Enhance device > rack assignment with "assign"

[dejantep]

NetBox version

3.5.7

Feature type

Change to existing functionality

Proposed functionality

Open for "assigning device to rack" based on the same approach as when assigning ip-address.

Today, user has possibility to "add device" directly by clicking on available rack unit. That opens dialog to create device. It would be user friendly to also give user a chance to assign specific device to this rack unit. Users would choose from list of devices from particular site.

Use case

Having ability to assign device to rack by clicking on empty rack unit would improve usability of this feature by far.

Database changes

none

External dependencies

none

[jeffgdotorg]

This feature makes a lot of sense. Would you please map out the flow you imagine the user entering after clicking the "assign" control? Please include:

• Concrete details about criteria for a device to be available for assignment
• Ideas for how the available devices might be presented and the kinds of feedback the user should see; mock-ups would be nice even if they are very low-fi.

[dejantep]

My intitial thought is function similar to ip-address assignment to interface. When you get to device > interface and click on button to add ip-adress your are presented with two options(tabs), create and assign.

This would be equally excellent approach for rack assignment.

1. Go to site > rack and click on empty RU.
2. Dialog opens with two options, create and assign. Create option is already at place and doesnt need any modfication
3. If you choose assign you get two dropdown options a. First dropdown is list of sites b. Second dropdown is list of devices from that site
4. Done

This also means that you would be able to select another site and move device from site to site BUT that could be an issue because of cables and connections. It could be prohibited with a warning saying "Remove all cables first"(preferred). This is what you would do in real life situation. OR You could maybe limit dropdown to only that site where rack actually is.

[xkilian]

I would suggest having these four choices.

1. Create, (as described).
2. Assign, it should be scope limited to devices in the site.It should filter only to unracked devices.
3. Reassign in rack, would permit moving devices from within the selected rack only (keeping all cables connected).
4. Move from site could also be an additionnal fourth option, but should be scope limited to devices with No connections to any type of interface. A filter to select the site, should default to current site. This way the intent is clear between moving a device versus initial assign of a device.

[dejantep]

Those are some really good suggestions. I personally would be content with Assign to begin with. And as you mentioned it makes sense to limit the scope to devices in the site that are non-racked.

[abhi1693]

Here is another implementation that was closed for device assignment https://github.com/netbox-community/netbox/pull/8876

[dejantep]

Hopefully they'll give it another shot. I belive this is relatively minor change but step forward for ease of use.

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[jeremystretch]

I'm opening this for volunteers under the condition that only a maintainable implementation which does not deviate substantial from existing conventions will be accepted. Per my comment here we specifically want to avoid past mistakes involving snowflake views & templates which are difficult to maintain over time.