Working with VSC Blueprints

The Virtual Service Center (VSC) blueprint feature allows you to create one or more pre-configured VSC definitions that are used during the creation of new VARs. As well a default blueprint may be set so new VAR creation will default to use a blueprint.

You can use VSC blueprints to pre-configure VSCs for MSPs, for example. You

can define the blueprint by

• importing policy modules

• creating service groups

• adding additional scripts

• creating report categories

• importing reports

• creating new user roles

• modifying user permissions on existing roles

• assigning policy modules to service groups

You can

• create new VSC blueprints (see Creating VSC Blueprints)

• modify a VSC blueprint name and description (see Modifying a VSC Blueprint Name or Description)

• remove VSC blueprints (see Deleting VSC Blueprints)

• define the VSC blueprint details (see Defining VSC Blueprints)

• create a new VSC and associate it with a VSC blueprint (see Creating a New VSC and Associating it with a VSC Blueprint)

• associate an existing VSC with a VSC blueprint (see Working with Existing VSCs)

• see a list of VSC blueprints and their associated VSCs (see Viewing VSC Blueprints and their Associated VSCs)

• see how a VSC blueprint is defined (see Viewing VSC Blueprint Definition Details)

• modify existing blueprints (see Modifying a VSC Blueprint Name or Description)

1. In the Hosted Console website, click Configuration > VSC Blueprints.

2. In the VSC Blueprints window, click Create.

3. Type a Name and Description in the boxes.

4. If SQL credentials are required, enter the user name and password.

5. Click Create.

1. In the Hosted Console website, click Configuration > VSC Blueprints.

2. Select the corresponding check box for the blueprint you want to set as the default.

3. From the More Actions list, select Set as Default Blueprint.

When creating a new Virtual Service Center (VSC), you can select which VSC blueprint to use to create the new VSC.

1. In the Hosted Console website, click Status > VAR Dashboard.

2. In the VAR Dashboard window, click Add New VAR.

3. In the Add VAR dialog box, enter the VAR Company Name.
   This is how the VAR is labeled in the Hosted Console Dashboard.

4. Enter the VAR Domain.
   This is used to distinguish between each VAR on the login page and database, and it must be provided to the VAR in order for them to access their Service Center.

5. Enter the VAR Code.
   This is used to track VAR licensing.

6. Enter identifying information for the VAR in the First Name, Last Name, Phone Number, Email Address boxes.

7. Enter address information for the VAR in the Street, P.O. Box (if required), City, State/Province, Country, Postal/ZIP Code boxes.

8. Enter the User Name and initial Password for the Admin user that is created with the Virtual Service Center.

9. In the VAR Settings section, select the VSC Blueprint for the VAR.
   The Host name or IP of the database server is pre-populated based on the database server specified during installation. By default, the SQL Authentication User Name and Password boxes are populated with the credentials that were used during installation. Different credentials can be specified by entering the information into the SQL User Name and Password boxes.

10. Select the server where the Virtual Service Center will be created from the Application Server list.

11. Select the process where the Virtual Service Center will be created from the Worker Process list and click Save.
    You can add a new worker process to host the VAR by selecting Add New Process.

To edit the details of an existing VAR, see VAR Configuration.

You can see a list of the VSC blueprints that have been created and their associated VSCs.

1. In the Hosted Console website, click Configuration > VSC Blueprints.
   The VSC Blueprints window opens and all the blueprints that have been created appear in the table.

2. Click a blueprint name.
   The VSC Blueprints Editor window opens and in the Applied VARs section, you can see the VSCs that are associated with the blueprint.

You can see how a VSC blueprint is defined by clicking a VSC blueprint in the VSC Blueprints window. This will open the VSC Blueprint Editor window where you can click a tab at the top of the window (Policies, Groups, Scripts, Report Categories, Reports, Roles, or Users) to see the definition details for the item.

1. In the Hosted Console website, click Configuration > VSC Blueprints.

2. In the blueprint list, click the VSC blueprint for which you want to modify the name or description.

3. In the Summary section, click Modify.

4. Type a new Name or Description in the boxes.

5. Click Save.

You can only delete a VSC blueprint if no VSCs are associated with it.

