Target Windows Imaging with Smart Groups

What Smart Groups do in imaging

WithUse versionsSmart ofGroups to select Windows devices for imaging based on inventory or Custom Field criteria such as hardware model, UEFI, or legacy MBR boot mode.

When to use Smart Groups

Smart Groups reduce manual target selection when many devices share the same image or driver requirements. Build criteria from inventory that FileWave earlieralready thanreports, 14,then smartreview groupsthe wouldresolved notdevice showlist inbefore creating the imaging view of the FileWave admin.  With v14(+), smart groups are now available for image association.

When/Why

Why do smart groups improve the ability to image?  Before the advent of custom fields, the lack of smart groups in imaging didn't matter too much, but with custom fields FileWave can quite easily determine the make and model of a particular device or if the device is UEFI or MBR.  And this matters for smart groups, because then that allows us too much more easily assign the proper image and driver packs.associations.

Consider the following simple (imaginary) environment:

• 10001,000 Windows devices,devices allscheduled needingfor re-imaged this summerimaging
• 3Three Make/modelhardware combinationsmodels: (Lenovo P50, Dell 5550, and HP 1210)1210
• The Lenovo isdevices UEFI,use UEFI; the others areuse alllegacy MBR
• Two base Windows images: one for UEFI,UEFI and one for MBR

IfIn wethis hadexample, toSmart massGroups imagecan separate the above,UEFI weand onlyMBR haddevices twoand optionscan previously:further group devices by model for the correct driver pack. The administrator can then create imagethe required imaging associations onefrom bythose one,resolved device sets.

Create the imaging associations

In the Imaging view in FileWave Central or associateFileWave toAnywhere, a group.  But, to associate easily to groups,choose the logicalimage, thingany wouldmodel-specific bedriver topack, create smart groups by device type rather than having to organizeand the devicesSmart manually.Group that Thus,contains the inabilityintended toWindows usedevices. smartThe groupsvideo forbelow imaging began to be a severe restriction for easy imaging association.  This restriction is no more.

How

Associating images & driver packs to a smart group isshows the sameselection as any other imaging association, as shown below:workflow.

A Smart groupsGroup will only showappears in the Imaging view ifonly therewhen areit contains Windows devicesdevices. inFileWave them.saves imaging Alsoassociations note that the association is not really to the group, but rather just tofor the devices in that groupresolved at that exactmoment; moment.later (ThisSmart isGroup themembership samechanges waydo assigningnot imagesautomatically torewrite athose manualexisting group has always worked.)associations.