BigFix Inventory: Application Update 11.0.1.0 published 2024-09-25

Product:
BigFix Inventory application update 11.0.1.0

Published sites:

BigFix Inventory version 4

Note: The BigFix Inventory v10 site is deprecated and no longer used for updates.

BigFix Inventory v11 is a continuation of BigFix Inventory v10.
Use the BigFix Inventory and BigFix Inventory Discovery sites for this and the future updates. Refresh the License Overview Dashboard, enable new sites, and subscribe to the endpoints. For a complete procedure, refer to the Actions Needed section or the release notes or product documentation.

Features:

BigFix Inventory delivers increased value and demonstrates HCL’s commitment towards HCL, IBM and Oracle customers.

Key features in HCL BigFix Inventory 11.0.1.0:

  • New HCL BigFix Scanner v11.0.36.0

    • HCL Scanner binary for majority of supported systems
    • Scanner installation path changed—now under the BigFix Client directories
    • The new scanner is backward compatible with the BigFix Inventory Server
    • Wrapper introduced to separate Fixlets and Analysis from Scanner deployment logic and for smooth transition from previous scanner
      For details refer to the release notes: https://support.bigfix.com/bfi/BigFix-Inventory-11.0.1.0-ReleaseNotes.pdf
  • Oracle Database extended discovery for Oracle Databases and Software Classification reports is synchronized now with the latest Oracle Measurements Data collection for Oracle Databases on Windows systems

    • Get Oracle Features fixlet is marked as Deprecated as the Oracle Measurements Data functionality fully replaces the previous solution.
  • BFINV-I-218 idea delivered. New dedicated Manage Rules permission to manage custom classification rules.

  • Default behavior changed for the Send feedback option. It directs to the BigFix Ideas portal. Custom configuration with e-mail address is still supported.

  • Improved Data Import: Usage Fact step query optimized (KB0115750).

  • Catalog 20240813 is included in the server package.

  • Equivalent to IBM License Metric Tool 9.2.36 for IBM Virtualization Capacity reporting
    Note: The new version is under certification process by IBM on the release date. To view the status of IBM validated releases, refer to https://public.dhe.ibm.com/software/passportadvantage/SubCapacity/BFI_and_HCL_FAQ.pdf.

  • Security enhancements

    • IBM WebSphere Liberty was updated to version 24.0.0.8.
    • IBM Java was updated to 8.0.8.30.
    • A number of other libraries have been updated.

To view the complete list of new features and defects that were fixed in this application update, refer to the release notes.

Server and tools: https://support.bigfix.com/bfi/BigFix-Inventory-11.0.1.0-ReleaseNotes.pdf

Catalog: https://support.bigfix.com/bfi/BigFix-Inventory-Catalog-20240813-ReleaseNotes.pdf

For a hands-on tutorial for contract management, refer to the product documentation: Hands-on tutorial for contract management.

For status of IBM-validated releases, refer to

https://public.dhe.ibm.com/software/passportadvantage/SubCapacity/BFI_and_HCL_FAQ.pdf.

Note:

The BigFix Inventory v10 site is deprecated and 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 to version 11.x and update the server software catalog. If your BigFix Inventory version is older than 10.0.10.0, contact HCL support for instructions.

Upgrading BigFix Inventory Server from the 10.x to 11.x. version has a few additional steps to be followed before and after the standard upgrade procedure. Those steps are one-time tasks. For more details, check https://support.bigfix.com/bfi/BigFix-Inventory-11.0.0.0-ReleaseNotes.pdf.

Actions needed:

  • To upgrade the BigFix Inventory server to application update 11.0.1.0, run the Upgrade to the latest version of BigFix Inventory fixlet from the BigFix console and the new BigFix Inventory site.
    After the server upgrade for smooth transition to the new BigFix Scanner and new scan actions, implement the steps in the sequence as listed below.
    1. Run one-time action: Create Scanner Wrapper for Scanner fixlet for all relevant endpoints.
      This is to assure the previous scanner version can be used until the scanner is updated to the new HCL BigFix Scanner version.

    2. Update all scan-related actions to version 11.0.1.0.
      Check if action 1 is complete to assure the previous scanner versions continue to work with the new actions.

    3. Upgrade the BigFix Inventory scanner.
      After scan-related actions are updated to version 11.0.1.0, run the Install or Upgrade scanner fixlet from BigFix console and the new BigFix Inventory site.

The complete upgrade procedure and post-upgrade steps are available in the product documentation:
Upgrading.

For more information about how to install, maintain, and use the BigFix Inventory application, refer to the user documentation: BigFix 11 Inventory Documentation.

To find out more about Software Asset Management at BigFix, visit the BigFix page: Software Asset Management.


– The BigFix Inventory Team

2 Likes

@marcin.socha

I’m not sure the description in the Create Scanner Wrapper task corresponds with this announcement.

This task should be run only if you do not plan to update Scanner to version 11.0.1.0 or later.

Can you clarify things?

When you run Install or Upgrade scanner fixlet Create Scanner Wrapper fixlet content is run automatically No need to run Create Scanner Wrapper in this case

Sorry, but I’m still confused. Step 1 in the Actions needed it is explicitely stated:

  1. Run one-time action: Create Scanner Wrapper for Scanner fixlet for all relevant endpoints.This is to assure the previous scanner version can be used until the scanner is updated to the new HCL BigFix Scanner version.

Is it necessary or not to run the Create Scanner Wrapper for Scanner fixlet?

The recommended sequence of actions is as in the announcement.
This is to assure smooth transition of your infrastructure to use the new scanner.
Once you have the Wrapper created then both previous scanner versions and new scanner version can coexist in your infrastructure to give you the time as you need for the scanner upgrade on all endpoints.

Only in the scenario you upgrade scanners on all endpoints at once this action in not needed.

The confusing text in the Create Scanner Wrapper task will be rephrased in the next update.

1 Like

Important!

After refreshing the BigFix Inventory site, run one-time action: Create Scanner Wrapper for Scanner 11.0.0 (9.2.35) or older against all relevant endpoints.

Analysis like Scanner Information will stop gathering information on old Scanner installation until you do so!