HP Systems Insight Manager 7.3 User Guide

28 HP Version Control and HP SIM
About the Version Control Agent
The HP VCA is an Insight Management Agents installed on a system that enables you to view HP
software and firmware installed on the system. You can configure: HP VCA to point to a repository
managed by HP VCRM, enabling easy version comparison and software updates from the repository
to the system where HP VCA is installed.
HP VCA provides version control and system update capabilities for a single HP system. HP VCA
determines system software status by comparing each component installed on the local system with
the set of individual components or a specified ProLiant and Integrity Support Packs listed in HP
VCRM. While browsing to HP VCA, you can update individual components or an entire ProLiant
and Integrity Support Packs by clicking the install icon located next to the system software status
icon.
HP VCRM and HP VCA are integrated with HP SMH, which is the standard single-server
management tool in the HP Foundation Pack. HP SIM, also part of the HP Foundation Pack, uses
HP VCRM and HP VCA to facilitate software versioning, update, and tasks related to it.
HP VCA is available for Windows and Linux operating systems. HP VCA is an integrated part of
HP SMH and displays the available software inventory of the system it is installed on. HP VCA
also allows the installation, comparison, and update of system software from a repository managed
by HP VCRM.
Users with administrator or operator privileges can access the HP VCA to maintain the software
inventory of the system. The installation of components and configuration activities are logged to
a log file on the system. HP VCA logs activities, such as software installations. However, installations
done outside HP VCA do not appear in this log.
HP VCA enables you to view software installed on selected HP equipment, available updates, and
whether the installed software complies with the latest updates in the selected repository. In addition,
you can add or update HP software on the system remotely, using the browser interface of HP
VCA.
You can use the Replicate Agent Settings feature in HP SIM to update multiple servers with HP VCA
settings.
HP VCA enables the following tasks:
• Viewing installed software
• Selecting an HP VCRM as a reference point for obtaining software updates
• Selecting a ProLiant and Integrity Support Packs as a managed baseline
• Viewing details of a ProLiant and Integrity Support Packs or software component that is in the
HP Version Control repository
• Installing a ProLiant and Integrity Support Packs or software component from the HP Version
Control repository
• Printing the installed software inventory and software status
• Managing the HP VCA log
In addition to maintaining the software inventory of the system, the HP VCA integrates with HP
SIM, enabling administrators to take advantage of the Software Update capabilities of the agent.
Additional resources
For additional resources, go to http://www.hp.com/servers/manage.
About the Version Control Agent 153