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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.
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.

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.
  - 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.

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.

The Virtualization Tasks in the Server Automation domain contain forms which are automatically populated with data from external systems which you must complete to take action. However, on occasion, the data can either be out of date, or you might need to work with data that does not currently exist but is scheduled to exist at a specific time in the future. If you must work with data that is not populated within the Task, you can disable validation.

You can check whether you can disable validation in the Validation column in the Task. If there is an ON/OFF button in the Validation column for the parameter that you want to work with, you can select OFF to disable validation. For example, if you want to modify a virtual machine that is powered on but is scheduled to be powered off, you can select OFF on the button in the Validation column for Power State and schedule the Task to take action when the virtual machine is powered off.

For some parameters, you can both disable validation and enter your own values. For example, if you want to modify a virtual machine that is not in the Virtual Machine Name list because it does not exist, but is scheduled to be created, you can select OFF on the button in the Validation column and enter the name of the virtual machine that you want to modify.

Important: Disable validation only if you can ensure that your data is correct. When you disable validation on a parameter and take action, the BigFix console does not verify whether the parameter contains valid data. If invalid data is used, the Task fails in VMware.

If you disable validation for a parameter, other parameters which are dependent on that parameter might be affected. For example, in the VMware Modify Virtual Machine Task, if you disable the Virtual Machine Name parameter, the Power State and the Disk size parameters are also disabled. The validation on these parameters is disabled because the BigFix console cannot validate the power state or the disk size of a virtual machine that is not listed.