Hudu Assets Management

Hudu Assets Management

Overview

Assets in Hudu represent documented items such as servers, workstations, network devices, applications, and any other infrastructure or service an MSP needs to track. Unlike some platforms with fixed asset types, Hudu uses asset layouts -- customizable templates that define the fields and structure for each type of asset. This means your Hudu instance might have asset layouts for "Server," "Workstation," "Firewall," "Microsoft 365 Tenant," or any custom type your team defines.

Key Concepts

Asset Layouts

Asset layouts are templates that define what fields an asset of that type contains. Each layout has:

• A name (e.g., "Server," "Workstation," "Network Device")
• A set of custom fields with types (text, rich text, number, date, checkbox, dropdown, etc.)
• An icon and color for visual identification
• Optional: whether it appears in the sidebar, its position, etc.

Common asset layouts in MSP environments:

Layout	Description	Typical Fields
Server	Physical or virtual servers	Hostname, IP, OS, RAM, CPU, serial
Workstation	End-user devices	Hostname, user, OS, serial, warranty
Network Device	Routers, switches, firewalls	IP, model, firmware, port count
Printer	Print devices	IP, model, serial, location
Application	Software/services	Version, license key, vendor
Microsoft 365	M365 tenant details	Tenant ID, domain, license count
Backup	Backup configuration	Solution, server, schedule, retention

Custom Fields

Each asset layout defines custom fields. Field types include:

Type	Description	Example
Text	Single-line text	Hostname, serial number
RichText	HTML rich text	Notes, description
Number	Numeric value	RAM (GB), port count
Date	Date value	Warranty expiry, install date
CheckBox	Boolean	Monitored (yes/no)
Dropdown	Predefined options	OS type, status
Email	Email address	Admin contact
Phone	Phone number	Support line
Password	Embedded password	Admin credentials
AssetTag	Link to another asset	Host server, parent device
Website	URL	Management portal

Asset vs Asset Layout

• Asset Layout = the template/schema (like a database table definition)
• Asset = an instance of a layout (like a row in the table)

Field Reference

Core Asset Fields

Field	Type	Required	Description
id	integer	System	Auto-generated unique identifier
company_id	integer	Yes	Parent company
asset_layout_id	integer	Yes	The layout (template) this asset uses
name	string	Yes	Asset display name
primary_serial	string	No	Primary serial number
primary_model	string	No	Primary model name
primary_mail	string	No	Primary email
archived	boolean	No	Whether the asset is archived
slug	string	System	URL-friendly identifier
object_type	string	System	Always "Asset"

Custom Fields (Dynamic)

Custom fields are stored in a fields array, where each entry is a key-value pair defined by the asset layout:

{
  "asset": {
    "name": "DC-01",
    "asset_layout_id": 5,
    "company_id": 1,
    "custom_fields": [
      { "hostname": "dc-01.acme.local" },
      { "ip_address": "192.168.1.10" },
      { "operating_system": "Windows Server 2022" },
      { "ram_gb": 32 },
      { "warranty_expiry": "2027-01-15" }
    ]
  }
}

Metadata Fields

Field	Type	Description
created_at	datetime	Creation timestamp
updated_at	datetime	Last update timestamp
url	string	Full URL to asset in Hudu
asset_layout_name	string	Name of the asset layout (read-only)
company_name	string	Name of the parent company (read-only)

Asset Layout Fields

Field	Type	Required	Description
id	integer	System	Auto-generated unique identifier
name	string	Yes	Layout name (e.g., "Server")
icon	string	No	Font Awesome icon class
color	string	No	Hex color code
icon_color	string	No	Icon color
active	boolean	No	Whether layout is active
sidebar_folder_id	integer	No	Sidebar folder
fields	array	Yes	Array of field definitions

API Patterns

List Assets

GET /api/v1/assets
x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY
Content-Type: application/json

By Company:

GET /api/v1/assets?company_id=123

By Asset Layout:

GET /api/v1/assets?asset_layout_id=5

Combined Filters:

GET /api/v1/assets?company_id=123&asset_layout_id=5
GET /api/v1/assets?company_id=123&name=DC-01
GET /api/v1/assets?company_id=123&archived=false
GET /api/v1/assets?primary_serial=ABC123456789

