Hardware components can be assigned (or associated) with different objects: A Computer - which
may have components installed inside or attached to it. A User - which may own hardware that is not
computer attached but rather belongs to a person (like a PDA), and a Location which can be physical
place where hardware is stored or operated (like a Departmental Printer, or a Switch in the server
room).
The hardware assignment interface is generalized to support association with each type of "owner"
object. For this reason it is accessible from each such object type in the edit menu: when editing a computer
you can click the "Assing Hardware" icon - a popup window will appear that will allow you
to assign hardware to that computer - and the same goes when editing a location or a user.
The dialog supports the following functionality:
Hardware List-
When you start the dialog, or when clicking the list button you'll be presented with the
list of hardware currently associated with the object being edited. From this list you can
perform different operations on each hardware item. (See below).
Assigning New Hardware-
New hardware can be assigned by clicking the "Add Hardware" button on the top toolbar.
Note, that you can only assign predefined hardware components.
The dialog contains these fields:
- Hardware Types - This listbox chooses which type of hardware you want to assign.
When a type is chosen from the box, the lower "Hardware Model" listbox will change
its contents to display hardware of that type only. This makes it easier to browse through
numerous hardware objects.
- Hardware Model - This listbox controls which model to assign. Choose from the type
listbox above it, and then from this listbox to specify the extact type you wish to add.
- Hardware Version - In this field you can type additional information about the hardware.
Usually the hardware model is generic: Intel Pentium 2 CPU, and the version information completes
the picture by adding "400Mhz" to get complete information about the installed component.
- Hardware Tag - You specify a tag for this hardware (similar to computer tag).
This is useful if you're using tags (like stickers, barcodes and similar) to track your hardware.
- Serial Number - This optional field allows you to enter the component's serial number.
This can be done for unique tracking of the component.
- Purchased From - Choose from the listbox which vendor this item was purchased from.
Vendors must be pre-defined to appear in this listbox.
- Purchase Date - Enter purchase date in YYYY-MM-DD format, or click the calendar
icon to choose a date.
- Warrenty Ends - This dual field defines warrenty relative to the purchase date.
In the edit box you can enter an amount, and in the listbox you choose what time frame this amount
refers to. In this manner you can define warrenties like: 3 years, 90 days and so on.
Editing associated hardware-
The edit dialog is similar to the "Add" dialog described above.
Deleting Hardware-
Deleting hardware is also done in the standard way. Note that if you wish to remove the hardware
component from the currently assigned object to another object - it would be better to use the
hardware clipboard functionality (See below) instead of deleting the hardware and adding it to the
target object.
Moving hardware to the Clipboard-
Since a hardware object is something you want to track (using the log system), there's an option
to move hardware objects between "parent" objects without deleting and re-adding them.
This allows to keep track of this specific hardware component whereever it is assigned.
The Hardware Clipboard does just that. To assign an object to the clipboar
choose it by clicking it once on the list, then click on the "Assign Hardware to Clipboard"
icon.
- Hardware Clipboard
-
You can access the Hardware Clipboard by clicking this icon - a new
dialog window will appear which will allow you to access the clipboard.
