Welcome
Server Automation
Server Automation provides powerful automation. You can use it to sequence automation actions in steps across multiple endpoints.
Virtualization
Virtualization is a software technology that allows multiple operating systems to run on the same host computer at the same time. Additional uses of virtualization include the quick creation of new systems for testing, training, and demonstration. Using virtualized computers saves the cost of hardware, management, and administration of the server infrastructure.
AIX® NIM
You can setup and configure management extender plug-in for AIX® NIM. You can then create and remove NIM Clients and Mksysb images on a NIM master server from within the BigFix console.
Setup and Maintenance
Use the information in this section for instructions and important information about how to set up the virtualization environment for AIX® NIM.
Deploying an AIX NIM management extender
Using the Deploy Management Extender for AIX NIM task, you can deploy the management extender plug-in for AIX® NIM.

BigFix Documentation Homepage
BigFix 10 Lifecycle Documentation
Welcome to the BigFix Lifecycle documentation, where you can find information about how to install, maintain, and use BigFix Lifecycle.
BigFix Platform
BigFix Query
Lifecycle overview
BigFix Lifecycle is single-agent, single-console technology that provides near real-time visibility into the state of endpoints.
Lifecycle guides in PDF format
Following is a list of links to the BigFix Lifecycle guides in PDF format:
Software Distribution
Use the BigFix Software Distribution applications to deploy software to endpoints across your network from a single location. Maintain control and visibility into software delivery and installation. Device owners can use the Self Service Application to manage software and other BigFix actions that are deployed to them as offers.
OS Deployment
BigFix OS Deployment, which is part of the BigFix Lifecycle Management suite, provides a consolidated, comprehensive solution to quickly deploy new workstations and servers throughout a network from a single, centralized location. This solution saves time and money, enforces a standardized and approved image, and reduces risks associated with non-compliant or insecure configurations.
Remote Control
BigFix Remote Control application helps to communicate between different components, clients, and endpoints within BigFix environment.
Power Management
Use Power Management to control, monitor, and manage conservation policies in your deployment.
Application Control
BigFix Application Control provides a robust framework for managing application usage within an organization. It allows administrators to define policies that dictate which applications can or can not be run on endpoints, thereby enhancing security and compliance.
Server Automation
Server Automation provides powerful automation. You can use it to sequence automation actions in steps across multiple endpoints.
- Overview
  BigFix Lifecycle Server Automation provides you with the capability to automate provisioning workflows. You can automate a sequence of Fixlets, Tasks, and Baselines across different endpoints, such as servers or computers. Server Automation exploits the agility and scalability of BigFix to deliver powerful functionality in a lean and efficient manner, with minimal impact on your network.
- Automation
  BigFix Lifecycle Server Automation provides you with technology to sequence actions, such as the deployment of Fixlets, across multiple endpoints. To sequence automation, you create an Automation Plan. Your Automation Plan contains all of the actions for your end-to-end automation sequence.
- Virtualization
  Virtualization is a software technology that allows multiple operating systems to run on the same host computer at the same time. Additional uses of virtualization include the quick creation of new systems for testing, training, and demonstration. Using virtualized computers saves the cost of hardware, management, and administration of the server infrastructure.
  - VMware
    You can deploy and configure a management extender plug-in for VMware. You can then manage VMware virtual machines from within BigFix the console.
  - AIX® NIM
    You can setup and configure management extender plug-in for AIX® NIM. You can then create and remove NIM Clients and Mksysb images on a NIM master server from within the BigFix console.
    - Setup and Maintenance
      Use the information in this section for instructions and important information about how to set up the virtualization environment for AIX® NIM.
      - Deploying an AIX NIM management extender
        Using the Deploy Management Extender for AIX NIM task, you can deploy the management extender plug-in for AIX® NIM.
      - Configuring an AIX NIM management extender
        Using the Configure Management Extender for AIX NIM task, you can configure a management extender plug-in for AIX® NIM.
      - Upgrading an AIX NIM management extender
        Using the Upgrade Management Extender for AIX NIM Plugin task, you can upgrade a management extender plug-in for AIX® NIM.
      - Removing an AIX NIM management extender
        Using the Remove Management Extender for AIX NIM task, you can remove the management extender plug-in for AIX® NIM.
    - AIX® NIM Tasks
      Use the following section to find information about how to create/remove remote NIM Clients on a NIM master server. You can also create a Mksysb image on a NIM server and configure remote AIX® NIM clients with BigFix Root server's (BES Root Server) IP/FQDN and AIX® NIM client's root user. These tasks are run on the AIX® NIM server.
  - PowerVM®
    You can deploy and configure a management extender plug-in for PowerVM®. You can then manage PowerVM logical partitions (LPARs) from within the BigFix console.
  - Management Extender Log Viewer
    The Management Extender Log Viewer dashboard provides information about each Virtualization task that you run. In the dashboard, you can view a high-level overview of the action logs. Each log entry contains a link to where you can find the original action window. Each entry also contains a link to the log file.
  - Turning off validation in a task
    Some of the Virtualization Tasks within the Server Automation domain contain a Validation button which you can use to disable validation and enter your own data for some of the parameters.
- Configuring your system
  This section describes how the BigFix architecture is relevant for Server Automation. It also describes how Server Automation can affect BigFix performance.
- Sample Automation Plans
  Server Automation is shipped with a number of sample Automation Plans that you can run out of the box. To run these Automation Plans out of the box, ensure that the Fixlets contained in them are available. Typically, you would substitute some of the Fixlets contained in these samples with particular Fixlets that you want to run. Use the information in each of the following sections to find out more about each of the sample plans.
- Server Automation content
  Server Automation provides content that you can use to automate processes and software deployment.
Virtual Endpoint Manager
HCL BigFix Virtual Endpoint Manager (VEM) enhances BigFix with centralized, unified endpoint management for hybrid cloud and data center environments, spanning virtual machines and physical endpoints. VEM delivers real-time endpoint visibility, policy-driven automation for configuration and compliance remediation, and consistent security controls to streamline IT operations, reduce risk, and strengthen regulatory compliance.
Profile Management
Profile Management is a WebUI-based feature of BigFix Lifecycle. It provides Security Administrators the capability to define and deploy security policies to Windows 10 and macOS devices.
BigFix Remediate
BigFix MCM

