Smart Groups
Jamf Pro allows you to create smart groups for managed computers, mobile devices, or users. You can create smart groups based on one or more inventory attributes.
To avoid issues, smart group criteria should be well-defined and avoid using circular recalculations where two smart groups rely on the membership of the other. We recommend you use smart groups for scoping, deployment, and actionable items. For information gathering, queries, and reports, use the advanced search feature.
For more information about inventory attributes that you can base smart groups on, see the following sections:
After creating a smart group, you can view its memberships.
Criteria Operators
The following table lists operators and examples of how they might be used to qualify values:
Operator |
Definition |
Example |
---|---|---|
is |
Matches the specified string exactly |
The criteria "'Computer Name' is 'Test Computer 6'" includes computers with the name "Test Computer 6". By contrast, a computer with the name "Test Computer 7" is not included. |
is not |
Matches values that do not match the specified string exactly |
The criteria "'Display Name' is not 'CEO iPad'" includes all devices except those with the exact display name "CEO iPad". By contrast, a device with the display name "'CEO iPad Old'" is not included. |
like |
Matches value that contain the specified string |
The criteria "'Computer Name' like 'AP Science Mac'" includes computers with names such as "AP Science Mac 1", "AP Science Mac 2", and "AP Science Mac 3". |
not like |
Matches values that do not contain the specified string |
The criteria "'Display Name' not like 'Staff'" includes devices with display names such as "Student A", "Student B", and "Smith Personal iPhone". |
matches regex |
Matches values that match the specified regular expression (regex). For more information on regex, see the Using Regex with Smart Groups and Advanced Searches article. |
The criteria "'Computer Name' matches regex '^LAB-.*$s'" includes computers with names such as "LAB-ART-101", "LAB-CS-101", and "LAB-CS-102". |
does not match regex |
Matches values that do not match the specified regular expression (regex). For more information on regex, see the Using Regex with Smart Groups and Advanced Searches article. |
The criteria "'Display Name' does not match regex '^HS'" includes devices with display names such as "iPad HS loaner" and "11 HS iPad". |
And/Or Groupings
- and—Only devices that fulfill all related criteria will be included in membership.
- or—Devices that fulfill any of the related criteria will be included in membership.
If more complex logic is necessary to define the relationships between your criteria, you can use the parenthesis pop-ups to group criteria together.
Creating a Smart Group
To enable the Send email notification on membership change setting, email notifications must be enabled in Jamf Pro. For more information, see the following:
Operations in the group take place in the order they are listed (top to bottom).
Group memberships are updated each time the following happens:
Computers submit inventory to Jamf Pro and meet or fail to meet the specified criteria.
Note:Some inventory attributes are updated when computers check in rather than when they submit inventory (e.g., Last Check-in). Smart groups containing criteria based on these attributes update memberships each time computers check in.
Mobile devices contact Jamf Pro and meet or fail to meet the specified criteria.
User information is edited.
Viewing Smart Group Memberships
- In Jamf Pro, click Computers
, Devices
, or Users
at the top of the sidebar.
- Click Smart Computer Groups, Smart Device Groups, or Smart User Groups.
- Click the smart group you want to view memberships for.
- Click View
.
A list of group memberships is displayed.