Workflow Builder

Workflow Builder lets you automate multi-step device tasks without writing a Fixlet or Task: you chain predefined check, action, and flow-control steps in a drag-and-drop editor, and deploy the result as a single BigFix action tagged bf-workflow.

Workflow Builder is available from Resolve > Workflow Builder in BigFix UI, where the Workflows tab holds the workflows and the Deployments tab tracks their results. Version 1.0 supports Windows target devices only.

Note:
This topic provides a summary of Workflow Builder entitlement, permissions, and prerequisites, with a map to the full procedures. For complete instructions on installing, building, deploying, and troubleshooting workflows, see the BigFix Workflow Builder User Guide, which links back to this page.

Entitlement

Required:

  • A BigFix license that includes the BigFix WorkFlow Builder external content site.

Check:

  • In the BigFix Console, BigFix Management > License Overview lists the BigFix WorkFlow Builder site as enabled (refresh the license first if it is missing). See Get the BigFix content in the BigFix Workflow Builder User Guide.
  • In BigFix UI, Workflow Builder appears in the list of role applications only when the site is enabled with a site version greater than zero. See Grant user access in the BigFix Workflow Builder User Guide.

User permissions

Required role:

  • A BigFix UI role with the Workflow Builder application assigned (User & Role Management). Assigning the application enforces the Custom Content permission, so assign it only to operators who may create custom content. Master and non-master operators are supported.
  • Your operator permissions determine which actions you can complete. For a description of each permission, see Permissions reference.
  • There is no per-workflow permission: every user who is assigned the application can manage all workflows, including the sample workflows.
  • For installation and configuration: a BigFix UI administrator account; command-line access to the BigFix UI server; site permissions on the BigFix WorkFlow Builder site for the operators who install and configure it; and a SQL Server login with administrative access to the BFEnterprise database for the one-time permission setup.
  • Deployment targets: Windows devices with BigFix Agent 9.5.11 or later (version 11 recommended), selected by query, device group, or device list.
  • Site subscription: at a minimum, the computer that hosts the BigFix Workflow Service; optionally, all computers for future use.

Prerequisites

  • BigFix Platform environment in place (BigFix Platform 11 recommended).
  • BigFix UI installed, running, and connected to the BigFix Server. The BigFix UI requires BigFix Platform 11.0.7 or later and Microsoft SQL Server 2025 for its own database. See BigFix UI System Requirements.
  • BigFix WorkFlow Builder site enabled, gathered, and subscribed (BigFix Workflow Builder User Guide).
  • Least-privilege database login prepared in BFEnterprise with mssql-init.sql (Prepare the database login), and hardened after the first service start (Harden the database login).
  • BigFix Workflow Service (Windows service BigFixWorkFlow) installed on a Windows host with the Install BigFix WorkFlow Builder Acceptor <version> (WIN) task (Deploy the BigFix Workflow Service).
  • Network connectivity between the BigFix UI server and the BigFix Workflow Service host on the basic authentication port (default 8089) and the mTLS port (default 9087).
  • Application activated with BFUI.exe --configure-wfb on the BigFix UI server (mTLS setup), followed by a BigFix UI service restart (Activate the application in the BigFix UI).
Important:
Before you go live: the service ports are set at installation and cannot be changed afterwards. Backup and restore of the BigFix Workflow Service is not available, and uninstalling the service removes the HMAC key that protects stored workflows, so saved workflows can no longer be accessed. Export workflows as JSON files before you uninstall or rebuild. See BigFix Workflow Builder User Guide.

Where to go for full instructions

Full feature documentation: the BigFix Workflow Builder User Guide, with a link back to this page.

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