topic Re: Template vs Device Group in General Topics

Template vs Device Group

KumarRamalinga — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 20:24:24 GMT

Hello All - I am fundamentally not understanding the difference between Template and Device Group. Using teamplate i can push a policy to multiple Firewalls. Looks Device Group also does the same thing.

What is the difference, and use case. When to use template and on what scenario i have to use Device Group? Thanks

Re: Template vs Device Group

Remo — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 20:38:50 GMT

Hi @KumarRamalinga

Templates are used to push network and devicesettings to a firewall
Device groups are used to push policy and object configurations to a firewall or vsys

So to fully manage a firewall with panorama you need both.

Re: Template vs Device Group

fjwcash — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 22:26:05 GMT

In Panorama, just above the list of tabs, there's a heading that shows you which tabs belong to Templates and which tabs belong to Device Groups. IOW, any changes on those tabs are only pushed out when you tell it to include the Template or Device Group.

Any changes you make under the Policies or Objects tabs will be part of the Template setting.

Any changes you make under the Network or Device tabs will be part of the Device Group setting.

Re: Template vs Device Group

tonyajit — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 12:52:32 GMT

what is template definition in what is tamplate stack ?

what is DG

Re: Template vs Device Group

Remo — Sat, 07 Dec 2024 08:15:39 GMT

Hi @tonyajit

Paloalto has already a very good admin guide where these things are explained 😉

Templates and Template Stacks:

https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com/panorama/11-1/panorama-admin/panorama-overview/centralized-firewall-configuration-and-update-management/templates-and-template-stacks

Device Groups

https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com/panorama/10-2/panorama-admin/panorama-overview/centralized-firewall-configuration-and-update-management/device-groups

Device Group Hierarchy

https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com/panorama/10-2/panorama-admin/panorama-overview/centralized-firewall-configuration-and-update-management/device-groups/device-group-hierarchy

Re: Template vs Device Group

WillRFrench — Thu, 08 May 2025 16:29:02 GMT

@fjwcash wrote:

Any changes you make under the Policies or Objects tabs will be part of the Template setting.

Any changes you make under the Network or Device tabs will be part of the Device Group setting.

This is the simplest and most direct explanation I've seen in my 5 years of PA admin.

Well done.