Welcome
Configuration Guide
Learn how to configure BigFix according to your needs.
Downloading files in air-gapped environments
In air-gapped environments, to download and transfer files to the main BigFix server, use the Airgap utility and the BES Download Cacher utility.
Using the Airgap tool
Log files
The Airgap tool produces two types of log files: normal log files and debug log files.

BigFix Documentation Homepage
BigFix 11 Platform Documentation
Welcome to the BigFix Platform documentation, where you can find information about how to install, maintain, and use BigFix.
Detailed system requirements
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Platform guides in PDF format
Following is a list of links to the BigFix Platform user guides in PDF format:
Common Criteria Certification
Getting Started
Use this section to become familiar with BigFix infrastructure and key concepts necessary to understand how it works.
HTTPS across BigFix applications
This topic describes how the SSL/HTTPS communication works in BigFix applications and links the tasks on how to configure it.
Installation Guide
Learn the system requirements, licensing and installation instructions, and how to configure and maintain BigFix.
Configuration Guide
Learn how to configure BigFix according to your needs.
- Special notice
- Edition notice
- Introduction
  This guide explains additional configuration steps that you can run in your environment after installation.
- BigFix Site Administrator and Console Operators
  In BigFix there are two basic classes of users.
- Integrating with LDAP or Microsoft Entra ID
  You can add Identity Providers associations to BigFix.
- Enabling SAML V2.0 authentication for identity provider operators
  BigFix supports SAML V2.0 authentication via LDAP-backed SAML identity providers.
- Disabling local operators
  Starting from BigFix Version 10.0.8, this feature provides a mechanism where the creation and use of any local operator is prohibited in favor of LDAP-based operators.
- Using multiple servers (DSA)
  Some important elements of multiple server installations.
- Server object IDs
  The BigFix server generates unique ids for the objects that it creates: Fixlets, tasks, baselines, properties, analysis, actions, roles, custom sites, computer groups, management rights, subscriptions.
- Using the DHE/ECDHE key exchange method
  By default, BigFixVersion 11 components use the DHE/ECDHE key exchange method if the version of the BigFix component on the other side of the SSL communication allows it.
- Configuring secure communication
- Real Time AV Exclusions
  BigFix Console, Server and Relay components of the architecture perform high volume file operations. This activity is a substantial part of the functionality that these BigFix architecture components provide.
- Downloading files in air-gapped environments
  In air-gapped environments, to download and transfer files to the main BigFix server, use the Airgap utility and the BES Download Cacher utility.
  - Overview
    In an air-gapped environment where a secure network is physically isolated from insecure networks, such as the public Internet or an insecure local area network, and the computers on opposite sides of the air gap cannot communicate, to download and transfer files to the main BigFix server, you can use the Airgap utility and the BES Download Cacher utility.
  - Requirements
    When your BigFix server is installed in an air-gapped environment where a secure network is physically isolated from insecure networks, such as the public Internet or an insecure local area network, and the computers on opposite sides of the air gap cannot communicate, you need a workstation that has access to the public Internet to download Fixlet site contents using the Airgap tool, and to download files referenced in the Fixlet action scripts.
  - Using the Airgap tool
    - Non-extraction usage
    - Extraction usage
      The "Extraction usage" mode of the Airgap tool.
    - Log files
      The Airgap tool produces two types of log files: normal log files and debug log files.
- Getting client information by using BigFix Query
  The BigFix Query feature allows you to retrieve information and run relevance queries on client workstations from the WebUI BigFix Query Application or by using REST APIs.
- The Plugin Portal
  The Plugin Portal is a new component introduced in BigFix 10 to help manage cloud devices as well as modern devices such as Windows 10 and MacOS endpoints enrolled to BigFix. For details on modern client management, see Modern Client Management and BigFix Mobile.
- Extending BigFix management capabilities
  BigFix 11 delivers a few significant new functions for enhancing the visibility and management of devices on your network regardless of whether the devices are physical or virtual.
