List of fixlets and tasks

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The list and description of fixlets and tasks available in the BigFix® console on the IBM License Reporting (ILMT) site.

Required configuration fixlets and tasks

There are four basic fixlets and tasks that are required to configure License Metric Tool to collect all necessary data from the computers in your environment.

Table 1. Required configuration fixlets and tasks
Name	Category	Description
Install or Upgrade Scanner	Scanner	License Metric Tool requires a dedicated scanner to be installed on each endpoint. This task installs the scanner or upgrades it to the latest version on the specified endpoints. For more information, see: Installing the scanner (BigFix scenario). Starting from application update 9.2.21, the task also distributes the software catalog or updates it to the latest version on the specified endpoints. Analysis: Scanner Information
Run Capacity Scan and Upload Results	Scanner	After you install the scanner, you need to schedule capacity scans on all endpoints to ensure that the data in License Metric Tool is complete. By default, the capacity scan is set to run every 30 minutes and usually takes a few seconds. The frequency is required by the IBM pricing for subcapacity reporting. This task runs the capacity scan to retrieve data from the specified endpoints. If the action is completed, the results were gathered and uploaded. For more information, see: Initiating the capacity scan on all computers (BigFix scenario).
Initiate Software Scan	Scanner	Use this fixlet to configure software scan that analyzes the file system and registry, and discovers the installed software. The scan can take from few minutes to few hours depending on the number of files in your file system. You can specify the exact date and time of the scan, not to affect other business applications running on the system. Additionally, you can set a CPU threshold for the scan to minimize its impact, however, that will make the scan last longer. Select all the listed scan types. This task is not relevant on endpoints where the scanner is not installed. For more information, see: Initiating software scans (BigFix scenario). Analysis: Software Scan Status
Upload Software Scan Results	Scanner	This task uploads inventory data that is collected by the software scans from the specified endpoints to the BigFix server. Each endpoint should be targeted only once. For more information, see: Uploading software scan results (BigFix scenario).

Troubleshooting fixlets

There are several fixlets and tasks that can help you troubleshoot the most common issues and questions related to the application.

Table 2. Troubleshooting fixlets
Name	Category	Description
Analyze the Relevance of a Fixlet or Task	Troubleshooting	This task creates an analysis that checks which relevance conditions of a particular fixlet or task are not met. Check the results of the analysis to learn why a fixlet or task is not relevant on a particular endpoint. The analysis is created in the Master Action site. For more information, see: Checking why a fixlet or task is not relevant.
Force Reupload of Software Scan Results	Troubleshooting	This task forces reupload of inventory data that was gathered by the software inventory scan. The data is reuploaded to BigFix once and no schedule is set. The data is then transferred to License Metric Tool during the import.
Gather Environment Information	Troubleshooting	This task retrieves information about License Metric Tool and BigFix environment for troubleshooting purposes. The task is relevant only for the Linux operating system.

Other fixlets

The remaining fixlets and task can help you manage, configure, troubleshoot, deploy and migrate the product and its components, and manage VM Managers.

