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Server Automation
Server Automation provides powerful automation. You can use it to sequence automation actions in steps across multiple endpoints.
Overview
BigFix Lifecycle Server Automation provides you with the capability to automate provisioning workflows. You can automate a sequence of Fixlets, Tasks, and Baselines across different endpoints, such as servers or computers. Server Automation exploits the agility and scalability of BigFix to deliver powerful functionality in a lean and efficient manner, with minimal impact on your network.
Architecture
Server Automation is based on the BigFix architecture. The only additional component required to use Server Automation is the Automation Plan Engine. The Automation Plan Engine processes your Automation Plans by running each step in the Automation Plan. You install the Automation Plan Engine using a Task. The Automation Plan Engine is located on the same system as the BigFix server.

Server Automation
Server Automation provides powerful automation. You can use it to sequence automation actions in steps across multiple endpoints.
- Overview
  BigFix Lifecycle Server Automation provides you with the capability to automate provisioning workflows. You can automate a sequence of Fixlets, Tasks, and Baselines across different endpoints, such as servers or computers. Server Automation exploits the agility and scalability of BigFix to deliver powerful functionality in a lean and efficient manner, with minimal impact on your network.
  - What's new in this release
    This release of Server Automation contains the following updates.
  - Features added in previous releases
    A summary of changed or features and enhancements included in BigFix® Server Automation in previous releases.
  - Supported content
    This section lists the software and software versions supported by Server Automation.
  - Key concepts and terminology
    Server Automation provides automation functionality that you can use to automate IT processes. To automate your workflows using Server Automation, you use an Automation Plan. The Automation Plan contains steps, one for each distinct phase in the automated workflow. When you execute an Automation Plan, an action is created for the plan. Child actions will then be created for each of the steps in the plan as the plan is processed.
  - Architecture
    Server Automation is based on the BigFix architecture. The only additional component required to use Server Automation is the Automation Plan Engine. The Automation Plan Engine processes your Automation Plans by running each step in the Automation Plan. You install the Automation Plan Engine using a Task. The Automation Plan Engine is located on the same system as the BigFix server.
  - Key features
    Server Automation provides key automation features that allow you to automate best practices for your data center.
  - Installing the Automation Plan Engine
    To install the Automation Plan Engine, you must have BigFix V9.5 with the Server Automation site installed. Make sure that your system meets all of the prerequisites before you begin installing the Automation Plan Engine. You can then install the Automation Plan Engine by executing a Task from your BigFix console.
  - Installing the management extender
    Using the Deploy Management Extender for VMware vCenter Task, you can install a management extender plug-in on a BigFix relay.
  - Server Automation domain upgrades
    The Server Automation domain is upgraded automatically when the contents of the Server Automation site is updated.
- Automation
  BigFix Lifecycle Server Automation provides you with technology to sequence actions, such as the deployment of Fixlets, across multiple endpoints. To sequence automation, you create an Automation Plan. Your Automation Plan contains all of the actions for your end-to-end automation sequence.
- Virtualization
  Virtualization is a software technology that allows multiple operating systems to run on the same host computer at the same time. Additional uses of virtualization include the quick creation of new systems for testing, training, and demonstration. Using virtualized computers saves the cost of hardware, management, and administration of the server infrastructure.
- Configuring your system
  This section describes how the BigFix architecture is relevant for Server Automation. It also describes how Server Automation can affect BigFix performance.
- Sample Automation Plans
  Server Automation is shipped with a number of sample Automation Plans that you can run out of the box. To run these Automation Plans out of the box, ensure that the Fixlets contained in them are available. Typically, you would substitute some of the Fixlets contained in these samples with particular Fixlets that you want to run. Use the information in each of the following sections to find out more about each of the sample plans.
- Server Automation content
  Server Automation provides content that you can use to automate processes and software deployment.

Architecture

Server Automation is based on the BigFix architecture. The only additional component required to use Server Automation is the Automation Plan Engine. The Automation Plan Engine processes your Automation Plans by running each step in the Automation Plan. You install the Automation Plan Engine using a Task. The Automation Plan Engine is located on the same system as the BigFix server.

Server Automation integrated in BigFix

The following diagram shows the BigFix architecture with the Server Automation component displayed in red. Server Automation is a BigFix application, similar to the other Lifecycle applications. You access and use Server Automation using the BigFix console.
Diagram depicting the BigFix architecture with Server Automation component installed. Server Automation adds the Automation Plan Engine and the BigFix server plug-in service is required on the BigFix server.

Diagram depicting the BigFix architecture with Server Automation component installed. Server Automation adds the Automation Plan Engine and the BigFix server plug-in service is required on the BigFix server.

The Automation Plan Engine communicates with the BigFix server via the REST API. The BES server plug-in service is required on the BigFix server. Server Automation requires no additional components. Server Automation can operate with or without relays.

For information about configuring the BES server plug-in service, see Server plugin service configuration.