Configure Windows Polling Method in Netreo

BMC Helix Network Management allows you to specify your preferred default polling method for Windows managed devices. If you require individual devices to use a different polling method from the default, you may configure those specific devices to override the default with a selected method instead.

BMC Helix Network Management Default Windows Polling Method

To configure the BMC Helix Network Management default Windows polling method follow the instructions below.

1. Log in to BMC Helix Network Management as a user with the SuperAdmin access level.
2. From the main menu select Administration >> System >> Preferences to open the System Preferences page.
3. In the "System Options" section locate the WINDOWS POLLING METHOD field.
   1. Use the pull-down menu to select the desired default polling method for Windows managed devices. The options available are:
      • Windows Management Instrumentation, or WMI - (Used for polling pre-version-10 Windows Server devices that still use the deprecated WMIC tool.)
      • Windows Remote Management, or WinRM - This option uses PowerShell via WinRM for polling. (WMI commands are still used by PowerShell to collect polling data. See WMI Class Reference for more information.) BMC Helix Network Management ships with this option selected by default.
4. At the bottom of the page select Save Changes.

BMC Helix Network Management will now default to using this method for polling all Windows-based managed devices in your network. To override this selection for individual devices, see the instructions below.

Device-Specific Windows Polling Override

If you need to override BMC Helix Network Management's default Windows polling method for an individual Windows-based managed device follow the instructions below.

1. Log in to BMC Helix Network Management as a user with the Admin access level or higher.
2. Navigate to the Device Dashboard of the Windows device for which you would like to override the default polling method.
   
3. Select the gear icon in the top right of the dashboard to switch to the Device Administration page.
   
4. On the "Main" tab select Show Advanced Options to reveal additional settings.
   
5. Locate the POLLING TYPE field.
   
6. Use the pull-down menu to select the desired polling method to be used for that specific device. The options available are:
   • System Default - Use the default polling method set above
   • Force WMI - Force this device to use WMI for polling, regardless of what is set as the default. (Used for polling pre-version-10 Windows Server devices that still use the deprecated WMIC tool.)
   • Force WinRM (PowerShell) - Force this device to use PowerShell via WinRM for polling, regardless of what is set as the default. (WMI commands are still used by PowerShell to collect polling data. See WMI Class Reference for more information.)
7. At the bottom of the page select Apply Changes.

BMC Helix Network Management will now always use the selected polling method for that individual Windows device.