Table 3. Other fixlets
Name	Category	Description
Add Excluded Directories	Scan Management	This task is used to add entries to the list of directories that are excluded from scanning. After you specify the directories, run the task against the chosen endpoints. The directories are then sent to the scanner that omits them during the software scan. For more information, see: Excluding additional directories (BigFix scenario).
Add Targeting Exception to Temporarily Disable Scans	Configuration	This task prevents software and capacity scans that are scheduled on the endpoint from running without the need of modifying the entire scan schedule. You can use it to temporarily disable scans on a computer that undergoes maintenance, patching, or some other resource-consuming action that could be disturbed by the software or capacity scan.
Change Scanner Cache Folder	Scanner	This task changes the folder where the scanner stores its data. If this task is relevant, the scanner is installed on all applicable endpoints, but no scans are running. For more information, see: Optimizing scanner cache configuration (BigFix scenario).
Collect Logs from Endpoints	Troubleshooting	The task collects BigFix client logs, scanner logs, scan configuration logs, VM manager configuration files, and files generated during scans. Run this task when you are requested by IBM Support to collect log files for troubleshooting purposes.
Configure Scan Cache	Scanner	Starting from application 9.2.26, cache optimization is always enabled and using this fixlet is not necessary. This task allows for configuring the file system scan cache. By default, the cache is enabled and is cleared after every scan. The cache is shared by different scan types. Disabling the cache will significantly impact scan performance, and it is not recommended, unless absolutely necessary. The task is relevant only on computers where the scanner is installed. For more information, see: Optimizing scanner cache configuration (BigFix scenario).
Configure Scanner Query Timeout	Scanner	This task allows you to set the maximum time in which the software scan process should finish. As the software scan involves scanning as well as additional evaluation, the overall software scan time might exceed the value provided.
Create Capacity Configuration for Linux on z Systems	Configuration	This task creates a file that contains the manually-entered capacity values. If this task is relevant, it means that no capacity configuration exists on this endpoint yet and the manual configuration is required. If this fixlet is not relevant on a computer, you do not have to perform any manual actions to calculate the capacity values. For more information, see: Creating capacity configuration for Linux on z Systems (BigFix scenario).
Delete Capacity Configuration for Linux on z Systems	Configuration	This task deletes the file that contains the manually-entered capacity values.
Discover Remote Shared Disks	Scan Management	This task identifies shared disks that exist in your environment. For more information, see: Discovering software on shared disks (BigFix scenario) and Step 2b: Optimized mode - Manual scanning of remote shared disks (BigFix scenario). Analysis: Shared Disk Information
Download IBM License Metric Tool	Deployment	This task downloads the newest License Metric Tool server installer to the specified endpoint.
Download the Disconnected Scanner Package (`version`)	Deployment	This task provides a link to the latest disconnected scanner package. The package contains installation and configuration files, and the scripts that are required for software and capacity discovery on Windows and Linux computers. This solution can only be used if the BigFix client cannot be installed due to legal, business, or technical reasons. For more information, see: Installing and configuring disconnected scanners for Lite.
Download the Disconnected Scanner Package for IBM i (`version`)	Deployment	This task provides a link to the latest disconnected scanner package for IBM i. The package contains installation and configuration files, and the scripts that are required for software and capacity discovery on IBM i systems. For more information, see: Installing and configuring disconnected scanners for Lite.
Edit Capacity Configuration for Linux on z Systems	Configuration	This task edits the file that contains the manually-entered capacity values. If this task is relevant, it means that the capacity configuration already exists on this endpoint.
Edit Scanner Trace Settings	Troubleshooting	This task allows you to set debug traces for the scanner. If this task is relevant, it means that the scanner is installed on an endpoint. For more information, see: Changing scanner trace settings.
Force VM Manager Tool Scan Results Upload	Troubleshooting	This task forces the upload of capacity data collected by the central or distributed VM Manager Tool Tool or by the Run Capacity Scan on Virtualization Hosts task. The data is uploaded to BigFix and can be transferred to License Metric Tool by running a data import. The data is uploaded only once and no schedule is set. For more information, see: Forcing upload of data from VM managers. Note: During the time when capacity data is being collected by the Force VM Manager Tool Data Collection task, the Force VM Manager Tool Scan Results Upload task is not relevant.
Identify Computers on Public Clouds	Configuration	This task marks targeted endpoints as computers that are running on a public cloud. It allows the specific license model for the PVU count without hypervisor access. For more information and a list of supported public clouds, see: Identifying computers as running on public clouds (BigFix scenario).
