Computer groups are authored within the MOM Administrator console under the following console node:

Console Root\Microsoft Operations Manager\Management Packs\computer groups

To create a computer group, an author can right-click the Computer Group console node and select the Create Computer Group option from the context menu. The Computer Group Wizard appears and provides the opportunity to define a number of Computer Group criteria options, including:

• Computer Group Name and Description

• Included Sub Groups

• Included and Excluded Computers

• Scope of Computer Group Membership

• Formula

• State Roll-up Policy

Once the Computer Group Wizard appears, the author will be provided with an opportunity to define the Computer Groups Name and Description. A name is required, but descriptions are optional.

At the next wizard screen, the author can define any Sub Groups that the computer group should have. Since Sub Groups are non-exportable, Management Pack authors will move onto the next wizard screen without making changes. Once a customer receives the Management Pack, they may modify the Sub Groups option to define the computer group hierarchy that meets their needs.

In the next two wizard screens, the author can add computers to the Included Computers and Excluded Computers lists. Management Pack authors can leave these wizard dialogs unchanged, as these setting are generally administered by the end user of the Management Pack. Note that changes to these lists are non-exportable.

In the next wizard dialog screen, the author can modify the scope of computer group membership for the computer group. By default, the dialog box is configured to not include any computers automatically, leaving it up to the end user to populate the Included and Exclude Computers lists. Typically, an author will select one or more options from the Include Computers that are option. The author might typically select the Server, or possibly the Client, options. The additional setting within the Included Computers section are typically configured by the end user of the Management Pack.

In the following wizard screen, the author is able to define a formula that uses computer attributes that have likely been created earlier in the process. This formula will enable the Computer Group to acquire membership if a computer matches the criteria in the formula. This is an example of a typical formula:

AttributeValue(Microsoft Windows IIS Server) AND AttributeValue(Microsoft Windows Current Version)="5.0"

In the final configuration dialog box, the author can select the State Roll-up Policy for the computer group. By default, the computer group is configured to have a state that is equal to the most severe alert from any one of the computers that are a member of the computer group. Typically, an author does not change this setting.