With Pagination:

GET /api/v1/assets?company_id=123&page=1
GET /api/v1/assets?company_id=123&page=2

Get Single Asset

GET /api/v1/assets/789
x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY

Create Asset

POST /api/v1/assets
Content-Type: application/json
x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY

Server Example:

{
  "asset": {
    "name": "DC-01",
    "asset_layout_id": 5,
    "company_id": 123,
    "primary_serial": "ABC123456789",
    "primary_model": "Dell PowerEdge R740",
    "custom_fields": [
      { "hostname": "dc-01.acme.local" },
      { "ip_address": "192.168.1.10" },
      { "operating_system": "Windows Server 2022" },
      { "ram_gb": 32 },
      { "cpu": "Intel Xeon Gold 6248" },
      { "warranty_expiry": "2027-01-15" },
      { "notes": "Primary domain controller for Acme Corporation" }
    ]
  }
}

Workstation Example:

{
  "asset": {
    "name": "WS-JSMITH",
    "asset_layout_id": 7,
    "company_id": 123,
    "primary_serial": "XYZ987654321",
    "primary_model": "Dell OptiPlex 7090",
    "custom_fields": [
      { "hostname": "ws-jsmith.acme.local" },
      { "assigned_user": "John Smith" },
      { "department": "Sales" },
      { "ip_address": "192.168.1.150" },
      { "operating_system": "Windows 11 Pro" },
      { "warranty_expiry": "2026-06-30" }
    ]
  }
}

Update Asset

PUT /api/v1/assets/789
Content-Type: application/json
x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY

{
  "asset": {
    "name": "DC-01",
    "custom_fields": [
      { "ip_address": "192.168.1.20" },
      { "notes": "IP updated after network migration on 2026-02-15" }
    ]
  }
}

Delete Asset

DELETE /api/v1/assets/789
x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY

Archive / Unarchive Asset

PUT /api/v1/assets/789/archive
x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY

PUT /api/v1/assets/789/unarchive
x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY

List Asset Layouts

GET /api/v1/asset_layouts
x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY

By Name:

GET /api/v1/asset_layouts?name=Server

Get Single Asset Layout

GET /api/v1/asset_layouts/5
x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY

Response:

{
  "asset_layout": {
    "id": 5,
    "name": "Server",
    "icon": "fas fa-server",
    "color": "#2196F3",
    "active": true,
    "fields": [
      { "label": "Hostname", "field_type": "Text", "required": true, "position": 1 },
      { "label": "IP Address", "field_type": "Text", "required": false, "position": 2 },
      { "label": "Operating System", "field_type": "Dropdown", "required": false, "position": 3 },
      { "label": "RAM (GB)", "field_type": "Number", "required": false, "position": 4 },
      { "label": "Warranty Expiry", "field_type": "Date", "required": false, "position": 5 },
      { "label": "Notes", "field_type": "RichText", "required": false, "position": 6 }
    ]
  }
}

Create Asset Layout

POST /api/v1/asset_layouts
Content-Type: application/json
x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY

{
  "asset_layout": {
    "name": "Network Switch",
    "icon": "fas fa-network-wired",
    "color": "#4CAF50",
    "active": true,
    "fields": [
      { "label": "IP Address", "field_type": "Text", "required": true, "position": 1 },
      { "label": "Model", "field_type": "Text", "required": false, "position": 2 },
      { "label": "Firmware Version", "field_type": "Text", "required": false, "position": 3 },
      { "label": "Port Count", "field_type": "Number", "required": false, "position": 4 },
      { "label": "Location", "field_type": "Text", "required": false, "position": 5 },
      { "label": "Managed", "field_type": "CheckBox", "required": false, "position": 6 }
    ]
  }
}

Common Workflows

Asset Onboarding

async function onboardAsset(companyId, assetData) {
  // Step 1: Find the correct asset layout
  const layouts = await fetchAssetLayouts({ name: assetData.layoutName });
  const layout = layouts[0];
  if (!layout) throw new Error(`Asset layout "${assetData.layoutName}" not found`);