1. In the Hosted Console website, click Configuration > VSC Blueprints.

2. Select the check box that corresponds with the VSC blueprint you want to delete.

3. Click Delete.

4. Click OK.

You can use Virtual Service Center (VSC) blueprints to pre-configure VSC definition for MSPs. For example, you can define the blueprint by defining policy modules, groups, scripts, report categories, reports, user roles and users.

1. In the Hosted Console website, click Configuration > VSC Blueprints.

2. In the blueprint list, click the VSC blueprint you want to define.

3. Depending on what you want to define, click one of the tabs at the top of the window (Policies, Groups, Scripts, Report Categories, Reports, Roles, or Users) and see one of the topics listed below for detailed information.

For information about defining policy modules, see the following topics:

The Policy Modules window lists the policy modules that have been added or imported into VSC Blueprint, and it allows for new policy modules to be

created or imported. For more information, see Creating Policy Modules and About Importing Policy Modules.

1. In the Hosted Console website, click Configuration > VSC Blueprints.

2. Click an existing Blueprint name

3. Click the Policy Modules tab.

The Policy Modules window provides the following information:

The policy module list can be sorted in ascending or descending order by clicking a column header.

Tip: Policy modules allow sets of monitor and alert rules to be quickly applied to groups or devices to make it easier to implement effective monitoring.

A policy module is not a container for groups or devices, but a means of applying monitor and alert rules to groups or devices. Removing policy modules removes all monitor and alert rules from the groups or devices to which the policy module was applied. For more information, see Deleting Policy Modules.

You can export a policy module to an XML file for backup purposes. For instructions, see Exporting Policy Modules.

Creating Policy Modules

You can create policy modules to monitor devices or applications. When creating a new policy module, some research will be required to identify how the device or application reports its status or events. See Configuring Individual Monitor Types for a list of the monitors that you can add to policy modules, and how they are configured.

1. In the Hosted Console website, click Configuration > VSC Blueprints.

2. In the Blueprints list, click a blueprint name.

3. Click the Policies tab.

4. Click New.

5. In the New Policy Module Name box, type a name for the new policy module.

6. If desired, in the Description box, type a description for the policy module.

7. Click Create.

1. Click the Monitors tab.

2. Click Add Monitor.

3. From the Choose Monitor Type box, select the type of monitor you want to add to the policy module.

4. Click OK.
   If the monitor type doesn’t have monitor rules applied to it, you will have to add them now. For detailed instructions about adding a specific monitor type, see Configuring Individual Monitor Types.

5. Click the Overview tab.

1. In the Applied Groups section, click Add Groups.

2. In the Group Type list, select the type of group (All, Service Groups or Site Groups) to which you want to apply the policy module.
   You can filter the groups list by selecting items from the lists located under each column header.

3. Do one of the following:

   • Select the check box that corresponds with each group to which you want to apply the policy module.

   • Select the check box in the column header to select all groups.

4. Click Add to apply the policy module to the selected groups.

Barracuda Managed Workplace ships with a library of policy modules that let you implement remote monitoring and management quickly. The policy modules have been created with the monitors and alerts that are most useful, but may not be appropriate for every environment.

Policy modules can be added manually by creating a new policy module (see Creating Policy Modules). Or you can import a policy module from the library or from a file. For more information, see Importing Policy Modules from the Library and Importing Policy Modules from Files.

1. In the Hosted Console website, click Configuration > VSC Blueprints.

2. In the Blueprints list, click the blueprint into which you want to import the policy modules.

3. Click the Policies tab.

4. Click Import From Library.

5. Do one of the following:

   • Select the check box that corresponds with policy modules you want to import.

   • Select the check box in the column header to select all policy modules.

6. Click Import.

1. In the Hosted Console website, click Configuration > VSC Blueprints.

2. In the Blueprints list, click the blueprint into which you want to import the policy modules.

3. Click the Policies tab.

4. Click More Actions to display a list.

5. Click Import Policy Module.

6. In the Policy Module file name box, click Browse to search for the file.

7. Select the file you want to import and then click Open.

8. Click Import.

You can export a policy module to an XML file for backup purposes.

