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Custom Device Types

You can create custom device types to use in a map. You can supply your own icon for these custom devices, and set them up so that they are automatically mapped when you use the SmartScan or Scan tools.

Creating a Custom Device Type

The device pool provides tools that let you add a workstation, host, server, router, bridge, hub, LAN box, container, subnet, or custom devices to your network map.

To create a custom device type:

  1. If you want the SmartScan or Scan tools to use a special icon when it finds this custom device, make sure you add vendor-provided identifiers to the MIB tree, see "Setting Up the MIB Identifiers"
  2. From the Configure menu, select Custom Device Types.
  3. Click New.
  4. Enter a Template Name for the new device.
  5. In the Icon Filename text box, browse to the name of an icon file that you want to use.

Examples of suitable .ico and .emf files can be found in your WhatsUp Gold directory.

To edit this icon, click the Edit Device Icon button . This will open the icon in VDevice where you can edit it or just view it. See "To change one of the standard icons:". For even more information on VDevice, see the VDevice help file.

Note: VDevice is the ONLY icon editor you can use for modifying icons.

(Optional) In the SNMP Object text box, enter an SNMP identifier (or use the browse button to find one) that corresponds to a vendor device type; this is usually found in the "private -> enterprises" section of the MIB tree, under the vendor name.

SmartScan and Scan will discover and map custom devices using the SNMP identifiers to locate the specified icons. To scan for custom devices, you must also enter the proper Community name and, if you use the Scan tool, select Identify via SNMP.

You can use multiple identifiers. For example, suppose a manufacturer named Acme makes three devices: the Acme 4500, the Acme 4501, and the Acme 4502. You could define one custom device type to represent any Acme device in the 4500 series; in the SNMP Object box, you would enter the three SNMP identifiers for the Acme 4500, 4501, and 4502.

The Scan tool will use the icon for any of the three devices. Separate multiple SNMP object identifiers by semi-colons. The last number in the identifier can be an asterisk, a range using hyphens, or contain multiples separated by commas. For example:

1.3.6.1.4.1.311.1.1.3.1.3

1.3.6.1.4.1.311.1.1.3.1.3;1.3.6.1.4.1.311.1.1.3.1.4

1.3.6.1.4.1.311.1.1.3.1.3,4

1.3.6.1.4.1.311.1.1.3.1.1,3-4

1.3.6.1.4.1.311.1.1.3.1.*

Note: Custom device types are stored in the hosttype.ini file. WhatsUp Gold uses the device icon for the first object identifier it finds in hosttype.ini. Thus, if a device type "Cisco 3xxx" (1.3.6.1.4.1.9.1.32-37) appears before "Cisco 3204" (1.3.6.1.4.1.9.1.37), WhatsUp Gold uses the "Cisco 3xxx" icon for the "Cisco 3204" device.

  1. In the DblClk Action box, select the desired action. See "Changing the double-click action for a Custom Device" below.
  2. In the AutoRun Cmd box, enter a script or program name. See "Running a script or program for custom devices" below.
  3. Select the Monitoring Method (polling method) of the device. If the Monitoring Method is TCP/IP, select whatever services (you MUST select at least one) you want to monitor by default when you create a device of this type. For more information, see "The Polling Method".
  4. In the Overlay Text box, you can enter a word or two which will overlay the device icon to help differentiate this device. For example, "HP Laser" to help differentiate this device from other printers which use the same icon.
  5. Services. Select the services you want this device to monitor.
  6. Click OK to save the new device type.

Changing the Double-Click Action for a Custom Device

To change the action that occurs when you double-click a custom device's icon:

Running a script or program for custom devices

You can set a program to run automatically whenever a scan (SmartScan or Scan) maps a custom device.

  1. Enter a script or program name in the Autorun Cmd text box.
  2. You can enter the same values and variables described above for "changing the double-click action."

Using the Custom Device on a Map

To use the custom device type on a network map:

  1. In the device pool, click the Custom Device Types button.
  2. All custom device icons are now visible to you.
  3. Click and drag the desired custom device to the map location where you want to add the custom device type.
  4. After you have finished dragging the desired icons to the map, click the "Edit Mode" button to take the map back to "Monitor Mode". Your icon(s) are now on the map.

Scanning and Mapping a Custom Device

If you want the scan (SmartScan) to identify a custom device type, such as a Cisco 4000 router, and use a custom icon for the device, you can do the following:

  1. Define a custom device type. Make sure you enter the appropriate identifier in the SNMP Object text box in the "Custom Device Type Properties" dialog box.
  2. If you are using Discover your network using ICMP:
    • Start a scan of the appropriate IP addresses.
    • When prompted, enter the SNMP Read Community name assigned to your network. You can enter multiple communities, separated by a comma (,). The scan checks SNMP communities in the order that they are specified.
  3. If you are using Discover your network using SNMP SmartScan, enter the network's SNMP Communities name and start the scan. You can enter multiple community names, separated by a comma (,). The scan checks SNMP communities in the order that they are specified.

If any of these conditions are not met, the scan will use one of the WhatsUp Gold standard device icons for the custom device.


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