HCL’s BigFix Inventory FAQ related to divestiture of BigFix to HCL and certified levels
On June 30th, 2019 HCL acquired from IBM, select IBM collaboration, commerce, digital
experience, AppScan, & BigFix solutions.
Please refer to the following IBM page to find more information about the divestiture and additional
FAQs info:
https://www.ibm.com/products/hcl-divestiture
BigFix Inventory is now an HCL product.
IBM and HCL have established a collaboration agreement aimed to continue to have BigFix
Inventory accepted as an alternate solution to IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT) for IBM
Virtualization Capacity reporting.
When requested by HCL, IBM will perform validation of BigFix Inventory updates to verify
equivalence to IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT) version/release/updates.
On this page IBM will provide the ongoing information about BigFix Inventory validated updates
plus a list of additional FAQs.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
In the event that HCL opts to terminate the validation process of BigFix Inventory or if the BigFix
Inventory is not validated, Customers will be given up to six (6) months to move to the IBM
License Metric Tool (or other IBM-approved sub-capacity licensing tool) to continue to meet therequirements for IBM Virtualization Capacity licensing. Customers can continue to use BigFix
Inventory to generate audit reports during this time frame.
BigFix Inventory Validated Version/Release/Updates
The following table lists the BigFix Inventory version/release/update that has been validated by
IBM for equivalence to the corresponding version/release/update of IBM License Metric Tool for
IBM Virtualization Capacity reporting requirements.
ILMT is currently delivering a new update on a quarterly delivery cycle and for any ILMT updatedelivered by IBM the table lists the validated equivalent of BigFix Inventory.
ILMT eGA
Update9.2.x
9.2.15

N/A
N/A

9.2.16

August 5,
2019
October
19, 2019
December16, 2019
March 26,2020

9.2.179.2.189.2.19Validated eGAequivalent
BigFixInventory
9.2.x
9.2.15.0

N/A
N/A

9.2.16.0

September
24, 2019
February17, 2020
April 3,2020
July 8,2020

9.2.17.0
10.0.010.0.1

Notes

Delivered by IBM prior to divestiture to HCL
Latest BigFix Inventory update delivered by IBM prior
to divestitureFirst validated delivery from HCL after divestiture
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/1085865
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/1135882
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6120681

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HCL’s BigFix Inventory FAQ related to divestiture of BigFix to HCL and certified levels

9.2.20June 29,2020
September
28, 2020
December
14, 2020
March 22,2021
June 21,2021

10.0.29.2.25September23, 2021

9.2.26

December13, 2021
March 21,2022
June 20,2022
September
19, 2022
December13, 2022
March 20,2023
June 26,2023
September
22, 2023
December
12, 2023
March 18,
2024
June 25,2024
September
17, 2024

9.2.21
9.2.229.2.239.2.249.2.279.2.289.2.299.2.309.2.31
9.2.329.2.339.2.349.2.359.2.369.2.37

October
13, 2020
December
10, 2020
March,
2021
August 17,
2021
September
29, 2021

https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6237792

10.0.7

December15, 2022

Important: The new capability introduced in BigFix
Inventory 10.0.7 called ‘Software discovery incontainers’ is not accepted by IBM for license
reporting. See question 12 below for more details.

10.0.8March 29,2022
July 12,2022
September
28, 2022
December15, 2022
March 29,2023
June 21,2023
September
27, 2023
December13, 2023
March 28,2024
July 10,2024
September25, 2024

10.0.310.0.410.0.510.0.610.0.910.0.1010.0.1110.0.1210.0.1310.0.1410.0.15
10.0.16
11.0.011.0.1
N/A

https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6336847
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6377884
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6427561
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6464741

https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6488873
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6523728
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6562407
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6590423
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6616523
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6844197
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6963069
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7003221
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7032134
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7095648
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7144049
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/ibm-licensemetric-tool-application-update-9236-now-available
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7168495* BigFix Inventory 4th digit sub-versions (e.g., 9.2.16.1) are automatically certified unless otherwise
noted

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HCL’s BigFix Inventory FAQ related to divestiture of BigFix to HCL and certified levels