1. In the Hosted Console website, click Configuration > VSC Blueprints.

2. In the Blueprints list, click the blueprint that has the policy module you want to export.

3. Click the Policies tab.

4. Do one of the following:

   • Select the check box that corresponds with the policy module you want to export.

   • Select the check box in the column header to select all policy modules.

   Note: Only one policy module can be exported at a time.

5. Click More Actions to display a list.

6. Click Export Policy Module.

7. Click Save.

8. Browse to the location where you want to save the file.

9. Type a file name and click Save.

1. In the Hosted Console website, click Configuration > VSC Blueprints.

2. In the Blueprints list, click the blueprint that has the policy modules you want to delete.

3. Click the Policies tab.

4. In the list of policy modules, select the check box that corresponds with the policy module you want to delete.

5. Click Delete.

6. Click OK.

If required, you can override the following alert actions that are part of a policy module:

• send email alert notification, see Overriding Send Email Alert Notifications in Policy Modules

• escalate alert notifications, see Overriding Send Alert Notification Escalations in Policy Modules

• create trouble ticket, see Overriding Create Trouble Tickets Alert Action in Policy Modules

For information about alert actions, see Setting Up Alert Actions.

For information about overriding alert actions in monitors, see Overriding Alert Actions in Policy Modules.

1. In the Hosted Console website, click Configuration > VSC Blueprints.

2. In the Blueprints list, click the blueprint that has the policy module for which you want to override the Send Email Alert notification.

3. Click the Policies tab.

4. Do one of the following:

   • Select the check box that corresponds with the policy module for which you want to override the alert action.

   • Select the check box in the column header to select all policy modules.

5. Click More Actions to display a list.

6. Click Override Send Email Alert Notifications.

7. Depending on if you want to send an email alert notification, select or clear the Send Email check box.

8. If you chose to enable the alert action, depending on to whom you want to send the email, select either the To Authorized Users or the To the Following Email Addresses option button.

9. If you selected the To the Following Email Addresses option button, then: do the following:

   • If you need to add a new email address, click Add New. In the Add New Email Address dialog box type the new Email Address in the box and click OK.

   • If you want to use an email address from an existing user defined in the VSC Blueprint, click Add From Users. In the Add Email Addresses from Users dialog box, select the check boxes that correspond with the users to whom you want to send the email alert notification. Or, select the check box at the top of the check box column to select all check boxes. Click OK.

1. In the email address list, select the check box that corresponds with the email address you want to change.

2. Click Modify.

3. Make the required changes in the Email Address box.

4. Click OK.

1. In the email address list, select the check box that corresponds with the email address you want to remove.

2. Click Delete.

3. Click OK.

1. In the Hosted Console website, click Configuration > VSC Blueprints.

2. In the Blueprints list, click the blueprint that has the policy modules for which you want to override the Send Alert Notification Escalation.

3. Click the Policies tab.

4. Do one of the following:

   • Select the check box that corresponds with the policy module for which you want to override the alert action.

   • Select the check box in the column header to select all policy modules.

5. Click More Actions to display a list.

6. Click Override Escalate Alert Escalation Notifications.

7. Depending on if you want to send an escalation alert notification, select or clear the Escalate Alert check box.

8. If you chose to enable the alert action, choose the Hours and Minutes in which the alert escalation notification should be sent via email.

9. Depending on to whom you want to send the escalation alert notification, select either the To Authorized Users or the To the Following Email Addresses option button.

10. If you selected the To the Following Email Addresses option button, then do the following:

    • If you need to add a new email address, click Add New. In the Add New Email Address dialog box, type the new Email Address in the box and click OK.

    • If you want to use an email address from an existing user defined in the VSC Blueprint, click Add From Users. In the Add Email Addresses from Users dialog box, select the check boxes that correspond with the users to whom you want to send the alert notification. Or, select the check box at the top of the check box column to select all check boxes. Click OK.

To modify an email address

1. In the email address list, select the check box that corresponds with the email address you want to change.

2. Click Modify.

3. Make the required changes in the Email Address box.

4. Click OK.