Link assets and devices for complete visibility into the lifecycle of all your sites' agent-installed devices, from the Asset inventory page. This connection allows you to view and manage all inventory information from an asset, easily see its linked device, and navigate seamlessly between the two.

Link assets and devices for complete visibility into the lifecycle of all your customers' agent-installed devices, from the Asset inventory page. This connection allows you to view and manage all inventory information from an asset, easily see its linked device, and navigate seamlessly between the two.

Note: This functionality is being rolled out gradually and will be available to everyone soon.

How it works

The serial number serves as the unique identifier that links assets and devices. Without a serial number, an asset can't be linked to its matching device, even if that device already exists in Atera.

You can add a serial number to an asset from the Asset inventory page under the Linked device column, or directly within the asset itself.

Assets and devices can be linked no matter which one is added first in Atera. Linking logic works as follows:

When a new agent is installed, the device searches the Asset inventory for a matching serial number:

• If a match is found: The new agent-installed device is linked to the matching asset. The asset type does not need to be one of the defaults – if the existing asset is of a different type, it will still match and retain its current type.
• If no match is found: A new asset is created using one of the default asset types and is linked to the device. See, Automatic asset creation

When a new asset is created, the asset searches all agent-installed devices for a matching serial number:

• If a match is found: The new asset is linked to the matching agent-installed device.
• If no match is found: The asset's linking state will be set to Pending until a matching agent is installed.

Once a device and asset are linked, their data (name, site, folder, and user) syncs.

Once a device and asset are linked, their data (name, customer, folder, and contact) syncs.

Data syncing

When an asset and device are linked, their data (name, site, folder, and user) syncs. The initial sync is pulled from the device to the asset. Any future changes, to either the asset or device, will sync both ways. 

Note: Users can become partially synced. This occurs when a user with an existing device is assigned to either a new asset or device. A user can be assigned to multiple assets, but only to one agent-installed device. So, the user is removed from its current device, but remains assigned to its existing linked asset. The user will then be assigned to the linked device of the new asset. 

When an asset and device are linked, their data (name, customer, folder, and contact) syncs. The initial sync is pulled from the device to the asset. Any future changes, to either the asset or device, will sync between each other. 

Note: Contacts can become partially synced. This occurs when a contact with an existing device is assigned to either a new asset or device. A contact can be assigned to multiple assets. So, the contact is removed from its current device, but remains assigned to its existing linked asset. The contact will then be assigned to the linked device of the new asset. 

The warranty expiration date and purchase date are automatically synced from Dell devices, which pull the data directly from the vendor.

Note: These two fields are not editable, unless you remove the device link, which will keep the existing information in the field, but allow you to edit it.

Automatic asset creation

New assets are automatically created and linked to new agent-installed devices if no existing asset matches the device's serial number. When this new asset is created, it uses a Default asset type:

• Workstation assets are created for new Windows PC or Mac devices.
• Server assets are created for new Windows or Linux server devices.

To view the automatic asset creation mapping, go to Admin > Data management > Custom assets, then click Default types. Learn more

Remove a link between asset and device

Remove the serial number of an asset to unlink an asset and a device. 

Note:

• The name, site, folder, and users will stay the same for the asset and the device, but future changes will not be synced between the two.
• The name, customer, folder, and contacts will stay the same for the asset and the device, but future changes will not be synced between the two.
• Permanently deleting an asset won't delete its linked device, it'll only removes the link (and vice versa when deleting a device).