Creating and managing devices from Datto Network Manager
When configured to do so, the Datto Networking integration with Autotask will create devices in Autotask from devices in Datto Network Manager and continue to update data on those devices daily.
Some elements of the configuration are done in Autotask, but the majority of the configuration steps will be completed in Datto Network Manager. In Datto Network Manager, you can configure the integration to generate tickets or to sync devices or to do both. For more information, refer to Configuring the Datto Networking Autotask integration in the Datto Networking online help.
The general workflow is as follows:
- Establish the connection between Datto Network Manager and Autotask by authenticating an Autotask resource account in Datto Network Manager. This only needs to be done once by one resource. Note that the resource who does the authentication and creates the connection will appear as the resource who creates Datto Networking Alert tickets and as the resource who installed the Datto Network Manager devices in your instance of Autotask.
- In Datto Network Manager, map the Datto Networking Device Types to device categories in Autotask. If a Datto Networking Device Type is not mapped to a device category, it will not be synced.
- Sync the devices from Datto Network Manager to Autotask. This will happen automatically after the initial mapping of Datto Networking Device Types to device categories in Autotask. Newly created devices will use the device category as configured in the integration.
- After the initial mapping, Datto Network Manager will sync to Autotask approximately every 24 hours. During the sync, any newly created devices in Datto Network Manager will be created in Autotask and any changes to synced fields on Datto Network Manager devices will update the values of those fields for the existing devices in Autotask. For more information about the synced fields, refer to Field mapping from Datto Network Manager to Autotask.
- Use the Associated with Datto Network Manager condition in workflow rules and as a search filter, widget filter, widget grouping, and column in the column chooser for device tables.
- Once created and synced, the devices can be managed like any other device in Autotask. For more information on working with devices, refer to Devices.
- You can additionally choose to have select Datto Network Manager alerts create tickets in Autotask. This has the advantage of allowing tickets created from alerts in Datto Network Manager to be automatically associated to the correct device in Autotask. Refer to Creating ticket alerts from Datto Network Manager.
- If the integration is ever disabled, any devices created by the integration will remain in Autotask but will no longer be updated by Datto Network Manager.
Setting up the integration
Required setup in Datto Networking
For an overview of the steps required to initiate the integration between Datto Networking and Autotask, refer to Required setup in Datto Networking. For more detailed information, refer to Configuring the Datto Networking Autotask integration in the Datto Networking online help.
Required setup in Autotask
Once the integration is set up in Datto Network Manager, the mapped Datto Networking Device types will create devices in Autotask. These devices will use the selected Autotask device categories. Prior to completing the integration, you should review the device categories you intend to select. For more detailed information, refer to Managing categories.
- Navigate to
> Admin > Features & Settings > Devices > Device Categories and locate the device categories you intend to map to. Click New to create a new one or select Edit from the context menu to review or update an existing one. - On the General tab, review the following items:
- Header > Product: The Product selected here will be used for the Autotask device. If the device category does not provide a product name, the system product Equipment will be applied to the device.
- Main Body > Details from Datto Network Manager: Ensure that Visible is selected for this option.
- Review all other sections and fields for any default settings you want to apply.
Additionally, you may want to review your existing workflow rules, widgets or tables to see if you have a use for the Associated with Datto Network Manager condition. The Associated with Datto Network Manager condition is available for use as a search filter, widget filter, widget group, and as a column in the column chooser for device tables.
Field mapping from Datto Network Manager to Autotask
The sync between Datto Network Manager and Autotask flows in one direction, from Datto Network Manager to Autotask. Devices in Autotask are created from and updated by Datto Network Manager. Devices in Datto Network Manager are not updated with changes to devices in Autotask.
NOTE Devices in Datto Network Manager and Autotask will be considered the same device if they are associated with the same organization and have the same MAC address.
The majority of the fields synced from Datto Network Manager will appear on the device entity page in the Details from Datto Network Manager section and will not be editable. Exceptions are the Description field and Installed Date field. Both these fields appear elsewhere on the device entity page. They are populated initially from Datto Network Manager but can be edited afterward.
