Use Network Groups

A group is a container object that may contain nothing, other groups, PacketShapers, traffic classes, and host components. A group can not contain both groups and PacketShapers. An error message is produced if you try to add a group to an existing group that already contains one or more PacketShapers, or if you try to add a PacketShaper to a group that already contains one or more other groups. PacketShapers contain components, such as Hosts (if Host Accounting is configured), Traffic Classes, and the Link component that represents PacketShaper network interfaces.

The concept of Network Groups is important in both the ReportCenter Administrator Console interface and in the web browser interface used to run reports. Both interfaces present a hierarchical view of the network using an expandable tree to show the relationships between groups, PacketShapers and components.

By default, ReportCenter creates a group named Network that contains three groups named Locations, Organizations, and Products. You can delete network groups that are empty, rename existing groups, or create new groups using the Define > Network menu selection in the ReportCenter Administrator Console.

Note: In earlier versions of ReportCenter you used the Network Hierarchy dialog box to add groups. That intervening step is no longer required, just select a point in the network tree to contain your group and then right-click or drop-down Define as detailed below.

To add a new group:

1. Expand the network tree in the left-hand pane of the ReportCenter Administrator Console and select the group to which you wish to add a new group.
2. Drop-down the Define menu and select Network. The menu expands with option choices that are based on your current selection in the network tree. You can also select a group in the network tree and right-click to get a context menu.
   
   
   
   
3. Select Add New Groups. The New Group dialog appears.
   
   
   
   Note: If the Network category does not appear under Define, or the Add New Groups selection is not available when you expand Define > Network, it is because of your current selection in the network tree. The choices available on the Define menu change dynamically based on your network tree selection. Choose a group that contains no PacketShapers when you want to add a new group.
4. Type a name for your new group and click Add. If you wish to add another new group to the same parent group enter its after you add the first group, then click Add again. Click Close when you are done adding new groups.

You can also delete or rename a group.

Once you have created network groups in a fashion that suits your network, you are ready to begin adding PacketShapers to your groups.