Technical white paper

HP Device Manager 4.6

Automated Device Importer

Table of contents
Overview .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Preparation ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
HPDM preparation..................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Input file preparation................................................................................................................................................................ 2
Importing devices .......................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Maintaining the device importer ................................................................................................................................................ 8
For more information ................................................................................................................................................................... 9

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Overview
The purpose of this document is to demonstrate how to use the Automated Device Importer in HPDM. The Automated
Device Importer is a special feature integrated within the HPDM Console. The importer parses all files in a specified folder to
find all devices and to import them into HPDM.

Preparation
HPDM preparation
1.

Create a user in the HPDM Console and assign them to the Administrators group.

Input file preparation

1.
2.

3.
4.

Create a folder containing some text files.

The file names are used as manual group folder, up to three levels. A file name that does not contain a _ leads
devices to the default manual group, or others.
A. For example, A_B_C_D.txt adds devices to the manual group B/C/D.
B. Book1.csv adds devices to the default manual group (others).
Split the columns with either a ; or a , character.
The columns must be in the following order:
hostname

5.

Mac

Type

sn

OS

gw

The hostname and MAC columns are required.

A. MAC is used as unique device ID. Entries in the formats AABBCCDDEEFF or AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF are both accepted.
B. HPDM can send a task to rename a device if the hostname of the registered device in the database differs from
the hostname assigned to the device in the input file. You can disable this function by clearing the check box in the
options panel.

6.

The other columns are optional. They update as soon as a device reports to the HPDM Server.
TypeIndicates the device type, such as HP t610.
OSIndicates the device operating system, such as WES 8 64 bit or HP ThinPro 4. If the operating system is not

specified, the device is added to the Unidentified tab. The device moves to the correct tab when it reports to the
HPDM Server.
gwIndicates the HPDM Gateway ID for the HPDM Gateway that manages the device. If a HPDM Gateway ID is not

specified or is not a valid ID in the system, the device is added to a random, known HPDM Gateway. You can find the
known HPDM Gateway IDs in the HPDM Gateway tab in the HPDM Console.

7.

The following is an example of valid content in txt:

8.

The following is an example of qualified content in csv:

9.

The expected behavior is as follows:

All new devices are imported.
The First Contact Rules for new devices are not triggered until they report to the HPDM Server.
All known devices are ignored unless there is hostname change.

Importing devices
There are two ways to import devices.
To import devices from the HPDM Console:
1.

In the HPDM Console, select File -> Import Devices from the menu. The Import Devices dialog appears.

2.

Select the path of folder containing the devices to import.

3.

View the progress and results from the GUI.

To import devices using the Automated Device Importer:

1.
2.

Run the HPDM Console with the parameter DeviceImporter. The Automated Device Importer starts at login. This
GUI only imports devices.
Enter your username and password to log in to the HPDM Server.

3.

Select the folder containing the import device list.

4.

View the progress and results from the GUI.

Maintaining the device importer

You can modify the configuration file (%ProgramData%\Hewlett-Packard\HP Device Manager\Console\conf\importer.conf)
to change the user, path, or auto-close options.
Operating system

shared application data location

%ProgramData%

Windows Server 2003

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data

windows Server 2008

C:\ProgramData

Windows XP

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data

Windows 7

C:\ProgramData

The following is an example of the content of importer.conf:

You can create a Scheduled Task to run this importer periodically. Go to http://technet.microsoft.com/enus/library/cc786711(WS.10).aspx for more information.

For more information

To read more about HP Device Manager, go to hp.com/go/hpdm.

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hp.com/go/getupdated
Copyright 2014 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
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The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty
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technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.
First Edition: March 2014