Example: Adding User-Defined Variables to Custom Sets

The next two examples illustrate variable set interactions when you add a user-defined variable to a custom set. When you save the new variable, you are prompted whether to use the configured value as the default value for other sets. In the following example, you elect to use the configured value.

Note that, except for the origin of Var1 from Custom Set 1, this example is identical to the example above where you added Var1 to the default set. Adding the customized value 192.168.1.0/24 for Var1 to Custom Set 1 copies the value to the default set as a customized value with a default value of any. Thereafter, Var1 values and interactions are the same as if you had added Var1 to the default set. As with the previous example, keep in mind that further customizing or resetting Var1 in the default set consequently updates the current, default value of Var1 in Custom Set 2, thereby affecting any intrusion policy linked to the variable set.

In the next example, you add Var1 with the value 192.168.1.0/24 to Custom Set 1 as in the previous example, but you elect not to use the configured value of Var1 as the default value in other sets.

This approach adds Var1 to all sets with a default value of any. After adding Var1, you can customize its value in any set. An advantage of this approach is that, by not initially customizing Var1 in the default set, you decrease your risk of customizing the value in the default set and thus inadvertently changing the current value in a set such as Custom Set 2 where you have not customized Var1.