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Installing
Learn about the requirements and available installation scenarios to ensure that the deployment of BigFix Inventory goes smoothly in your environment.
Installing on Linux
A complete deployment of BigFix Inventory on Linux requires the installation of three components: the BigFix platform, the BigFix Inventory server, and DB2 database. Additionally, a BigFix client must be installed on every computer from which you want to collect software inventory data. Depending on the environment size, you can install all components on a single computer, or distribute them among multiple computers.
Installing BigFix Inventory
Before you start the installation of BigFix Inventory on Linux, ensure that DB2 is installed in your infrastructure. Then, enable a dedicated fixlet site in the BigFix console and download the BigFix Inventory installer. Next, run the installation in interactive or silent mode.
Step 1: Installing DB2
BigFix Inventory that is installed on Linux requires DB2 database. You can install the database on the same computer as the BigFix Inventory server or on a separate one. You can also reuse the instance of DB2 that you installed for the BigFix platform. DB2 installation package is delivered together with BigFix Inventory.

Installing
Learn about the requirements and available installation scenarios to ensure that the deployment of BigFix Inventory goes smoothly in your environment.
- Planning the installation
  Before you start the installation, review information about hardware and software requirements and other considerations to ensure that the installation completes successfully.
- Installing on Windows
  A complete deployment of BigFix Inventory on Windows requires the installation of three components: the BigFix platform, the BigFix Inventory server, and an MS SQL database. Additionally, a BigFix client must be installed on every computer from which you want to collect software inventory data. You can install all components from scratch or add the BigFix Inventory server to the existing BigFix infrastructure. Depending on the environment size, you can install all components on a single computer, or distribute them among multiple computers.
- Installing on Linux
  A complete deployment of BigFix Inventory on Linux requires the installation of three components: the BigFix platform, the BigFix Inventory server, and DB2 database. Additionally, a BigFix client must be installed on every computer from which you want to collect software inventory data. Depending on the environment size, you can install all components on a single computer, or distribute them among multiple computers.
  - Step-by-step installation guide
    Use the step-by-step installation guide to ensure that you complete all steps necessary to successfully install BigFix Inventory on Linux.
  - Installing the BigFix platform
    The BigFix platform is the core of the BigFix Inventory infrastructure. It consists of a server that coordinates the flow of data to and from the monitored computers, an administrative console, and clients that collect data from the computers in your infrastructure. Before you can install BigFix Inventory, install all components of the BigFix platform.
  - Installing BigFix Inventory
    Before you start the installation of BigFix Inventory on Linux, ensure that DB2 is installed in your infrastructure. Then, enable a dedicated fixlet site in the BigFix console and download the BigFix Inventory installer. Next, run the installation in interactive or silent mode.
    - Step 1: Installing DB2
      BigFix Inventory that is installed on Linux requires DB2 database. You can install the database on the same computer as the BigFix Inventory server or on a separate one. You can also reuse the instance of DB2 that you installed for the BigFix platform. DB2 installation package is delivered together with BigFix Inventory.
    - Step 2: Enabling the fixlet site
      A fixlet site is a collection of fixlets, tasks, and analyses that are related to a particular BigFix application. To get access to the content that is specific to BigFix Inventory, enable the application fixlet site. The procedure differs depending on whether the computer where the BigFix server is installed has the Internet access or not.
    - Step 3: Installing the server
      After you enable the fixlet site, download the BigFix Inventory installer, and proceed with the installation. You can install the server in interactive or silent mode.
    - Step 4: Performing initial configuration
      During the initial configuration, you create a BigFix Inventory database and the application administrator. You also set up a connection to the BigFix server and database. Optionally, you can configure a connection to the Web Reports database to give the Web Reports users access to BigFix Inventory.
  - Uninstalling
    To remove BigFix Inventory from your infrastructure, stop the application-specific actions and analyses that are running on the computers and uninstall the scanner. Then, remove the VM Manager Tool. Finally, uninstall the BigFix Inventory server. You can also remove the related database.
- Installation-related tasks
  If you encounter problems during the installation, you can check details related to the problem, fix it, and then resume the installation. If the BigFix and BigFix Inventory servers are in separated networks, you can disable the automatic address lookup to avoid problems with initial configuration. Learn how to check the current application and catalog version to make sure that your installation and initial configuration were successful.

Installing DB2 for BigFix Inventory on Linux

BigFix Inventory that is installed on Linux requires DB2 database. You can install the database on the same computer as the BigFix Inventory server or on a separate one. You can also reuse the instance of DB2 that you installed for the BigFix platform. DB2 installation package is delivered together with BigFix Inventory.

About this task

The following scenario shows how to install DB2 10.5 that is delivered with BigFix Inventory. If it does not fit your environment, you need more information about each step or other installation options, see the documentation for DB2 10.1 or DB2 10.5.

Procedure

Go to the directory with the installation package, and extract the installation files.
```
tar xvf installation_package
```
From the extracted directory, run the installation script.
```
./db2setup
```
In the navigation bar of the DB2 Setup Launchpad, click Install a Product.
Scroll down, and click Install New under DB2 Workgroup Server Edition.
Read and accept the license agreement. Click Next.
Select the installation type, and click Next.
Select Install DB2 Server Edition on this computer and save my settings in a response file, and click Next.
Specify the installation directory, and click Next.
Create a user for the DB2 Administration Server, and click Next.
Select Create a DB2 instance, and click Next.
Select Single partition instance, and click Next.
Create the DB2 instance owner. This user will be needed when you specify connection details between BigFix and BigFix Inventory. Then, click Next.
Create the fenced user, and click Next.
Set up the DB2 server to send notifications or select the second check box to omit this step. Then, click Next.
Review the settings, and click Finish. The installation is started.
When the installation is complete, add a license file to extend your license.
1. From the directory with extracted installation files, go to /db2/license.
2. Copy the db2wse_o.lic file to the home directory of the DB2 instance owner, by default /home/db2inst1.
3. Open the terminal and switch the user to the DB2 instance owner.
```
su - db2inst1
```
4. Add the license file to your installation.
```
db2licm -a db2wse_o.lic
```

Results

The installation of DB2 is complete. The default location is /opt/ibm/db2.