Architectural components overview
The BigFix system encloses different components. Main components are:
- BigFix Agents:
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They are installed on every computer that you want to manage using BigFix. A computer on which the BigFix agent is installed, is also referred to as client. Clients access a collection of Fixlets that detects security exposures, incorrect configurations, and other vulnerabilities. The client can implement corrective actions received from the console through the server. The BigFix client runs undetected by users and uses a minimum of system resources.
BigFix also allows the administrator to respond to screen prompts for those actions that require user input. BigFix clients can encrypt their upstream communications, protecting sensitive information. To acknowledge all the Operating Systems that the BigFix Client software supports, please refer to the BigFix Support Matrix.
- BigFix Servers:
- Offer a collection of interacting services, including application services, a web server,
and a database server, forming the heart of the BigFix system. They coordinate the flow of
information to and from individual computers and store the results in the BigFix database. The
BigFix server components operate quietly in the background, without any direct intervention
from the administrator. BigFix servers also include a built-in Web Reporting module to
allow authorized users to connect through a web browser to view all the information about
computers, vulnerabilities, actions, and more. BigFix supports multiple servers, adding a
robust redundancy to the system.
To acknowledge all the Operating Systems that the BigFix Server software supports, please refer to the BigFix Support Matrix.
Note: On Windows, as of BigFix V10, Server and Web Reports components support only 64-bit architecture.
- BigFix Relays:
- Increase the efficiency of the system. Instead of forcing each networked computer to
directly access the BigFix server, relays spread the load. Hundreds to thousands of BigFix
clients can point to a single BigFix Relay for downloads, which in turn makes only a single
request to the server. BigFix Relays can connect also to other relays, further increasing
efficiency. A BigFix Relay need not be a dedicated computer.
To acknowledge all the Operating Systems that the BigFix Relay software supports, please refer to the BigFix Support Matrix.
As soon as you install a BigFix Relay, the clients in your network can automatically discover and connect to them.
- BigFix Consoles:
- Join all these components together to provide a system-wide view of all the computers in
your network, along with their vulnerabilities and suggested remedies. The BigFix Console
allows an authorized user to quickly and simply distribute fixes to each computer that needs
them without impacting any other computers in the network.
To acknowledge all the Operating Systems that the BigFix Console software supports, please refer to the BigFix Support Matrix.
Note: The computer where the Console runs requires network access to the BigFix server.Note: On Windows, as of BigFix V10, the Console component supports only the 64-bit architecture.
- BigFix Client Deploy Tool:
- Allows you to install Windows, UNIX and Mac target computers in an easy way.
- BigFix WebUI:
- A cross-platform user interface that lets you perform actions on devices, perform deployments and manage reports.