Learn about best practices for creating your target groups and view some example target groups and use cases.

Note: Going forward, Automation Config is no longer included in the Aria Automation suite of products. The new name of this product is VMware Tanzu Salt and this product is available as part of the VMware Tanzu Platform suite of products. See Using and Managing Tanzu Salt for more information.

Create simple target rules

Although there's no limit to how many targets you can create in Automation Config, try to create the simplest targeting rules that encompass all the machines you need to take action against.

Identify required use cases

Before you create targets for your jobs, start with a list of use cases to help you determine which target types to use. For example, for patching, you can use grains to target a specific operating system. The following table contains some examples of target groups, common use cases, and recommended target type.

Target group Use case Target type
Operating system
  • Patching
  • Discovery or diagnostics
  • Standards compliance
Grain
Application cluster
  • Application installation
  • Directed compliance
  • Selective patching
  • Configuration management and drift detection and remeditation
Glob or list
Data center, subnet, availability zone, or other network segment
  • Compliance
  • Network or regional configuration
Glob or custom grain
Custom method
  • Approved or banned packagese
  • User management based on presence or absence of installated applications
  • User accounts
Custom grain