Installing the BigFix clients (BigFix scenario)

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Install the BigFix client on every computer in your network that you want to monitor, including the backup and recovery machines.

Installation packages

The BigFix installation image available on the Passport Advantage® contains client installers. You can also download client installation packages from the BigFix support web page.
Important: Not all of the operating systems for which installation packages are provided as part of the BigFix installation image are supported by License Metric Tool. For more information, see: Supported operating systems.

Installation methods

Methods for installing the clients vary depending on the operating system. If you are not sure which installation method to choose, install the client manually. For more information, see the following links.

Additional installation requirements

  • If you are using Solaris Containers/Zones or Logical Domains (LDOM), install the client in the global zone on the control domain and in other global zones. For more information, see: Client installation on Oracle Solaris (BigFix scenario).
  • UNIX Ensure that the installation directory of the BigFix client (/var/opt/BESClient) is located on a partition that is mounted without the NOEXEC flag.

Operating systems not supported by the BigFix client

If the BigFix client is not supported on a particular operating system, for example IBM i, use the disconnected scanner instead. Add a disconnected data source to your existing infrastructure, then install and configure disconnected scanners. For more information about disconnected scans, see the following links:

BigFix client vs scanner

The BigFix client is common for all products that are based on the BigFix platform, and is used to perform various tasks on the endpoints. It provides information about a set of computer properties like its host name or the IP address. It is also used to install the scanner on the computers, and enables scanner management through fixlets.

The scanner is an independent component that is used by License Metric Tool. It collects information about the hardware, as well as the software that is installed on the computers in your infrastructure. The data is sent to the BigFix server. You can then import it to the License Metric Tool server.

Apart from installing the BigFix client, you also need to install the scanner on every computer that you want to monitor to ensure that all necessary data is collected.

What to do next

Set up collection of data.