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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.
Sample Automation Plans
Server Automation provides four sample content Automation Plans for PowerVM®.
Sample Plan for LPAR with two disks
BigFix for Server Automation provides a sample Automation Plan for building a functioning PowerVM® logical partition (LPAR) and adding hard disks. Using this Automation Plan, you can provision an LPAR on a PowerVM Managed System, install an operating system image, netboot the LPAR, deploy a BigFix agent, and add a second hard disk to the LPAR.

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®.
    - 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®.
      - Create LPAR Sample Plan
        BigFix Server Automation provides a sample Automation Plan for building a functioning PowerVM® logical partition. Using this Automation Plan, you can provision a logical partition (LPAR) on a PowerVM Managed System, install an operating system on the LPAR, netboot the LPAR, and deploy a BigFix agent to the LPAR.
      - Sample Plan for LPAR with two disks
        BigFix for Server Automation provides a sample Automation Plan for building a functioning PowerVM® logical partition (LPAR) and adding hard disks. Using this Automation Plan, you can provision an LPAR on a PowerVM Managed System, install an operating system image, netboot the LPAR, deploy a BigFix agent, and add a second hard disk to the LPAR.
      - Sample Plan for LPAR with DB2
        BigFix Server Automation provides a sample Automation Plan for building a functioning logical partition (LPAR) and installing DB2®. Using this Automation Plan, you can provision an LPAR on a PowerVM® Managed System, install an operating system image, netboot the LPAR, deploy a BigFix agent, and install DB2 on the LPAR.
      - Sample Plan for LPAR with Websphere
        Server Automation provides a sample Automation Plan for building a functioning logical partition with Websphere Application Server installed. Using this Automation Plan, you can provision a logical partition (LPAR) on a PowerVM® Managed System, install an operating system image, netboot the LPAR, deploy a BigFix agent, and install Websphere Application Server on the LPAR.
  - 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.

Sample Plan for LPAR with two disks

BigFix for Server Automation provides a sample Automation Plan for building a functioning PowerVM® logical partition (LPAR) and adding hard disks. Using this Automation Plan, you can provision an LPAR on a PowerVM® Managed System, install an operating system image, netboot the LPAR, deploy a BigFix agent, and add a second hard disk to the LPAR.

Procedure

Open the Server Automation domain.
From the Domain Panel, select Automation Plans.
In the Automation Plans dashboard, enter 146 in the filter text box and press the Enter key.
From the Automation Plans list, select the Build AIX LPAR with 2 disks Sample Automation Plan.
Click Copy to copy the Automation Plan and then save the copy that you have just created.

To run the Automation Plan, click Take Action. The following table shows each step of the Plan and provides links to more information about each step.

Table 1. Steps in Sample Plan
Step	Task ID	Name	More Information
1	1018	PowerVM® Create a Logical Partition (LPAR)	Creating a Logical Partition (LPAR)
2	3020	PowerVM® Create a NIM client for a Logical Partition (LPAR) on a NIM Master Server	Creating a NIM client for an LPAR on a NIM server
3	1019	PowerVM® Netboot a Logical Partition (LPAR)	Netbooting a logical partition
4	1581	Deploy Endpoint Manager Agent	See the BigFix Wiki BigFix Agent Deployment Wizard (stand-alone)
5	1026	PowerVM® Add disk to a Logical Partition (LPAR)	Adding a disk to an LPAR

Click OK to run the Plan.

Results

The Automation Plan runs.