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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.
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.
Setup and Maintenance
Use the information in this section for instructions and important information about how to set up the virtualization environment for PowerVM®.

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.
  - 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.
    - Setup and Maintenance
      Use the information in this section for instructions and important information about how to set up the virtualization environment for PowerVM®.
      - Deploying a management extender
        Using the Deploy Management Extender for PowerVM task, you can deploy a management extender to a BigFix server. You can then configure the Management Extender to communicate with a PowerVM® system.
      - Configuring a PowerVM® management extender
        Using the Configure Management Extender for PowerVM task, you can configure a selected management extender to connect to a Hardware Management Console (HMC). You can use this task also to modify existing management extender connections to a PowerVM® environment.
      - Upgrading a PowerVM® management extender
        Using the Upgrade Management Extender for PowerVM Plugin task, you can upgrade the plug-in component of the management extender for PowerVM®.
      - Removing a PowerVM® management extender
        Using the Remove Management Extender for PowerVM task, you can remove a selected management extender plug-in from a BigFix server.
    - Managed System Tasks
      Use the information in this section to create and delete logical partitions on a PowerVM® Managed System that is configured with a management extender for PowerVM
    - LPAR Tasks
      Using these tasks, you can modify, add disks, and create profiles for existing logical partitions (LPARs).
    - State Management Tasks
      Use these tasks to activate and deactivate individual or groups of LPARs. You can also netboot an LPAR.
    - Sample Automation Plans
      Server Automation provides four sample content Automation Plans for PowerVM®.
  - 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.

Setup and Maintenance

Use the information in this section for instructions and important information about how to set up the virtualization environment for PowerVM®.

Before you begin the setup, you must activate the Management Extender Status analysis. To activate the analysis, navigate to the Domain Panel of the Server Automation domain and select Virtualization > Management Extender Analyses. In the Management Extender Analyses list, select Management Extender Status and click Activate.

To use the PowerVM® tasks, you must activate several analyses. To activate the analyses, in the Domain Panel of the Server Automation domain, select > Virtualization > PowerVM > Setup and Configuration > Activate Analyses . Select each analysis and click Activate. It is good practise to activate the analyses before you begin to work with the PowerVM® tasks.