Yana asked a question.
Difference between BigFix ILMT and regular ILMT
Hi Folks,
Maybe someone knows what is the difference between BixFix ILMT and regular ILMT? How do the data differ? In which situations is it better to choose BigFix ILMT and in which situations to choose regular ILMT?
Thank you in advance for your answers
Best regards,
Yana Voznitska
The HCL Bigfix Inventory Connector is used to take inventory from Bigfix into Snow License Manager. IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT) Connector does the same but from an ILMT instance.
ILMT is typically implemented when sub-capacity license reporting is needed for IBM software contractual obligations. I believe that ILMT is limited to IBM software only. BigFix Inventory not only covers IBM, but many other software vendors through regularly published catalogs.
ILMT IBM License Metric Tool is a free cut down version of HCL/IBM Bigfix Inventory. It has an IBM limited catalogue. Other than this they are identical.
HCL Bigfix Inventory is similar to Snow Inventory and License Manager, without the heavy emphasis on Licensing and Agreements. Traditionally Bigfix Inventory Admin’s did license compliance as 2nd step in MS Excel. In the last 3-4 years Bigfix Inventory has introduced more and more Licensing features into the product.
The Bigfix and Bigfix agent is a platform that supports more than just inventory, it can do patching, security, software vulnerability, remote control etc. Because of this Bigfix Inventory admins can easily deploy custom scripts (fixlets) and analysis. Where Snow Inv encrypted custom powershell is challenging. There is also far more emphasis by IBM/HCL on testing their code prior to release.
For subcapacity licensing the regular ILMT is for free and enough when you have an Passport Advantage contract with IBM and uses products with PVU and RVU metrics.