Additionally, the name of the resource used to authenticate the integration will appear in the Installed By field of the Autotask device when the device is created. This field typically appears in the Primary Information section of the Details panel, depending on the how the device category is configured. It can be edited and any changes made to this field in the Autotask device will not be synced back to the Datto Network Manager.
When a Datto Network Device is associated with a device in Autotask, the fields in Datto Network Manager are mapped as follows:
| This Datto Networking Device Field . . . | . . . maps to this Autotask Device Field | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Configuration Make | Manufacturer | On the Autotask device entity page, this field appears in the Details from Datto Network Manager section. It is a read-only field and cannot be edited in Autotask. |
| Model | Model | On the Autotask device entity page, this field appears in the Details from Datto Network Manager section. It is a read-only field and cannot be edited in Autotask. |
| MAC Address
|
MAC Address | On the Autotask device entity page, this field appears in the Details from Datto Network Manager section. It is a read-only field and cannot be edited in Autotask. NOTE Devices in Datto Network Manager and Autotask will be considered the same device if they are associated with the same organization and have the same MAC address. |
|
Serial Number |
When the device is first created, the MAC Address will populate the Serial Number field. This field typically appears in the Primary Information section of the Details panel, depending on the how the device category is configured. It can be edited and any changes made to this field in the Autotask device will not be synced back to the Datto Network Manager. NOTE If you are using the Datto RMM integration in addition to the Datto Network Manager integration, note that the Datto RMM integration will consider a device in Datto RMM and Autotask to be the same device if they are associated with the same organization and have the same Serial Number. In Datto RMM, the MAC address is used as the serial number for Datto Network Manager devices. |
|
| Device Name | Hostname | On the Autotask device entity page, this field appears in the Details from Datto Network Manager section. It is a read-only field and cannot be edited in Autotask. |
| Date of first check-in | Installed Date | On the Autotask device, this field typically appears in the Primary Information section of the Details panel, depending on the how the device category is configured. It can be edited in Autotask. Any changes made to this field in the Autotask device will not be synced back to Datto Network Manager. |
| Firmware version | Firmware | On the Autotask device entity page, this field appears in the Details from Datto Network Manager section. It is a read-only field and cannot be edited in Autotask. |
| LAN/Internal IP Address | Internal IP Address | On the Autotask device entity page, this field appears in the Details from Datto Network Manager section. It is a read-only field and cannot be edited in Autotask. |
| External IP Address | External IP Address | On the Autotask device entity page, this field appears in the Details from Datto Network Manager section. It is a read-only field and cannot be edited in Autotask. |
| Description | Description | On the Autotask device, this field appears on the main panel. It can be edited in Autotask. Any changes made to this field in the Autotask device will not be synced back to Datto Network Manager. |
How do I . . .
Create workflow rules for devices associated with Datto Network Manager?
You can use the Associated with Datto Network Manager condition to create workflow rules specifically for devices created by the Datto Network Manager integration. You can also create workflow rules for devices based on fields that are synced from Datto Network Manager. For a list of the fields synced from Datto Network Manager, refer to Field mapping from Datto Network Manager to Autotask. For more information about workflow rule attributes, refer to Workflow rule attributes, operators, and field types.
Create widgets for devices associated with Datto Network Manager?
You can use the Associated with Datto Network Manager filter to create widgets for devices created by the Datto Network Manager integration. You can also create widgets for devices based on fields synced from Datto Network Manager. For a list of those fields, refer to Field mapping from Datto Network Manager to Autotask. For more information about creating widgets, refer to Adding a widget and editing widget settings.
Move or merge devices associated with Datto Network Manager?
Devices in Datto Network Manager that have been synced to Autotask are managed in Datto Network Manager. If a device is moved from one organization to another, that change should be recorded in Datto Network Manager. After it is moved, on the next sync a new device will be created in Autotask and the original device in Autotask will be inactivated. The Move Device and Merge Device functions are not available for devices associated with Datto Network Manager.
NOTE Devices in Datto Network Manager and Autotask will be considered the same device if they are associated with the same organization and have the same MAC address.
