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.

Before you begin

Note: It is recommended to upgrade BigFix Inventory frequently to make the new features and security fixes available. At least one upgrade per year is important.

Ensure that no files or directories in the BigFix Inventory installation directory are open in an external program. For example, ensure that no log files are open in a text editor. Also, ensure that no PDF reports are being generated during the server upgrade. Otherwise, the upgrade might fail with an error code 41.

For information about space requirements, see Hardware requirements.
Tip: In large environments, first run the fixlet in a test environment before upgrading to check the component compatibility. To do so, back up your production database, restore it on the test server, and then upgrade. If the upgrade succeeds, upgrade the production server.

About this task

Restriction: You cannot upgrade between different operating systems.

BigFix Inventory server is maintained in a single maintenance stream. The next version after 10.0.16 release is 11.0.0. For BigFix Inventory server direct upgrade is supported from the last 8 server versions. The minimal version for direct upgrade path increases with every release. Depending on the version number, one or more upgrade steps are necessary.

Remember: The BigFix Inventory v10 site is deprecated, and it does not offer download options for older packages. If your BigFix Inventory version is 10.0.10 or above, use the BigFix Inventory and BigFix Inventory Discovery sites to upgrade the BigFix Inventory server and update the server software catalog. If your BigFix Inventory version is older than 10.0.10.0 and you are not able to run an upgrade to an interim version using the BigFix Inventory v10 site, contact HCL support for instructions.
Steps to upgrade to the latest version
  1. Upgrade through all interim versions using dedicated BigFix fixlet. See Upgrading to the interim version below.
  2. Create a backup of the server. See Backing up the server.
  3. Update the fixlet site. See Updating the fixlet site.
  4. Upgrade BigFix Inventory using fixlet: Upgrade to the latest version of BigFix Inventory.
  5. Migrate the database schema. See Updating the server database schema
  6. Upgrade all BigFix Inventory components, such as BigFix Inventory server, the database, VM Manager tool, scanner and actions. See Upgrading the server in interactive mode, Upgrading the server in silent mode, Updating the server database schema, and Upgrading the scanner, tools and actions.
    Note: Ensure during upgrading actions to use BigFix Inventory site.
  7. In case the schema migration fails, restore the server. See Restoring the server after a failed upgrade.
    Result: The BigFix Inventory server is upgraded to the latest version.
    Remember: Run data import post upgrading the server.
Steps to upgrade to an interim version
Note: Interim versions 10.x can be found in the BigFix Inventory v10 (Deprecated) site.
  1. Create a backup of the server. See Backing up the server.
  2. Update the fixlet site. See Updating the fixlet site.
  3. Upgrade to relevant interim versions first BigFix Inventory using Upgrade to the interim version X.Y.Z.V of BigFix Inventory fixlets. Select a fixlet with the lowest version which is newer than currently installed BigFix Inventory.

    The fixlet description includes links that allow you to manually download BigFix Inventory.

  4. Migrate the database schema. See Updating the server database schema
  5. In case the schema migration fails, restore the server. See Restoring the server after a failed upgrade.
    Result: The BigFix Inventory server is upgraded to interim version. To upgrade the server to the latest version, perform the steps mentioned in the Upgrade to the latest version section.
    Remember: Run data import post upgrading the server.
11.0.0 Steps before the upgrade (to upgrade BigFix Inventory to version 11.x for the first time)
Restriction: This is not applicable if BigFix Inventory server was already installed using the new BigFix Inventory site (BigFix Inventory v10.0.15.0-20240123-1827). In such case, only the standard upgrade procedure should be applied.
All active BigFix Inventory licenses have been extended to new sites during the date of release of version 11.0.0.0. Follow the upgrade steps described below:
Remember: It is recommended to update the Server Software Catalog to Catalog 20240508 published on 2024-05-22 if an older version is used.

This is the last catalog available for the 10.x line.

Applying it before the upgrade will prevent accumulation of catalog changes to be processed in first Data Import after upgrade.

Perform the following steps before upgrading:
  1. Refresh the BigFix license. Follow the procedure for extending the license entitlements.
  2. Enable BigFix Inventory and BigFix Inventory Discovery sites.
  3. Subscribe 'All Computers' to both the sites.
  4. Activate the same set of analysis in BigFix Inventory site as configured in BigFix Inventory v10 (Deprecated) site.
Remember: Once you complete these steps, follow the standard upgrade procedure. Refer to 1 and 2.
11.0.0 Steps after the upgrade (upgrade required after the first upgrade to version 11.x)
Restriction: This is not applicable if BigFix Inventory server was already installed using the new BigFix Inventory site (BigFix Inventory v10.0.15.0-20240123-1827).
  1. Review 'Computer Properties' for customizations using as a source properties of analysis from the BigFix Inventory v10 (Deprecated) and update them with reference to the analysis from the new BigFix Inventory site.
  2. Deactivate and remove the BigFix Inventory v10 (Deprecated) site and remove it.
  3. If BigFix license counting function is used, repeat the procedure described in Distributing the site mapping file.

Upgrade considerations

New features and improvements may impact the existing capabilities. You need to take some additional steps or expect temporary longer duration of some processing.

About this task

Refer to the upgrade consideration when you upgrade from a specific version.
Table 1. Upgrade considerations
Version from which you are upgrading Considerations
11.0.0 Version 11.0.0 and above
  1. The product is distributed using new sites.
    1. Refresh the license to get access to the new sites.
    2. New versions of scan actions will originate from the new site.
    3. The process to schedule the scan remains the same as before.
  2. All BigFix Platform Agent-managed computers are visible. The site subscription no longer limits the computer visibility.
  3. The first data import after upgrading from version 10.x to version 11.x will result in re-importing the facts based on the analysis, such as Package Data, Application Usage, Detailed Hardware Scan, Computer Health, etc. This will extend the duration of data import, especially when DB2 database is used.
Note: The direct upgrade to version 11.0.0.0 is supported from BigFix Inventory version 10.0.10.0 or newer.
Version 10.0.10 and above Starting from BigFix Inventory version 10.0.10.0, direct upgrade is supported from the last 8 server versions. The minimal version for direct upgrade path increases with every release. Depending on the version number, one or more upgrade steps are necessary. For example, the minimal version for direct upgrade path to version 10.0.11.0 is 10.0.3.0. For versions up to 10.0.1.0 (inclusive), upgrade first to 10.0.2.0 then upgrade to 10.0.10.0 using Upgrade to interim version fixlet.

For information on upgrade considerations for older versions, refer to the steps mentioned in the BigFix Inventory v10 documentation.