Configuring Host Aging Settings

Inactive hosts can be automatically removed from your Endpoint Security (HX) server. By default, hosts are not deleted automatically.

You can set up the automatic deletion of hosts using the host aging settings on the Aging Settings page in the Web UI or the API.

The top part of the Aging Settings page controls the aging of indicators and alerts on the Endpoint Security server. See the Endpoint Security (HX) Server User Guide for information about indicator and alert aging settings. See the Endpoint Security (HX) REST API Guide for more information about configuring the host aging settings using the API.

The bottom of the Aging Settings page controls the aging of hosts. This section covers the following topics:

Prerequisites

Admin access

Determining When Hosts Are Inactive

The Endpoint Security server identifies a host as an inactive host when its agent has not interacted with the server for a specified time period (its aging period). When a host is identified as inactive, it is added to the count of inactive hosts on the Web UI dashboard.

You can specify the time period after which the Endpoint Security (HX) server identifies a host as inactive using the Web UI or the CLI.

Defining the Inactivity Time Period Using the Web UI

To define the inactivity time period using the Web UI:

In the Web UI, select Aging Settings on the Admin menu. The Aging Settings page appears.
In the Host Aging area of the page, enter the inactivity time period in the Show on the dashboard when hosts are inactive for: box.
Specify the inactivity period in days, hours, minutes, or seconds, or any combination of these. A minimum of one day must be specified. A maximum of 365 days can be specified. For example, 45 days 6 hours 30 minutes 15 seconds is a valid entry. Note that 24 hours is not a valid entry, although 1 day is.
Click Save.
Note
If you click Cancel, your Host Aging settings are not saved. To discard changes and revert to default settings, after you have clicked Save, click Reset to defaults next to the Show on the dashboard when hosts are inactive for: box.

Defining the Inactivity Time Period Using the CLI

To define the inactivity time period using the CLI:

hostname > enable

hostname # configure terminal

Enable the CLI configuration mode:
Enter the aging period for inactive agents:
hostname (config) # hx agent inactivity period <seconds>
Valid values range from 86400 seconds (one day) through 31536000 seconds (one year). The default is 2582000 seconds (30 days).
To restore the default inactivity aging period:
hostname (config) # no hx agent inactivity period
Verify the updated host inactivity time period settings:
```
hostname (config) # show hx agent inactivity
```
Save your settings:
hostname (config) # write mem

Enabling Automatic Deletion of Inactive Hosts

The Endpoint Security (HX) server can automatically delete inactive hosts from its processing. This removes the hosts from all Web UI screens and all Endpoint Security (HX) processing.

To do this, you must enable automatic deletion of hosts and specify how long a host must be inactive before it is deleted. You can control these settings using the Web UI or the CLI.

Enabling Automatic Deletion Using the Web UI

To set up automatic deletion using the Web UI:

In the Web UI, select Aging Settings on the Admin menu. The Aging Settings page appears.
In the Host Aging area of the page, select the Delete hosts from the database after: option to enable automatic inactive host deletion.
In the Delete hosts from the database after: box, enter the inactivity time period after which an inactive host will be automatically deleted.
Specify the inactivity period in days, hours, minutes, or seconds, or any combination of these. A minimum of one day must be specified. A maximum of 365 days can be specified. For example, 45 days 6 hours 30 minutes 15 seconds is a valid entry. Note that 24 hours is not a valid entry, although 1 day is.
Click Save.
Note
If you click Cancel, your Host Aging settings are not saved. To discard changes and revert to default settings, after you have clicked Save, click Reset to defaults next to the Delete hosts from the database after: box.

Enabling Automatic Deletion Using the CLI

To set up automatic deletion using the CLI:

hostname > enable

hostname # configure terminal

Enable the CLI configuration mode:
Enable automatic inactive host deletion:
hostname (config) # hx agent aging enable
Specify the inactivity time period after which an inactive host will be automatically deleted:
hostname (config) # hx agent aging inactive-period <seconds>
Valid values range from 86400 seconds (one day) through 31536000 seconds (one year). The default is 7776000 seconds (90 days).
To restore the default inactive host deletion interval:
hostname (config) # no hx agent aging inactive-period
Verify the updated inactive host automatic deletion settings:
```
hostname (config) # show hx agent aging
```
Save your settings:
hostname (config) # write mem

Disabling Automatic Deletion of Inactive Hosts

The Endpoint Security (HX) server can automatically delete inactive hosts from its processing. This removes the hosts from all Web UI screens and all Endpoint Security (HX) processing. See "Enabling Automatic Deletion of Inactive Hosts"

You can disable the automatic deletion of inactive hosts using the Web UI or the API.

Disabling Automatic Deletion Using the Web UI

To disable automatic deletion using the Web UI:

In the Web UI, select Aging Settings on the Admin menu. The Aging Settings page appears.
In the Host Aging area of the page, select the No auto-deletion; I will delete hosts manually option to disable automatic inactive host deletion.
Click Save.
Note
If you click Cancel, your Host Aging settings are not saved.