HP Version Control 7.0 Installation and Configuration Guide

HP SIM, also part of the ProLiant Essentials Foundation Pack, uses the HP VCRM and the HP VCA
to facilitate software versioning, updates, and related tasks.
HP VCRM
The HP VCRM is designed to manage a repository containing ProLiant and Integrity Support Packs
and HP Service Pack for ProLiant as well as individual server software and firmware components.
The repository can be kept current by using the automatic update feature of the HP VCRM or by
copying software directly to the repository from the HP SmartStart CD, HP SmartSetup CD, another
repository, or the HP website.
HP VCA
The HP VCA is available for Windows and Linux operating systems. The HP VCA is an integrated
part of the HP SMH that is designed to display the available software inventory of the server on
which it is installed. The HP VCA also enables the installation, comparison, and update of server
software from a repository that is managed by the HP VCRM.
Users with administrator or operator privileges can access the HP VCA to maintain the software
inventory of the server manually. Users with user privileges can access the HP VCA but cannot
perform installation and configuration activities. The installation of components and configuration
activities are saved to a log file at the server. The HP VCA logs activities, such as software
installations, which are saved in this log. However, installations performed outside the HP VCA
do not appear in this log.
HP SIM
HP SIM is a Web-based server management application that leverages the power of the Internet
to provide Web-based systems management. When integrated with the HP VCA and the HP VCRM,
HP SIM provides a proactive, easy-to-use, automated, and cost-effective solution for managing
distributed systems and updating software on the managed systems remotely.
HP SIM transforms management of standards-based, distributed computing environments. By
enabling browser access to its components, HP SIM provides efficient management of HP and
third-party devices and groups of systems using Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP),
Desktop Management Interface (DMI), and Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), automatically
consolidating and integrating the management data and displaying the information on demand.
With HP SIM, you can monitor and manage groups of servers, clients, clusters, and networking
products anywhere, at any time, from a standard web browser.
Security considerations
Three distinct types of secure connections are employed in the version control architecture. The
following diagram illustrates the connections.
8 Product overview