A group consists of one or more infrastructure devices, IP networks, VLANs, subgroups, and services. Groups are created by your administrator and may not be available for your session. The VMware Smart Assurance Service Assurance Manager Configuration Guide includes additional information on creating groups and importing data for groups.

A member can be an infrastructure device, IP network, VLAN, software service, service subscriber, or service offering. A member cannot be a subgroup.

A group map can display other groups (subgroups/child groups). To display the elements belonging to a group, double-click a selected group node. If the elements exceed 100, you are prompted to confirm whether to display them.

For a high-level group, individual members not assigned to any subgroups do not display in a map. Members are only displayed for groups that do not have subgroups.

The group node is colored to indicate that its state is normal, affected by one or more abnormal conditions, or unknown. The color is determined by the highest severity condition affecting the elements of the group. For example, if an element is experiencing a critical failure, the status bar is colored red. Edges for groups do not change colors.

In a Connectivity group map, one solid line edge represents aggregated relationships. Elements of one group have one or more connections with elements of another group.

Types of group maps are:

  • Group Physical Connectivity map. This map displays physical connectivity between group elements. The solid line edges between groups represent one or more physical connections between elements of different groups. The edges do not change colors to reflect their state. The number of hops cannot be changed.

  • Group IP Network Connectivity map. In this map, an edge between two groups indicates that there are one or more IP networks common to the two groups. The group icon containing the IP network is displayed; an IP network icon is not displayed. The number of hops cannot be changed.

  • Group VLAN Connectivity map. In this map, an edge between two groups indicates that there are one or more VLANs common to the two groups. The group icon containing the VLAN is displayed; the VLAN icon is not displayed. The number of hops cannot be changed.

  • Group Membership map. This map displays all of the elements of a selected group or a subgroup. The edges do not display. The concept of a hop is not applicable.