Attributes
Attributes play a key role in how devices are tracked and managed. They provide detailed information about a device’s hardware and software, allow administrators to configure devices remotely, and help in organizing devices for management tasks. Attributes also facilitate auditing and device updates by ensuring that you are viewing an up-to-date snapshot of each device’s status and configuration in Device Trust Manager.
Device Trust Manager supports the following attribute types:
Inventory attributes
Inventory attributes are device properties provided by the device itself and stored in Device Trust Manager. These attributes are collected and updated periodically by the TrustEdge agent, which overrides any previously stored values. Inventory attributes allow administrators to monitor and track a device’s hardware and software specifications.
By default, TrustEdge agent collects the following inventory attributes:
MAC address
Serial number
Hardware model
Location
Operating system
Operating system version
IP address
CPU ID
Identity attributes
Device Trust Manager assigns a unique, internal, unchangeable identifier to each device, called the Device ID. Additionally, you can designate one of the Inventory Attributes as the device’s external identity (by default, this is the MAC address). The chosen identity attribute must be unique across the device fleet, ensuring each device is distinctly recognizable within the platform.
In cases where a single attribute is insufficient to uniquely identify a device, up to three inventory attributes can be combined to create a composite identity. For example, MAC address + IP Address + CPU ID. This composite identity must also be unique within the fleet.
Important
Once identity attributes are set, they remain fixed for the lifetime of the device, even if hardware components are replaced. This ensures reliable device identification even when performing hardware replacements, such as swapping out a network interface card.
Desired attributes
Desired attributes are key/value pairs delivered to devices running TrustEdge agent. These attributes are typically used to provide additional configuration details, such as a URL endpoint or other operational parameters, that the device needs to function.
Desired attributes can be defined at the group level or for individual devices. Once defined, all devices in the specified group receive the desired attributes when their TrustEdge agent connects to the Rendezvous Service.
Reported attributes
Reported attributes are custom key/value pairs generated by the device and sent to Device Trust Manager. Unlike inventory attributes–which are fixed–reported attributes provide flexibility by allowing devices to send additional, customizable data.
Reported attributes are typically generated by scripts or applications running on the device and are collected by TrustEdge agent. These attributes are then available to view in Device Trust Manager. This allows for searching and filtering, and provides administrators a way to manage devices more efficiently. For example, you can trigger specific actions based on reported attributes.