Background:

UIS ITS is partnering with folks at UIUC to perform a proof-of-concept trial of the IBM BigFix product suite. This system can provide us much-needed functionality for managing our desktop, notebook, mobile, and server environments. Features include hardware inventory, software inventory, patch management, power management, and asset inventory, to name just a few. Pricing has already been negotiated to a “very favorable” level for UI entities.

The PoC will consist of a single master server hosted by UIUC. Agents will be installed on UIS systems that communicate securely with the UIUC server via a relay host. Delegated administration will be set up so that only UIS ITS staff are creating and applying management policies for UIS devices. Here at UIS, we plan to install the BF agent on all UIS ITS computers and a small sampling of Windows and Linux servers.

Todd R., Andrew V., and myself have been representing UIS in the planning stage discussions. The PoC will run through the end of the year.

Status:

The UIUC-hosted BigFix pilot is currently underway. Onsite training and discussion by IBM representatives took place this past Monday and Tuesday. Unfortunately, schedule conflicts made it impossible for anyone from UIS to attend. However, we are keeping in touch with the UIUC folks to keep things moving along. We have installed the BF client on a single PC here, but it is not yet registering with the BF server. Multiple UIUC folks and IBM people are working on determining the best way to support our remote campus.

All questions and comments are welcome!