- Persistent connections
  The capability to establish persistent connections was added to the product.
- Relays in DMZ
  The capability to establish a persistent TCP connection between the parent relay in the more secure zone and its child relay inside the DMZ network was added to the product. This allows you to manage systems in a demilitarized zone (DMZ network).
- Working with PeerNest
  The BigFix Client includes a new feature named PeerNest, that allows to share binary files among Clients located in the same subnet. The feature is available starting from BigFix Version 9.5 Patch 11.
- Archiving Client files on the BigFix Server
  You can collect multiple files from BigFix clients into an archive and move them through the relay system to the server.
- BigFix Configuration Settings
  A number of advanced BigFix configuration settings are available that can give you substantial control over the behavior of the BigFix suite. These options allow you to customize the behavior of the BigFix server, relays, and clients in your network.
- Additional configuration steps
  These topics explain additional configuration steps that you can run in your environment.
- Migrating the BigFix Server (Windows/MS-SQL)
  This section details the steps and operational procedures necessary for migrating the BigFix Server from existing hardware onto new computer systems.
- Migrating the BigFix Server (Linux)
  This section provides basic information on migrating your BigFix Server from existing Linux hardware onto new systems.
- Migrating the BigFix Server from Windows to Red Hat 9 with SQL Server
  Starting from BigFix Version 11.0.1, you can migrate BigFix Platform from a Windows operating system to a Red Hat 9 operating system with Microsoft SQL Server 2022 Database, both using a local or a remote database.
- Server audit logs
  The BigFix Server generates a server audit log file which contains the access information (login/logout) and information about the actions performed through the Console or the WebUI by the different users.
- List of advanced options
  The following lists show the advanced options.
- Security Configuration Scenarios
  Starting from Version 11, BigFix provides the capability to configure several security options.
- Enabling Microsoft Control Flow Guard on BigFix Server
  Starting from BigFix version 11.0.3, the BigFix Server implements the Microsoft Control Flow Guard (CFG) security feature on Windows systems; the BigFix Server executables:
- Client certificate
  To comply with the modern industry standards, starting from product version 10.0.7, the client certificate of the BigFix Agent will have a validity period of 13 months.
- Client Authentication
  Client Authentication (introduced in version 9) extends the security model used by BigFix to encompass trusted client reports and private messages.
- Maintenance and Troubleshooting
  If you are subscribed to the Patches for Windows site, you can ensure that you have the latest upgrades and patches to your SQL server database servers.
- Support
  For more information about this product, see the following resources:
- Notices
Console Operator's Guide
Learn how to work with the BigFix Console.
Asset Discovery User's Guide
Learn how BigFix Asset Discovery works.
Web Reports Guide
Learn how the Web Reports feature extends the power of BigFix.
BigFix Explorer Guide
Learn how the BigFix Explorer feature extends the power of BigFix.
WebUI User's Guide
Read this guide for an introduction to the WebUI tools, concepts, and terminology.
WebUI Administration Guide
Read this guide for information about installing and administering the WebUI.
Glossary
This glossary provides terms and definitions for the BigFix software and products.

Log files

The Airgap tool produces two types of log files: normal log files and debug log files.

Normal log files record the messages you see in the command window so you can check Airgap tasks, such as sites gathered on a specific date. Debug log files are intended for the HCL Support team. The naming convention for normal log files is:

On Windows operating systems:: BESAirgapTool_yyyy-mm-dd.log
On Linux operating systems:: Airgap_yyyy-mm-dd.log

where yyyy-mm-dd is the date when the file has been created. Starting from Version 9.5.7, files older than 30 days are deleted.

The debug log file is AirgapDebugOut.txt. Starting from Version 9.5.7, this file contains only information of the last day and older log files are renamed to AirgapDebugOutyyyymmdd.txt, where yyyymmdd is the date when the file has been created; files older than 10 days are deleted. The Airgap tool can write more information to the debug log file by using the verbose option -verbose.