Welcome
Upgrading
A new version of BigFix Inventory is released periodically, typically at the end of each calendar quarter. Upgrade to the new version regularly to take full advantage of new features and application fixes.
Upgrading BigFix Inventory
BigFix Inventory is currently offered in single maintenance stream. Upgrading to the entire environment includes upgrading the BigFix Inventory server, VM Manager tool, the scanner, and the database. For best results, update the server regularly to benefit from new capabilities and defect fixes. Once you finish the upgrade, you must restart all ongoing actions to enable the fixlets.
Updating the fixlet site
The content of the BigFix Inventory fixlet site can be periodically modified. New fixlets, tasks, and analyses can be added. The existing ones can be changed or might become obsolete due to functionality changes. If the BigFix server is installed on a computer with the Internet access, the BigFix Inventory fixlet site is updated automatically whenever the updates are available. However, if the server is installed on a computer without the Internet access, you must update the fixlet site manually. Start by checking whether the fixlet site that you are currently using is up-to-date. If a newer version of the fixlet site exists, download the site content by using the Airgap tool. Then, cache the files on the BigFix server by using the BES Download Cacher.

BigFix Documentation Homepage
BigFix 11 Inventory Documentation
Welcome to the BigFix Inventory documentation, where you can find information about how to install and configure BigFix Inventory. The application provides you with information about your inventory and license metrics. You can manage your software assets, gather information about your hardware, and ensure license compliance for your enterprise using BigFix Inventory.
BigFix Platform
Overview
Become familiar with key concepts that are necessary to understand how BigFix Inventory works and learn about features and functions that are introduced in every version of the application.
Installing
Learn about the requirements and available installation scenarios to ensure that the deployment of BigFix Inventory goes smoothly in your environment.
Configuring
After you install BigFix Inventory, configure the application. Create accounts for the users who need access to the application and set up scans to collect software and hardware inventory data from your environment.
Upgrading
A new version of BigFix Inventory is released periodically, typically at the end of each calendar quarter. Upgrade to the new version regularly to take full advantage of new features and application fixes.
- Upgrading BigFix Inventory
  BigFix Inventory is currently offered in single maintenance stream. Upgrading to the entire environment includes upgrading the BigFix Inventory server, VM Manager tool, the scanner, and the database. For best results, update the server regularly to benefit from new capabilities and defect fixes. Once you finish the upgrade, you must restart all ongoing actions to enable the fixlets.
  - Updating the fixlet site
    The content of the BigFix Inventory fixlet site can be periodically modified. New fixlets, tasks, and analyses can be added. The existing ones can be changed or might become obsolete due to functionality changes. If the BigFix server is installed on a computer with the Internet access, the BigFix Inventory fixlet site is updated automatically whenever the updates are available. However, if the server is installed on a computer without the Internet access, you must update the fixlet site manually. Start by checking whether the fixlet site that you are currently using is up-to-date. If a newer version of the fixlet site exists, download the site content by using the Airgap tool. Then, cache the files on the BigFix server by using the BES Download Cacher.
    - Checking the version of the fixlet site
      Compare the current version of the fixlet site with the latest version that was published. If a newer version is available, updated the content of your fixlet site.
    - Updating the content of the fixlet site on Windows
      If the BigFix server is installed on a Windows computer without the Internet access, use the Airgap tool to download the content of the fixlet site to a computer with the Internet access. Then, move the files to the Windows computer on which the BigFix server is installed. You can update the site content in extraction or non-extraction mode. The non-extraction mode is simpler but the procedure is available from BigFix 9.5.5. For earlier versions, use the extraction mode.
    - Updating the content of the fixlet site on Linux
      If the BigFix server is installed on a Linux computer without the Internet access, use the Airgap tool to download the content of the fixlet site to a computer with the Internet access. Then, move the files to the Linux computer on which the BigFix server is installed. You can update the site content in extraction or non-extraction mode. The non-extraction mode is simpler but the procedure is available from BigFix 9.5.5. For earlier versions, use the extraction mode.
    - Caching the files
      Typically, fixlets and tasks download files that they require from the Internet. In separated networks, the required files must first be cached on a Windows computer with the Internet access and then moved to the BigFix server.
  - Backing up the server
    Before you start the upgrade, back up the database, installation registry, and the server files to be able to restore the server if the upgrade fails.
  - Upgrading the server in interactive mode
    To upgrade the server in interactive mode, start the installation of a newer version of BigFix Inventory on the same computer. In interactive mode, you upgrade the server through a wizard.
  - Upgrading the server in silent mode
    To upgrade the server in silent mode, start the installation of a newer version of BigFix Inventory on the same computer. Silent installation runs in the background.
  - Updating the server database schema
    BigFix Inventory server database schema gets updated when upgrading from one version to another.
  - Upgrading the scanner, tools and actions
    Upgrade BigFix Inventory scanner, tools, and actions as part of the server upgrade process.
  - Restoring the server after a failed upgrade
    After a failed upgrade, you can restore the server to its original state by restoring the database, installation registry, and the server files from backups.
- Migrating BigFix Inventory
Catalog Overview
This section provides information about catalog updates available with every release.
Managing the infrastructure
After you complete the initial configuration of BigFix Inventory, learn how to manage components of its infrastructure: VM managers, server, database, and data sources.
Software inventory and license utilization
You can classify the discovered software so that reports in BigFix Inventory reflect your entitlements and properly show utilization of license metrics by particular products.
Managing security threats
Learn how to use BigFix Inventory to manage security threats in your environment. You can view whether any of the installed components is prone to any Common Vulnerability and Exposure (CVE).
Tutorials
Tutorials help you understand how to use BigFix Inventory. They consist of modules that focus on broad goals. Modules consist of tasks that show how to configure specific settings step-by-step.
Security
Configure different security features to adequately protect business assets and resources in the data model when using BigFix Inventory.
Troubleshooting and support
Learn about solutions to common problems that might arise when you use BigFix Inventory BigFix Inventory and how to find logs and trace files that help you troubleshoot those problems.
Tuning performance
Learn how to plan the infrastructure of BigFix Inventory and to configure the application server to achieve optimal performance. The following guidelines are applicable in big data environments as well as in smaller environments that are running on low-performance hardware.
Integrating with REST API
External systems integration is one of the key features of BigFix Inventory. Business logic is enabled for integration and interfaces are provided for common integration points.
Glossary
Guide in PDF format
DataFlow ServiceNow Integration

Updating the fixlet site

The content of the BigFix Inventory fixlet site can be periodically modified. New fixlets, tasks, and analyses can be added. The existing ones can be changed or might become obsolete due to functionality changes. If the BigFix server is installed on a computer with the Internet access, the BigFix Inventory fixlet site is updated automatically whenever the updates are available. However, if the server is installed on a computer without the Internet access, you must update the fixlet site manually. Start by checking whether the fixlet site that you are currently using is up-to-date. If a newer version of the fixlet site exists, download the site content by using the Airgap tool. Then, cache the files on the BigFix server by using the BES Download Cacher.

Note: The procedures in this section describe the extraction mode for upgrading the fixlet site. However, you can use non-extraction mode as an alternative. To explore the Airgap tool capabilities, see: Using the Airgap tool.