Initiate Forced VM Manager Tool Data Collection	Troubleshooting	This task forces collection of capacity data by the VM Manager Tool. After the data is collected, upload it to the BigFix server by running the Force VM Manager Tool Scan Results Upload task. Usually, the task is automatically started when you collect logs for troubleshooting purposes and does not need to be started manually.
Initiate Software Scan on Shared Disks	Scanner	This task runs the catalog-based scan, and software identification tags scan to discover software that is installed on shared disks. Scan results are used to create software templates that represent the discovered software. The templates are later on shared between all computers on which the disks are mounted to ensure that the software is reported on these computers. For more information, see: Discovering software on shared disks (BigFix scenario) and Step 2b: Optimized mode - Manual scanning of remote shared disks (BigFix scenario). Analysis: Status of Shared Disks Software Scan
Install Additional VM Manager Tool `version number` (OPTIONAL)	VM Managers	This task installs the distributed VM Manager Tool in the specified version on any computer. The tool should only be used to manage VM managers that are in separated networks and cannot be reached by the BigFix server. For more information, see: Managing VM managers.
Install VM Manager Tool `version number`	VM Managers	This task installs the central VM Manager Tool in the specified version on the BigFix server. Use this task if the automatic installation failed.
Refresh Re-Subscribed Endpoints	Scanner	This fixlet detects endpoints that were re-subscribed from a different fixlet site and is used for the coexistence of License Metric Tool and BigFix Inventory. For such endpoints, it forces the upload of capacity data, and refreshes properties to ensure that they are related to the relevant fixlet site. An endpoint is refreshed after each re-subscription. The initial subscription is set after running the software scan.
Remove Capacity Scan Data from Virtualization Hosts	VM Managers	This task applies to the KVM and Xen hosts only. It removes the data that was generated on virtualization hosts during the capacity scan. For more information, see: Collecting capacity data from virtualization hosts for Xen and KVM (BigFix scenario).
Remove Excluded Directories	Scan Management	This task is used to remove entries from the list of directories that are excluded from scanning. After you specify the directories, run the task against the chosen endpoints. The directories are then sent to the scanner that includes them back in the software scan. For more information, see: Including the excluded directories back in scans (BigFix scenario).
Remove Targeting Exception to Resume Scans	Configuration	This task resumes software and capacity scans that were temporarily disabled by using the Add Targeting Exception to Temporarily Stop Scans task.
Run Capacity Scan on Virtualization Hosts	VM Managers	This task applies to the KVM and Xen hosts only. It runs a capacity scan on virtualization hosts to retrieve capacity data from all virtual machines that are managed by the specified host. Schedule the scan on every host that manages virtual machines which have the BigFix client installed. For more information, see: Collecting capacity data from virtualization hosts for Xen and KVM (BigFix scenario).
Schedule VM Manager Tool Scan Results Upload	VM Managers	This task schedules regular uploads of capacity data collected by the central or distributed VM Manager Tool or by the Run Capacity Scan on Virtualization Hosts task. The data is uploaded to BigFix and can be transferred to License Metric Tool by running a data import. For more information, see: Changing frequency of uploading data from VM managers.
Set DSD Mode	Configuration	This task sets the DSD mode on Solaris endpoints. If the Solaris system is in the DSD domain, set this mode so that the PVU data is correctly calculated. For more information, see: Setting the DSD mode on Solaris (BigFix scenario).
Uninstall Scanner	Scanner	This task uninstalls the scanner and the corresponding configuration files from the specified endpoints.
Uninstall VM Manager Tool	VM Managers	This task uninstalls the central or distributed VM Manager Tool from the specified endpoints. It also deletes the client settings and folders used by the VM Manager Tool. For more information, see: Uninstalling the central or distributed VM Manager Tool.
Unset DSD Mode	Configuration	This task unsets the DSD mode on Solaris endpoints. For more information,see: Setting the DSD mode on Solaris (BigFix scenario).
Update VM Manager Tool to version `version number`	VM Managers	This task updates VM Manager Tool to the specified version. For more information, see: Upgrading the central or distributed VM Manager Tool.
Upgrade to the latest version of IBM License Metric Tool 9.x	Deployment	This fixlet upgrades License Metric Tool to the latest version. It also uploads the latest software catalog and PVU table to the License Metric Tool server. For more information, see: Upgrading components of License Metric Tool (BigFix scenario).
WARNING: Endpoints Subscribed to Multiple Sites	Troubleshooting	Some of your endpoints are subscribed to both the IBM License Reporting (ILMT) v9 and the BigFix Inventory v9 fixlet site, which will lead to issues with software discovery that are not supported. An endpoint can report to only one application at a given moment. Remove the endpoints from one of the sites.