Frequently asked questions
1. Is BigFix Inventory an IBM product or has it been divested to HCL?
BigFix Inventory is now an HCL product. ILMT development and support remain with IBM.
2. Will BigFix Inventory continue to be updated with ILMT capabilities?
Changes may be introduced into BigFix Inventory based on updates made to ILMT.
3. Will BigFix Inventory be able to use the software catalog content delivered with ILMTupdates?
As part of the validation process, ILMT software catalog updates may be incorporated into theBigFix Inventory software catalog.
4. If HCL delivers a new release/update of BigFix Inventory can it be used for IBM
Virtualization Capacity reporting alternatively to ILMT?
Customers can use a new release/update of BigFix Inventory for IBM Virtualization Capacity
reporting only if the new release/update has been validated by IBM.
Using non-validated version/release/updates of BigFix Inventory does not meet IBM Virtualization
Capacity requirements.
5.

For IBM Virtualization Capacity is there any change in the customer obligations when using
an IBM-validated version of BigFix Inventory?

The customer obligations are the same as those applicable to ILMT, including but not limited to:- Making sure to use the latest version of BigFix Inventory containing most recent counting
logic for IBM licenses;- Generating quarterly audit reports (or with the frequency as requested by IBM); and- Retaining such quarterly audit reports for a period of not less than 2 years.
6. ILMT tool updates can add support for new eligible processors, operating systems orvirtualizations in relationship to IBM Virtualization Capacity. When can I expect to use
BigFix Inventory for these systems as an alternative to ILMT?
IBM will validate the closest version/release update of BigFix Inventory that will include ILMT’s
equivalent capabilities.
Customers should wait for IBM validation of BigFix Inventory before using it on newly added
operating systems, virtualization platforms or processors supported by ILMT.
7. When using BigFix Inventory, if there is an issue with the related ILMT capabilities or ILMT
software catalog will customers be required to contact IBM Support for these issues?
For any issue with BigFix Inventory, customers must contact HCL support. The HCL support portal
is available at: https://support.hcltechsw.com/csm
HCL support will contact IBM Support and address issues as needed and required.
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HCL’s BigFix Inventory FAQ related to divestiture of BigFix to HCL and certified levels
8. When using HCL’s BigFix Inventory are customers required to sign a non-disclosureagreement or license agreement with IBM for the ILMT equivalent capabilities that areincluded in BigFix Inventory?
No. BigFix Inventory is an HCL product. For more info please visit HCL Software portal at:https://www.hcl-software.com/bigfix/software-asset-management
9.

Do I need to pay for License and S&S if I am using BigFix Inventory for IBM Virtualization
Capacity only?

BigFix Inventory is an HCL product and any inquiry on licensing and S&S must be addressed toHCL Software. Please visit HCL Software portal at: https://www.hcl-software.com/bigfix/softwareasset-management. Customers can opt to use IBM License Metric Tool.
10. How can I get a long-term commitment for BigFix Inventory to continue to be validated for

IBM Virtualization Capacity and information about roadmap?

Any inquiry on validation commitments and roadmap on BigFix Inventory must be addressed toHCL Software. Please visit HCL Software portal at: https://www.hcl-software.com/bigfix/softwareasset-management. Customers can opt to use IBM License Metric Tool.
11. Will products divested to HCL be update in ILMT’s product catalog?

IBM will not be updating ILMT’s catalog for new releases of products divested to HCL.
12. Is BigFix Inventory accepted by IBM for license usage reporting of software running on

Kubernetes or Red Hat OpenShift?

No, BigFix Inventory is not accepted by IBM for software inventory nor license usage reporting in
Kubernetes or Red Hat OpenShift environments. IBM License Service or IBM License Service
Reporter are the only IBM accepted tools in such deployment scenarios. In particular new capability
introduced in BigFix Inventory 10.0.7 called ‘Software discovery in containers’ can’t be used forcontractual IBM license usage reporting in neither ‘sub-capacity’ nor ‘IBM Container’ licensing
scenarios.

Updated 15 October 2024