstations and printers, you could create a Custom Discovery Rule that includes only workstations and printers. All other devices would be excluded.

To exclude specific devices from a site

When you set up a custom device discovery rule that excludes devices, any device that is discovered on the site that fulfills any of the criteria is excluded. For example, if you select macOS and Firewall, the device does not have to be a macOS firewall to be excluded. Any device that either has a macOS operating system and a firewall is excluded.

1. In Service Center, click Status > Onboarding Overview.
2. Click a site name.
3. Click More Actions, then click Modify Device Discovery Rule.
4. Select Set custom device discovery rule.
5. Select Exclude devices discovered on the network that meet any of the following conditions.
6. Select any of the following options in Device Role Category:
   • Windows Server
   • Windows Workstation
7. Select any of the following options in Network Role:
   • Router
   • Switch
   • Firewall
8. Select any of the following options in Hardware Type:
   • Printer
9. Select any of the following option in Operating System Family:
   • macOS
10. Click Save.

To include certain devices in a site

When you set up a custom device discovery rule that includes devices, any device that is discovered on the site that fulfills any of the criteria is included. For example, if you select Windows Server and Firewall, a device does not have to be a Windows Server that acts as a firewall to be excluded. Devices that are Windows Servers and devices that are firewalls are included.

1. In Service Center, click Status > Onboarding Overview.
2. Click a site name.
3. Click More Actions, then click Modify Device Discovery Rule.
4. Select Set custom device discovery rule.
5. Select Exclude devices discovered on the network that meet any of the following conditions.
6. Select any of the following options in Device Role Category:
   • Windows Server
   • Windows Workstation
7. Select any of the following options in Network Role:
   • Router
   • Switch
   • Firewall
8. Select any of the following options in Hardware Type:
   • Printer
9. Select any of the following options in Operating System Family:
   • macOS
10. Click Save.