Creating Computer Group Of Computer Names from CSV

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1

When performing a pilot deploy we like to specify a diverse group of devices, but limited in number. The way I achieve this now is no longer feasible. I’ve been searching the net for a way to create and automatic or manual computer group from data imported from CSV or copy/paste. Can anyone provide me with a good process for this?

I’ve seen people recommend using an ad-hoc wizard that I can’t find anywhere, and that was back in 2013. Another suggestion someone made was to paste all the computer names in a blank action (default action) to all the computers on the the list, and then create a manual group from the action once active. Problem is, I don’t want to kick off an unnecessary action on 30k endpoints just to create a group.

Thanks for any ideas!

2

I like to deploy an action to configure a client setting, like “Patch Group”, and then configure automatic groups based on the client setting value. One of those groups could be “Pilot Systems”. I also configure a group based on the client setting not existing, to catch any “untagged” machines.

2 Likes
3

Hi Jason,

Thanks for the reply, I see how that could work. That sounds very similar to the effort/impact of running the blank action and adding the targets to a manual computer group after taking a blank action. I’m looking for a way to generate the list without having to ask the clients to take any additional action. Any idea how to do this without generating an action?

Thanks!

4

You can use the AD-HOC Wizard. This is an optional Wizard/Dashboard that you can add to a site, then it allows you to PASTE hostnames to it. BigFix will then validate the hostnames (no action taken on endpoints) and POP-UP a Ad-Hoc group that you can then work with. Save the entry below as somename.ojo like AdHoc.ojo

Then from the BigFix console add this File to a Custom Site or Master Site and the dashboard will appear.

<?xml version="1.0"?> CSG Ah-Hoc Wizard Page1 Marvins Wicker Cool Stuff <![CDATA[ 
  <table>
   <tr>
    <td>
     Paste the list of Host Names below:
     <br/>
     <textarea id="hostnames" rows=20 cols=60 ></textarea>
    </td>
    <td id="errorTD"  style="display: none">
     Errors:
     <br/>
     <textarea rows=20 cols=60 id="errorField"></textarea>
    </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  <br />
  <button onclick="openGroup()">Open Ad-Hoc Group</button>
  <script type="text/javascript">
  function openGroup()
  {
   var names = hostnames.value.split('\n');
   var ids = new Array();
   var errs = new Array();
   errorField.value = '';
   errorTD.style.display = 'none';
    
   for (var i = 0; i< names.length; i++)
   {
    var rel = 'ids of bes computers whose (name of it as lowercase = "'+ chomp(names[i].toLowerCase()) + '")';
    var id = EvaluateRelevance(rel);
    if (id && id.length == 1)
    {
     ids.push(id);
    }
    else if (id && id.length > 1)
    {
     ids = ids.concat(id);
    }
    else
    {
     errs.push(chomp(names[i].toLowerCase()));
    }
   }
   if (errs.length > 0)
   {
    errorField.value = errs.join('\n');
    errorTD.style.display = '';
   }
   OpenComputerGroup(ids);
  }
  
  function chomp(raw_text)
  {
    return raw_text.replace(/(\n|\r)+$/, '');
  }
  </script>     
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