HP SIM V5.1 User Guide (356920-009, January 2007)

to point to a repository being managed by the HP Version Control Repository Manager (VCRM), enabling
easy version comparison and software updates from the repository to the system on which the VCA is installed.
The VCA provides version control and system update capabilities for a single HP system. The VCA determines
system software status by comparing each component installed on the local system with the set of individual
components or a specified ProLiant or Integrity Support Pack listed in the VCRM. You can also update
individual components or an entire ProLiant or Integrity Support Pack by clicking the install icon located next
to the system software status icon.
The VCRM and the VCA are integrated with the System Management Homepage (SMH), which is the
standard single-server management tool in the HP ProLiant Essentials Foundation Pack. HP Systems Insight
Manager (HP SIM), also part of the HP ProLiant Essentials Foundation Pack, uses the VCRM and VCA to
facilitate software versioning, update, and tasks related to it.
The VCA is available for Windows and Linux operating systems. The VCA is an integrated part of the System
Management Homepage that is designed to display the available software inventory of the system on which
it is installed. The VCA also allows the installation, comparison, and update of system software from a
repository that is managed by the VCRM.
Users with administrator or operator privileges can access the VCA to maintain the software inventory of
the system manually. The installation of components and configuration activities are logged to a log file at
the system. The VCA logs activities, such as software installations. However, installations done outside the
VCA do not appear in this log.
The VCA enables you to view the software installed on selected HP equipment, the available updates, and
whether the installed software is compliant with the latest updates found in the selected repository. In addition,
you can add or update HP software on the system remotely, using the browser interface of the VCA.
You can use the Replicate Agent Settings feature in HP SIM to update multiple servers with VCA settings.
See “Configure or Repair Agents”for more information regarding the Replicate Agent Settings feature.
The VCA allows the following tasks:
• Viewing the currently installed software
• Selecting an VCRM as a reference point for obtaining software updates
• Selecting a ProLiant or Integrity Support Pack as a managed baseline
• Viewing the details associated with a ProLiant or Integrity Support Pack or individual software component
that is in the version control repository
• Installing a ProLiant or Integrity Support Pack or individual software component from the version control
repository
• Printing the installed software inventory and software status
• Managing the VCA log
In addition to maintaining the software inventory of the system, the VCA integrates with HP SIM. This
integration enables 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.
Related procedures
• Installing Software and Firmware
• Installing ROM firmware updates
• Initial ProLiant Support Pack Install
Related topics
• Version Control
• About integration
• About multiple system management
• About software repositories
384 Tools that extend management