  // Step 2: Create the asset
  const asset = await createAsset({
    name: assetData.name,
    asset_layout_id: layout.id,
    company_id: companyId,
    primary_serial: assetData.serialNumber,
    primary_model: assetData.model,
    custom_fields: assetData.customFields
  });

  return asset;
}

Warranty Tracking

async function getExpiringWarranties(daysAhead = 90) {
  const today = new Date();
  const futureDate = new Date();
  futureDate.setDate(futureDate.getDate() + daysAhead);

  // Fetch all active assets and check warranty fields
  const assets = await fetchAllAssets({ archived: false });

  return assets
    .filter(a => {
      const warrantyField = a.fields?.find(f => f.warranty_expiry);
      if (!warrantyField) return false;
      const warranty = new Date(warrantyField.warranty_expiry);
      return warranty >= today && warranty <= futureDate;
    })
    .sort((a, b) => {
      const aDate = new Date(a.fields.find(f => f.warranty_expiry)?.warranty_expiry);
      const bDate = new Date(b.fields.find(f => f.warranty_expiry)?.warranty_expiry);
      return aDate - bDate;
    });
}

Asset Decommissioning

async function decommissionAsset(assetId, reason) {
  // Update with decommission notes
  await updateAsset(assetId, {
    custom_fields: [
      { notes: `DECOMMISSIONED: ${new Date().toLocaleDateString()} - ${reason}` }
    ]
  });

  // Archive the asset
  await archiveAsset(assetId);

  return { status: 'archived', assetId, reason };
}

Asset Inventory by Company

async function generateAssetInventory(companyId) {
  const assets = await fetchAssets({ company_id: companyId, archived: false });

  const byLayout = {};
  for (const asset of assets) {
    const layoutName = asset.asset_layout_name || 'Unknown';
    if (!byLayout[layoutName]) byLayout[layoutName] = [];
    byLayout[layoutName].push({
      name: asset.name,
      serial: asset.primary_serial,
      model: asset.primary_model,
      updatedAt: asset.updated_at
    });
  }

  return byLayout;
}

Error Handling

Common API Errors

Code	Message	Resolution
400	Name can't be blank	Provide asset name
400	Company is required	Include company_id
400	Asset layout is required	Include asset_layout_id
401	Invalid API key	Check HUDU_API_KEY
404	Asset not found	Verify asset ID
422	Validation failed	Check required custom fields per layout

Validation Errors

Error	Cause	Fix
Name required	Missing name	Add name to request
Company required	No company_id	Include company_id
Layout required	No asset_layout_id	Include asset_layout_id
Invalid layout	Bad asset_layout_id	Query /asset_layouts first
Required field missing	Layout requires a field	Check layout fields and provide required ones

Error Recovery Pattern

async function safeCreateAsset(data) {
  try {
    return await createAsset(data);
  } catch (error) {
    if (error.status === 422) {
      // Check if layout requires fields we didn't provide
      const layout = await getAssetLayout(data.asset_layout_id);
      const requiredFields = layout.fields.filter(f => f.required);
      console.log('Required fields for this layout:', requiredFields.map(f => f.label));
    }

    throw error;
  }
}

Best Practices

1. Standardize naming - Use consistent format (e.g., SITE-TYPE-NUM: NYC-DC-01)
2. Always set company - All assets must belong to a company
3. Use appropriate layouts - Choose the right asset layout for the device type
4. Track serial numbers - Enable warranty lookups and asset verification
5. Document custom fields - Fill in all relevant fields, not just the name
6. Archive, don't delete - Preserve historical records for decommissioned assets
7. Create layouts thoughtfully - Design layouts with fields MSP technicians actually need
8. Keep layouts consistent - Use the same layout across all companies for the same device type
9. Link related assets - Use AssetTag fields to connect VMs to hosts, apps to servers
10. Regular audits - Verify asset accuracy quarterly

Related Skills

• Hudu Companies - Parent company management
• Hudu Passwords - Device credentials
• Hudu Articles - Device documentation
• Hudu Websites - Website monitoring
• Hudu API Patterns - API reference