HP Insight Control 7.3 Update 1 Getting Started Guide

11 Obtaining automatic software updates from HP
To update managed servers with the most current software, HP SIM provides software update
capabilities that use the HP Version Control Repository Manager (VCRM) and the HP Version
Control Agent (VCA).
By using these applications, HP SIM provides a single view of the software status for managed
ProLiant or Integrity servers, and it can update software and firmware on those servers through its
powerful query and task features. Updates can be scheduled and applied to specific sets of servers
based on predetermined criteria, including applying updates only to systems that require an update.
The VCRM manages the repository that stores the latest HP Support Packs providing the latest
software for your servers. By default, the VCRM is installed on the HP SIM CMS, however, you
can specify a custom directory or a server location. The VCRM and the repository must be located
on the same server.
The VCRM catalogs system software and firmware that is stored in the VCRM repository. The
software and firmware can be manually downloaded from HP directly to the file system, or you
can use the VCRM to automatically download software or manually upload software through any
web client.
Software is organized into groups by function and operating system. You can view detailed
information about each piece of software by clicking the software component name. The VCRM
also enables you to create customized groupings of software, which can then serve as a system
software baseline for the entire managed environment or a subset of your environment.
The VCA is an HP Insight Management Agent that enables you to view the HP software and
firmware that is installed on a system. The VCA can be configured to point to a repository being
managed by the VCRM, allowing easy version comparison and software updates from the repository
to the system on which the VCA is installed.
The VCRM and the VCA are integrated with the HP System Management Homepage (SMH), which
is the standard single-server management tool. HP SIM also uses the VCRM and VCA to facilitate
software versioning, updates, and tasks related to it.
Launching software version control features
Table 9 Launching software version control
DescriptionFrom the CMS management console
GUI
From Windows
After entering your user credentials, the
System Management Homepage
System Management Homepage icon
on the desktop
provides links to the HP Version Control
Repository Manager and the Version
Control Agent.
After entering your user credentials, the
System Management Homepage
Start→Programs→HP Management
Agents→HP System Management
Homepage provides links to the HP Version Control
Repository Manager and the Version
Control Agent.
Installs the most current software and
firmware on managed servers.
Deploy→Deploy Drivers, Firmware
and Agents →Install Software and
Firmware...
Installs a ProLiant Support Pack (PSP)
(and the VCA itself) to systems that are
not running the VCA.
Deploy→Deploy Drivers, Firmware
and Agents→Initial ProLiant Support
Pack Install
Installs and configures the VCA on one
or more target servers. Installing this
Configure→Configure or Repair
Agents...
26 Obtaining automatic software updates from HP