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Server Automation
Server Automation provides powerful automation. You can use it to sequence automation actions in steps across multiple endpoints.
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.
AIX® NIM
You can setup and configure management extender plug-in for AIX® NIM. You can then create and remove NIM Clients and Mksysb images on a NIM master server from within the BigFix console.
AIX® NIM Tasks
Use the following section to find information about how to create and remote NIM Clients on a NIM master server. You can also create a Mksysb image on a NIM server. These tasks are run on the AIX® NIM server.
Creating a Mksysb Image
Using the AIX NIM Create a mksysb image task, you can create a Mksysb image from a NIM master server. You can then use the Mksysb image to create a NIM client.

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.
- 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.
  - VMware
    You can deploy and configure a management extender plug-in for VMware. You can then manage VMware virtual machines from within BigFix the console.
  - AIX® NIM
    You can setup and configure management extender plug-in for AIX® NIM. You can then create and remove NIM Clients and Mksysb images on a NIM master server from within the BigFix console.
    - Setup and Maintenance
      Use the information in this section for instructions and important information about how to set up the virtualization environment for AIX® NIM.
    - AIX® NIM Tasks
      Use the following section to find information about how to create and remote NIM Clients on a NIM master server. You can also create a Mksysb image on a NIM server. These tasks are run on the AIX® NIM server.
      - Creating a NIM client for an LPAR on a NIM server
        Using the AIX NIM Create a Client for a Logical Partition (LPAR) on a NIM Master Server task, you can create a NIM client on a NIM server. The client that you create is associated to an operating system image on the NIM server. When a new client is created, the client copies the image and any required start information that is defined on the client. When you netboot the LPAR, the operating system image is deployed to the LPAR at this stage.
      - Creating a Mksysb Image
        Using the AIX NIM Create a mksysb image task, you can create a Mksysb image from a NIM master server. You can then use the Mksysb image to create a NIM client.
      - Removing a NIM client
        Using the AIX NIM Remove NIM Client task, you can remove a NIM client from a NIM master server.
  - PowerVM®
    You can deploy and configure a management extender plug-in for PowerVM®. You can then manage PowerVM logical partitions (LPARs) from within the BigFix console.
  - Management Extender Log Viewer
    The Management Extender Log Viewer dashboard provides information about each Virtualization task that you run. In the dashboard, you can view a high-level overview of the action logs. Each log entry contains a link to where you can find the original action window. Each entry also contains a link to the log file.
  - Turning off validation in a task
    Some of the Virtualization Tasks within the Server Automation domain contain a Validation button which you can use to disable validation and enter your own data for some of the parameters.
- 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.

Creating a Mksysb Image

Using the AIX NIM Create a mksysb image task, you can create a Mksysb image from a NIM master server. You can then use the Mksysb image to create a NIM client.

Before you begin

You must activate the AIX® NIM Overview analysis. To activate the analysis, navigate to the Domain Panel of the Server Automation domain and select Virtualization > AIX NIM > Setup and Maintenance and select AIX NIM Overview. In the Analysis: AIX NIM Overview pane, select Activate.

Procedure

Open the Server Automation domain.
In the Domain Panel, select Virtualization > AIX NIM > NIM Operations and select the AIX NIM Create a mksysb image task.
From the NIM Server list, select the NIM master server that contains the NIM client that you want to use.
From the NIM Client list, select the NIM client that you want to use to generate a Mksysb image file.
In the NIM Client State, you can view the state of the selected NIM client. To create a Mksysb image, ensure that the NIM client state is "Currently running". To override the data that is provided in the form, select OFF in the Validation column for the parameter. For more information, see Turning off validation in a task.
In the Image Name field, enter a name for the new Mksysb image. The name can contain alphanumeric characters and the following special characters: @%._~!#{}-. The maximum number of characters that you can enter in the Image Name field is 34.
In the Image Location field, enter a location for the image on the NIM master server. The file path can contain alphanumeric characters and the following special characters: @%/,._~!#*^:+=(){}[]-.
Click Take Action, select the NIM client server that you want to use to generate the Mksysb image and click OK.

Results

In the Action: AIX NIM Create a mksysb image window, you can view the progress of the action. When the Status changes to Complete, the new Mksysb image is created.