You can group Windows computers in the Sentinel console using characteristics the computers have in common. These characteristics are called computer attributes and are based on the presence of registry keys or registry key values.
When you create a device group in the Sentinel console, you can choose from a list of predefined or custom computer attributes. You can also create a custom computer attribute during the device group creation process. Sentinel Agent Manager places computers with the specified attribute in the device group.
The central computer sends computer attribute definitions to Windows agents whenever it installs a Windows agent or the definitions change. The Windows agents send their computer attributes to the central computer when it first installs the Windows agents, every 24 hours since the Windows agents last sent their computer attributes, or during a managed computer scan if the computer attributes are older than 24 hours. For more information about device group attributes, see Section 7.2, Device Group Membership.
Sentinel Agent Manager provides predefined computer attributes that define built‑in device groups. Predefined computer attributes are located in the Sentinel Web Console.
You can create custom computer attributes that you can use and reuse to create device groups.
When you create or modify a computer attribute, the central computer sends the computer attribute definition to the Windows agents at the next heartbeat. Then the Windows agents collect their computer attributes and send them to the central computer at the following heartbeat. After the central computer receives computer attributes, it places computers in the appropriate device groups. For more information about device groups, see Section 7.2, Device Group Membership.