Deploying an AIX® NIM management extender

Using the Deploy Management Extender for AIX NIM task, you can deploy the management extender plug-in for AIX® NIM.

Before you begin

Important: Before you install the management extender plug-in, you must install the latest version of the proxy agent with a separate Fixlet®. In the BES Support site, run the latest version of the Install Proxy Agent Fixlet® to install the proxy agent.

You must activate the following analysis:

Management Extender Status

To activate the analysis, navigate to the Domain Panel of the Server Automation domain and select Virtualization > Management Extender Analyses. In the Management Extender Analyses list, select Management Extender Status and click Activate.

About this task

If you want to create or remove NIM Clients, netboot logical partitions (LPARs), or create a Mksysb image, you must deploy and configure the management extender plug-in for AIX® NIM.

Procedure

Open the Server Automation domain.
In the Domain Panel of the Server Automation domain, select Virtualization > AIX NIM > Setup and Maintenance > Deploy AIX NIM Components and select the Deploy Management Extender for AIX NIM task.
From the Management Extender Host list, select the host on which you want to deploy the management extender.
In the Management Extender Plug-in Name field, enter a name for the AIX® NIM management extender that is 32 characters or less. You cannot create a name with the following characters *?<>\/:| or enter spaces. You must enter a unique name for every plug-in that you deploy to the BigFix server.
Click Take action. In the Take Action dialog box, select the management extender host on which you want to deploy a management extender plug-in for AIX® NIM and click OK.

Results

In the Action: Management Extender for AIX NIM window, you can view the progress of the action. When the Status changes to Complete, the management extender plug-in for AIX® NIM is deployed.