Virtual sensors

You use a virtual sensor to view and monitor the average or total value of multiple numeric sensors of the same sensor type. Users with Device Administrator or Server Administrator access can view, create, modify, and delete virtual sensors for the server.  Creating a virtual sensor Editing a virtual sensor A virtual sensor can include numeric sensors for any device in any device group monitored by the Data Center Expert server, including other virtual sensors. A virtual sensor starts recording historical data when it is created. The value of the virtual sensor is calculated and updated only when all the devices monitoring the included sensors have been scanned. The value of the virtual sensor is a single value data point, representing the weighted average or weighted total of all the historical sensor data collected since the last calculation. Only Device Administrators and Server Administrators can create virtual sensors. To create a virtual sensor, you select whether you want it to report the average value or the total value for the sensors you want to include. You then select a combination of sensor type, device groups, and devices to filter the list of available sensors. Only device groups and devices containing sensors of the selected sensor type are shown. Note: You can select the sensor type Other Numeric only when all sensors for the selection use the same unit of measure. You cannot create a virtual sensor for state sensors. After you select the sensors you want to include in the virtual sensor, you identify a name for the virtual sensor, and specify the device group in which you want to create its virtual device parent. For each virtual sensor created, a virtual device parent is also created and added to the Device View and the Map View. You can right-click the Virtual Device parent, and select View Device Sensors to view the virtual sensor. You can view all the virtual sensors monitored by the Data Center Expert server in the Virtual Sensors view. Note: You cannot create a virtual sensor directly from sensors you manually added to the Map View. Both physical and virtual devices are included in the device count in the Device View, and the status bar at the bottom of the display. Virtual devices are not included in the Used Node Count in the "License Keys" display, accessed from the Server Administration Settings option in the System menu.

You cannot edit a virtual sensor until all sensors included in the virtual sensor are loaded. Modify the Name of the selected virtual sensor. Use the Search field and Clear button to filter the list to display only the sensors that include your typed text. Click the Configure Columns icon to define which columns appear in the list. The columns provide information for listed sensors. Add sensors to or Remove sensors from the selected virtual sensor. Note: You cannot remove all sensors from a virtual sensor.

Access the Create Virtual Sensor option: Right-click one or more devices in the Device View or Map View. Right-click a device group in the Device Groups view. Select Create Virtual Sensor from the Device menu. Select the Add icon in the Virtual Sensors view. Select whether you want the virtual sensor to report the Average value or the Total value of the sensors to be included. Select the sensor type for the virtual sensor. You can select the sensor type Other Numeric only when all sensors for the selection use the same unit of measure. You cannot create a virtual sensor for state sensors. Select the device groups containing the sensors you want to include in the virtual sensor. This option is available when you select Create Virtual Sensor from the Device menu, or from the Add icon in the Virtual Sensors view. Only device groups containing sensors of the selected sensor type are shown. Select the devices containing the sensors you want to include in the virtual sensor. Only devices containing sensors of the selected sensor type are shown. Select the sensors you want to include in the virtual sensor. Only sensors of the selected sensor type are shown. Identify a name for the virtual sensor. This virtual sensor name appears in the Label column for both the virtual device parent and virtual sensor. Specify the device group in which you want to create the Virtual Device parent for the virtual sensor. Click Finish to create the Virtual Device parent and the virtual sensor. The Virtual Device parent is added to the Device View and the Map View, with an unaddressable IP Address. You access the virtual sensor from the right-click menu, View Device Sensors, or from the Virtual Sensors view.The Virtual Device is added to the device count only. It is not added to the Used Node Count for the node license.