Handy Blog Articles

• Installing BigFix v9 - I've written a whole new article describing the step-by-step instructions for installing BigFix v9 on a Windows Server 2012. And don't forget about the v9 Pre-requisites!
• Perhaps you want more information on Installing IEM onto a RHEL 64-bit Server.
• Configuring IEM to run as a Domain Service Account - Here I'm discussing the details of changing services and MSSQL configuration to run your infrastructure using a Domain Service Account.
• Install the BigFix v9 Client - Rewritten for this new version of BigFix and Operating System.
• Install the BigFix v9 Console - Simple guide on installing the BigFix Console application.
• Migrating Clients from One Infrastructure to Another - Perhaps you're wanting to move endpoints from one infrastructure to another... there's a task for that, oh and a step-by-step article!.
• Customize WebReports Login Screen - Discover an easy way to modify your Web Reports login screen.
• Configure WebReports Active Directory Roles - Link your Active Directory OUs to Roles within WebReports.

• New BigFix Deployment v8.2 - Read a step-by-step guide to deploying a new BigFix Infrastructure, don't forget about the v8.2 Pre-Requisites! Maybe you want to link your new deployment to LDAP? Or maybe you're migrating to new hardware?
• Install the BigFix Client v8.2 - Walk through for installing the BigFix Agent manually. You can also see non-windows installation examples by visiting Lab pages, where you'll find cmd line screen shots for installing non-windows agents.
• Licensing Updates - Not sure what to do when you need your license updated... try reading this article.
• Installing the BigFix Console v8.2 - Discover the step-by-steps to installing the console... don't forget you may have a few Console Requirements.
• Software Usage Analysis v1.3.0.592 - Understand the ins and outs of installing SUA with this article. Or are you upgrading?

• Understanding Domains
• Fixlet/Task Properties

• Installing Windows Server 2012 step-by-step article.
• Installing Microsoft SQL Server 2012 step-by-step article.
• Activating a BigFix Task/Fixlet
• Creating Custom Sites
• Software Distribution Wizard How-To
• Making Apps Compatible with Registered Applications Inspector - Hint: look towards the end of this article.
• Understanding the RegEx Inspector

Essential Training Guides

bigfix.me's Inspector Guide - Online wiki-like Inspector Guide full of user submitted documentation on Inspectors and Key Phrases which make up integral parts of the Relevance Language. This Guide is a complete and comprehensive collection of inspectors based on user submissions. If it isn't there, then add it!

Custom Authoring Training Guide (PDF) - Complete Guide to creating Custom Content for Windows including advanced Relevance Language training, advanced Action Language Training, QNA error messages, and strategies for creating Fixlet messages. If you're a beginner, pay particular attention to "What is a Fixlet message?" and "Fixlet messages Vs BES Tasks". For Moderate to Experts, it's always good to refresh yourself on the basics of the language to ensure you're following best practices.

Relevance Language Guide (PDF) - The heart of Fixlet technology is the Relevance Language. This allows developers a single multi-platform evaluation language used write expressions describing virtually any aspect of the client environment. In this guide, you'll learn about the basics, best practices and even see simple examples which you can use as a starting point for your expertise. Like other languages, as you develop relevance statements you may come upon error messages when using the QnA tool. Here is an online guide to understanding those errors.

Core Inspector Guide (PDF) - This guide will help you with the core ordinary phrases (known as Inspectors) that make up objects within the Relevance Language. Using this guide you can write your own Relevance Expressions and use them to target actions to precisely those endpoints that need them. This guide shares inspector details related across all operating systems. With that said, there are operating system specific Inspector guides available which digs deeper into OS Specific inspectors. Windows Client Inspector Guide (PDF) Windows Mobile Inspector Guide (PDF) Linux Inspector Guide (PDF) Solaris Inspector Guide (PDF) HPUX Inspector Guide (PDF) AIX Inspector Guide (PDF) Macintosh Inspector Guide (PDF) MDM-related Inspector List (wiki) Web Reports is the special reporting engine for BigFix. You can build custom reports using the Session Relevance Inspector Guide.

IBM Endpointment Manager - RESTful API

You heard right, the newest version of BigFix has added a RESTful API to its integration ability. Now you can develop and pull content from your infrastructure using a simple URL.

bigfix.me's Rest API Guide - Online wiki-like Rest API Guide full of user submitted documentation on resources of the new BigFix v9 REST API. This Guide is a complete and comprehensive collection of inspectors based on user submissions. If it isn't there, then add it! Official REST API Documentation - This link will provide you with additional details and links to other resources.

Useful Utilities

There are many utilities you may find useful when developing content. You can find many of them here. Two of the most essential are listed below.

An essential tool you can use even without a license or console is the QnA tool. You can download v8.2.1310 here. If you want to use the non-windows flavor... here is some information on launching QnA on Linux. You can find archived versions of the this tool here.

Similar to the QnA tool for traditional relevance is the Presentation Debugger which is used to evaluate session relevance. This tool is built into the Console... If you don't see the "Debug" menu, push Crtl-Alt-Shift-D and check the "Show Debug Menu". Here's how to launch the debugger if you already have the "Debug" menu on your console:

Introduction to BigFix Inventory and the Catalog Community

• Welcome to the BFI Catalog Community! - If this is your first time exploring BFI catalog signatures on Bigfix.me, this page will provide you information about what is available on the web site and give you tips for how you can become an active part of the Bigfix community.
• Product Page for BigFix Inventory - If you're new to BigFix Inventory, you may want to review the product page for BFI and see the features we've highlighted. This review can give you ideas about how to most effectively use BFI in your enterprise.
• IBM BigFix Inventory Knowledge Center - If you are looking for official information about how to install, configure and use BigFix Inventory this is a place for you to start.
• IBM BigFix Platform Knowledge Center - Here's where you can find information about the BigFix console, fixlets, analyses, etc. Of course, there's a lot of information about BigFix on the rest of this site!
• IBM License Management Channel on YouTube - A collection of YouTube videos on current and previous versions BigFix Inventory.

Catalog Overview

Organize your favorite content in Bigfix.me

• Using Bigfix.me Site you can organize your favorite content into groups.



• You can also subscribe to sites created by other community members.



• Installing the BigfixMeSync available now on bigfix.me , you can get the subscribed site content directly on your IEM console.

Install BigfixMeSync

• Download the fixlet Install/Upgrade BigfixMeSync Plugin and install the plugin on your IEM server
• At the first run BigfixMeSync plugin will create custom site “Bigfix.Me Sync” and will import dashboard and BESDomain files (5Mb ca). Note:You may need to restart your console after that "Bigfixme Sync" site has been created to see the new dasboard and bigfix.me domain.
• Launch Sync BFME dashboard , insert your bigfix.me credential and schedule syncronization.
  

• When the next sync occurs, the list of the subscribed sites is dispalyed.
For each subscribed site select or enter a IEM custom site where you wish download the content. From now on, when the syncronization occurs all the content found in the subscribed site will be downloaded in your IEM custom site.

• Subscribe to BigfixMe Sync to automatically get on your IEM env upgrade fixlets for BigfixMeSync