To safely test DAT and content files, create a test group of systems used to run the files in your Evaluation repository.
Make sure that the test group of systems you use meet the following criteria:
Use a representative sampling of system server builds, workstation builds, and operating systems and Service Packs in your environment for validation.
Use 20–30 systems for validation for organizations with less than 10,000 nodes. For larger organizations, include at least 50 types of systems.
Note
You can use VMware images that replicate your operating system builds. Make sure that these systems are in a "clean" state to ensure that no malware has been introduced.
Use Tags to apply policies and tasks to individual systems that are scattered throughout your System Tree. Tagging these systems has the same effect as creating an isolated test group, but allows you to keep your systems in their current groups.
For details about product features, usage, and best practices, click ? or Help.
To create a System Tree group, select Menu → Systems Section → System Tree.
From the System Tree group list, select where you want to add your new group, then click System Tree Actions → New Subgroups, and in the New Subgroups dialog box, type a name, for example
DAT Validation, then click OK.To add systems to your test group, you can drag systems from other groups to your newly created subgroup, add new systems, or add virtual machine systems.
You created a test group as an isolated group of systems. This test group allows you to test new DAT and engine updates before you deploy the updates to all other systems in your organization.