1. Tags in vScope

Tags and tagging are key concepts in vScope. Master tags and tagging (the procedure of adding tags to resources) to create powerful custom views of the IT. Tags are represented as columns in Table Explorer and as labels on the Properties page. Adding tags to a resource means that it will be categorized and thus better searchable in vScope.

1.1. What is a tag?

A tag is a label or notation that stores information about a resource or component in vScope. A tag consists of a Name and a Value. The Name is always in text format while the Value can be a number, date, text or boolean. Tags does not require a value but can also have multiple values.

Name and values can be assigned in four different ways in vScope.

1.2. vScope Tags

Tags which name and value are managed by vScope is called “vScope Tags”. These tags are static and cannot be updated by the user. vScope Tags are a result of what has been found by discoveries.

Example – OS, VM Name, Installed Applications

1.3. Dynamic Tags

Dynamic tags are named by a user but have a value that is dynamically managed by vScope. This can be relevant for customization of the format of a tag eg. excluding a certain value from a vScope Tag or just simply renaming a vScope Tag to set standards.

Example – Installed Internet Explorer Versions, Filtered User Groups, Number of Owners

1.4. Reserved Tags

By reserving tags, vScope can build custom content automatically based on the user input.

Example – Billing Account, Service, Owner

1.5. Manual Tags

A user defined and managed tag is called a “Manual tag”. The user can name this tag whatever he/she like and assign a custom value to it.

Example – SLA, Project Number, Business Unit

2. Tagging in vScope

2.1 Who can assign tags in vScope?

Permission level Contributor or Administrator is required to access tagging in vScope.

2.2. Manual tagging

Manual tagging means that tags are fully assigned and managed by the user. It is like adding a post-it to a folder. It is quick and easy but remember to update these manually in order for them to stay relevant.

2.2.1. One-at-a-time

Tags can be assigned manually, one-at-a-time from both the Properties page and Table Explorer.

2.2.2. In Table Explorer

Assign a tag to any resource by right-clicking the value in it’s column in Table Explorer:

2.2.3. On a Properties page

Tags can easily be managed on the Properties page of each resource.

Gray tags are assigned using Manual Tagging and Yellow tags are tags assigned using Rule-based tagging (see below).

2.2.4 Bulk tag

Add tags in bulk to multiple resources from Table Explorer.

1. Select the resources for tagging by clicking the blue selection dots
2. Right-click -> “Add Tag”
3. Enter Tag name and Tag value

2.3 Rule-based tagging

By using rule-based tagging it is possible to program vScope to assign tags to resources automatically. This is the recommended method of tagging and will allow automated categorization of resources. Based on specified rules, tags will automatically show up on any resource that matches that rule.

1. In Table Explorer, select a new table of the resource to create a tagging rule for
2. Click “Create Tag”
3. Input name and value (notice that it’s possible to have vScope automatically input a value based on rules)
4. In the filter panel, specify the rules that should be valid for the tag to be assigned to a resource. Notice that there is a preview of the result before clicking “Confirm”.
5. Save and done.

2.3.1 Removing tags

Rule-based tags can be removed (or edited) from the Tag Manager . Manual tags can be removed from both Properties and Table Explorer.

2.3.1.1 One-at-a-time

Table Explorer

1. Right-click a row
2. Hover “Remove tag”
3. Select the tag to remove

Properties page

Tags can easily be removed from a resource by just erasing the input on the Properties page.

2.3.1.1 Bulk delete

1. In Table explorer, select a number of resources to the left
2. Right-click and hover “Remove tag”
3. Select the tag to remove

2.4 Tags from related resource

vScope automatically maps relationships between resources. This means that it is possible to see information about different resources in the same view. This is a powerful feature and saves a lot of time from not having to correlate the information. In order to view a tag from a related resource it is necessary to understand that there is a relation between two resources eg. server and a database.

Here is an example of how to view a tag from a related resource.

1. In Table Explorer, select the starting resource
2. Click “Add column” and go down to “Get Tag from related resource”
3. Select what resource
4. Select what tag

The tag has now been added by default to this resource. It is possible to hide this tag again in Tag manager.

2.5. Tag manager

Rule-based tags and tags from related resource can be managed in Tag manager. Tag manager can be found in the sidebar under the Admin section (Admin or Contributor permissions required)

Learn more about Tag manager.

2.6. Default tags

When adding tags to a resource, vScope will make suggestions from the default tags. Manage these default tags from the Settings page in vScope. These tags will shown by default on the Properties pages.