Deleting entities
The delete functionality in the Network page is designed to handle diverse entity types with precise, context-aware prompts, ensuring each item follows a specific process with relevant messaging.
The Delete button is placed at the upper side of the network table.
Deleting endpoints
An endpoint is any device, physical or virtual, that can interact and exchange information with another device, a user, or a network. Desktops, laptops, servers, virtual machines are examples of endpoints.
To delete endpoints, follow these steps:
In the Network table, find the endpoints that you want to delete.
Select the corresponding checkboxes.
Click Delete at the upper side of the table.
In the dialog window, click OK to confirm the action.
Deleting an endpoint from the Network page does not immediately remove it from the database. The endpoint is first moved to the Deleted folder.
After confirmation:
Unmanaged endpoints and Security Server instances are moved directly to the Deleted folder.
Managed endpoints are moved to the Deleted folder and the security agent is uninstalled. Check the status of the task created by this action on the Tasks page.
If the uninstall task finishes successfully, the endpoint remains in the Deleted folder.
If the uninstall task cannot complete because the endpoint is offline, the endpoint remains in the Deleted folder and the system retries to uninstall the security agent when the endpoint becomes available.
When endpoints are moved to the Deleted folder, the corresponding license seats are released. If the endpoints later reconnect and communicate with GravityZone, they are identified as new endpoints and are licensed again.
Note
For companies with monthly subscription, the license count is not affected during the current month. Changes take effect starting with the next billing cycle. If a deleted endpoint reconnects and communicates with GravityZone, it is treated as a new endpoint and consumes a license seat.
If the endpoints have been added as a result of an integration (Active Directory, vCenter Server, XenServer etc.), they become unmanaged and will remain in their original location (they are not moved to the Deleted folder).
Permanently deleting endpoints
Endpoints in the Deleted folder remain in the database until they are deleted again from that folder.
To permanently delete an endpoint:
Go to the Deleted folder.
Select the endpoint.
Click Delete.
Confirm the action.
Permanently deleting an endpoint removes it from the database. The endpoint will not reappear unless the machine communicates with GravityZone again.
If the machine still exists and later comes back online, it is identified as a new endpoint, licensed again, and placed under Computers and Groups.
You can permanently delete endpoints without waiting for the uninstall task to complete. This is useful when:
The endpoints no longer exist.
The uninstall task cannot complete because the endpoints will not come back online.
You want to clean up obsolete or inactive entries from the database.
Deleting company folders
A company folder is a structure within the Companies directory of your company structure.
You cannot delete companies from the Network page. To perform this action, go to the Companies section in the GravityZone main menu. For more information, refer to Deleting companies.
Deleting network folders
Network folders are folders under the Network directory within your tree structure, such as groups and the Deleted folder.
To delete folders, follow these steps:
In the network table, select the folders you want to delete.
Select the corresponding checkboxes.
Click the Delete button at the upper side of the table.
In the dialog window, click OK to confirm the action.
Empty folders will be permanently deleted.
Populated folders will be permanently deleted, and their contents will be moved to the Deleted folder.
Entities moved to the Deleted folder can be permanently removed by deleting them again from that folder.
Deleting container host folders
You can delete containers and their hosts only at the folder level. To perform this action, follow the steps below:
In the network table, use the Entity type filter and apply Network folder.
Navigate through the network inventory to container host folders you want to delete.
In the table, select the corresponding checkboxes.
Click the Delete button at the upper side of the table.
In the dialog window, click OK to confirm the action.
The folders of the container hosts will be permanently deleted. The virtual machines, which are the actual container hosts, will be moved to the Deleted folder, while their containers will be permanently deleted.
Entities moved to the Deleted folder can be permanently removed by deleting them again from that folder.
Deleting different entities at once
When selecting multiple entities, a confirmation window will appear, providing detailed and relevant information for each specific scenario.
For example, if you choose to delete endpoints, network folders, and containers, the confirmation window will clearly explain what actions will be performed for each of these entity types.
When selecting a mix of entities that can be deleted and entities that cannot, the deletion process will not proceed. The informative message will refer only to the first entity type identified in the database that cannot be deleted. You must adjust your selection to include only entities eligible for deletion.
Entities that cannot be deleted
You cannot delete the following entities:
Default GravityZone folders (Network folder, Companies folder, Custom Groups, Deleted).
Companies and populated company folders.
Folders including container hosts, folders labeled as container hosts within the Containers directory, containers, containers hosts managed by Security Containers, and container hosts online in the past 24 hours.
Entities belonging to Active Directory and Amazon EC2 integrations.