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We get it. The Grandstream Device Management System (GDMS) can be intimidating. After all, it's a very powerful tool. It's got so many bells and whistles many of you may not be sure how to get the most out of it. Which is why we've compiled a few quick tips that'll help you monitor and manage your GDMS supported devices quickly, easily, and effectively on the platform. 

1. Take the Time to Define & Organize Your "Sites" 

One of the ways the GDMS allows users to organize their GDMS-supported devices is by "sites." That way you can easily find, and troubleshoot, all devices within that site with just a click rather than hunting through a list of devices. Having clearly defined sites is crucial prior to deployment – it'll save you time and sanity later on. Trust us. 

 

Now, we know what you're thinking – this feature lets enterprises group their devices by their physical location. These devices belong to the Manhattan Office, while these other devices are in the Portland Office, etc. 

 

But that's not true! You can use "sites" to organize your devices however you want. Here are a few of the ones we recommend: 

Customer-Based (Service Providers). You can organize your devices based on what customer is using them. What would be "Portland Office" or "Manhattan Office" now becomes "Trina's Tire Depot" or "Nic's Nails & Hair." If Trina's is having a problem with their phones, you can easily click into the "site" on the GDMS and locate the issue. 

 

Subscription-Based (Service Providers). You can organize devices based on what subscription they're under.  

 

Department-Based (SMBs). If you're managing your own GDMS-supported devices, organizing by department will help you keep everything straight. These devices are being used by Sales, these devices are being used by Marketing, etc. You can even have a "site" specifically for your remote team members if you're a hybrid company. 

 

Individual-Based (SMBs). This kind of site organization is usually reserved for smaller businesses, where employees have multiple GDMS-supported devices. Each site has a different employee name and contains all the devices they have registered. 

 

FUN FACT: The GDMS allows you to create "Child Sites" within the "Parent Sites," which allows you to get even more granular with more complicated builds. For example, if a company you're serving has several departments within it you can make a child site for each department under the "parent site" of that company. 

 

To Summarize: No matter what kind of "site" organization fits your business best, be sure that you decide what it is and have it properly mapped out prior to deploying and GDMS-supported devices. 

 

2. Create Configuration Templates & Name Them Properly 

GDMS allows users to generate configuration templates which gives you the ability to set permissions for devices automatically based on their model type (specific phones, alarm systems, etc.) or what group they're in (management, marketing, sales, etc.). 

 

So instead of manually setting permissions for every new device, GDMS automatically applies the matching configuration template to that device when it's brought online. And, if you want to change permissions within a template, those changes will also be applied automatically. There's less margin for human error and shorter wait times for users waiting on their devices to be provisioned. 

 

Whether you choose to configure your devices by model or by group is up to you. You can even create templates for both! Just be sure you have a clear-cut naming system in place for each template type. Don't be afraid to get specific. Here are a few of our recommendations: 

 

Model-Based Names:  

DEVICE TYPE-DEVICE NUMBER (IP-Phone-GRP2613) 

SITE NAME-DEVICE TYPE-DEVICE NUMBER (TrinaTires-WiFi-Phones-WP820) 

Group-Based Names: 

SITE NAME-DEPARTMENT NAME-DEVICE TYPE (TrinaTires-Sales-WiFi-Phones) 

DEPARTMENT-TYPE OF WORK-DEVICE TYPE (Sales-Remote-IP-Phones) 

 

Having a proper naming convention in place will help you easily find and update the right templates for the right people at the right time.  

 

This goes for devices too! The GDMS allows you to name specific devices within the system. And we don't know about you, but names like WP820 and GRP2613 can start to lose their meaning after a while. But device names like "Front-Desk," "Sales-Desk-Kent," "Accounting-Manager-Lucy," will make it far easier for you to troubleshoot and update the right devices. 

 

In Summary: Taking the time to create meaningful configuration templates and name them properly will ensure all devices and groups adhere to a standard automatically and reduce confusion when troubleshooting. This also applies to naming devices within the GDMS. 

 3. Automate Basic Maintenance Tasks 

Thanks to the GDMS task panel, you can schedule firmware updates, configuration updates, and other basic maintenance tasks to occur automatically based on a variety of time triggers (every month on this day, every week at this time, etc.). This will nearly eliminate the need to travel on-site to upgrade or reboot GDMS-supported devices.  

 

4. Utilize Custom Alerts for Device-Related Issues 

Another important ability within the GDMS - that not many users take advantage of - is custom alerts. These can be set to trigger once certain conditions are met (a device going offline unexpectedly, a GDMS task has failed to be completed, etc.). Not only will this help you respond to issues quickly, but it'll also let you know what GDMS-supported devices might need an in-depth analysis. No need to hunt for a specific device in a specific site and group while on the phone with a frustrated user. Now, you'll be notified of the issue via email or in-platform alerts. Here are a few of the alerts the GDMS allows you to program: 

 

  • Account Registration Failed 
  • Device Factory Reset 
  • Device Offline 
  • Device Reboot 
  • Task Run Failure 

 

For more in-depth information, check out Grandstream's webinar: Video Guides - GDMS - Grandstream Device Management System 

  

Get Even More GDMS Advice with NTS Direct 

Looking for even more advice on how to best use the GDMS? Our team at NTS Direct is here to help! As an official Grandstream Partner, we know the ins-and-outs of the GDMS (and GDMS-supported devices) like the back of our hand. Reach out to us today to experience the NTS Direct!