Home
Installing
Learn about the requirements and available installation scenarios to ensure that the deployment of BigFix Inventory goes smoothly in your environment.
Installing on Windows
A complete deployment of BigFix Inventory on Windows requires the installation of three components: the BigFix platform, the BigFix Inventory server, and an MS SQL database. Additionally, a BigFix client must be installed on every computer from which you want to collect software inventory data. You can install all components from scratch or add the BigFix Inventory server to the existing BigFix infrastructure. Depending on the environment size, you can install all components on a single computer, or distribute them among multiple computers.
Uninstalling
To remove BigFix Inventory from your infrastructure, stop the application-specific actions and analyses that are running on the computers and uninstall the scanner. Then, remove the VM Manager Tool. Finally, uninstall the BigFix Inventory server. You can also remove the related database.
Uninstalling the server in interactive mode
To uninstall the BigFix Inventory server on Windows, run the uninstall.bat file. Then, follow instructions in the installation wizard. The wizard does not uninstall the MS SQL Server nor the BigFix server. These components need to be removed separately.

Installing
Learn about the requirements and available installation scenarios to ensure that the deployment of BigFix Inventory goes smoothly in your environment.
- Planning the installation
  Before you start the installation, review information about hardware and software requirements and other considerations to ensure that the installation completes successfully.
- Installing on Windows
  A complete deployment of BigFix Inventory on Windows requires the installation of three components: the BigFix platform, the BigFix Inventory server, and an MS SQL database. Additionally, a BigFix client must be installed on every computer from which you want to collect software inventory data. You can install all components from scratch or add the BigFix Inventory server to the existing BigFix infrastructure. Depending on the environment size, you can install all components on a single computer, or distribute them among multiple computers.
  - Step-by-step installation guide
    Use the step-by-step installation guide to ensure that you complete all steps necessary to successfully install BigFix Inventory on Windows.
  - Installing the BigFix platform
    The BigFix platform is the core of the BigFix Inventory infrastructure. It consists of a server that coordinates the flow of data to and from the monitored computers, an administrative console, and clients that collect data from the computers in your infrastructure. Before you can install BigFix Inventory, install all components of the BigFix platform.
  - Installing BigFix Inventory
    Before you start the installation of BigFix Inventory on Windows, ensure that an MS SQL Server is installed in your infrastructure. Then, enable a dedicated fixlet site in the BigFix console and download the BigFix Inventory installer. Next, run the installation in interactive or silent mode.
  - Uninstalling
    To remove BigFix Inventory from your infrastructure, stop the application-specific actions and analyses that are running on the computers and uninstall the scanner. Then, remove the VM Manager Tool. Finally, uninstall the BigFix Inventory server. You can also remove the related database.
    - Uninstalling the server in interactive mode
      To uninstall the BigFix Inventory server on Windows, run the uninstall.bat file. Then, follow instructions in the installation wizard. The wizard does not uninstall the MS SQL Server nor the BigFix server. These components need to be removed separately.
    - Uninstalling the server in silent mode
      To uninstall the BigFix Inventory server on Windows, edit parameters in the uninstall_response.txt file, and run the uninstallation command. The command does not uninstall the MS SQL Server nor the BigFix server. These components need to be removed separately.
- Installing on Linux
  A complete deployment of BigFix Inventory on Linux requires the installation of three components: the BigFix platform, the BigFix Inventory server, and DB2 database. Additionally, a BigFix client must be installed on every computer from which you want to collect software inventory data. Depending on the environment size, you can install all components on a single computer, or distribute them among multiple computers.
- Installation-related tasks
  If you encounter problems during the installation, you can check details related to the problem, fix it, and then resume the installation. If the BigFix and BigFix Inventory servers are in separated networks, you can disable the automatic address lookup to avoid problems with initial configuration. Learn how to check the current application and catalog version to make sure that your installation and initial configuration were successful.

Uninstalling the server on Windows in interactive mode

To uninstall the BigFix Inventory server on Windows, run the uninstall.bat file. Then, follow instructions in the installation wizard. The wizard does not uninstall the MS SQL Server nor the BigFix server. These components need to be removed separately.

Procedure

Log in to the computer where the BigFix Inventory server is installed as the same user who performed the installation.
Go to the C:\Program Files\IBM\BFI\Uninstall directory and run the uninstall.bat file. Start the uninstallation with the Run as administrator option.
Follow instructions in the uninstallation wizard. When the uninstallation finishes, click Done.

Results

The BigFix Inventory server is uninstalled but the database, user logins, and passwords are preserved. To remove them, delete the BigFix Inventory database. You can also remove the BigFix server.