User`s guide

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Bulletins: Collect patching data using the Patch Assessment collection filter. Because UNIX and Linux
assessments are VCMcollections, you can schedule these assessments.
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Assessment template: Collect patching data using a template that filters the patch assessment results.
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Collect wizard: Collect patching data using the Patch Assessment Data Class filter.
NOTE Assessments of UNIX and Linux machines operate differently from Windows assessments. UNIX
and Linux assessments require you to collect new data. Windows assessments are performed against
previously collected data.
Assessments of UNIX and Linux machines are run against the patches known by VMware at the time the
assessment is performed.
Patch assessments of UNIX and Linux machines are based on the OS version and machine architecture.
When you collect assessment data using templates, you must match the bulletins, either 32-bit or 64-bit, to
the machine architecture.
For a patch assessment that did not return any results, see the troubleshooting section.
If machine data has not been collected, the assessment results might not appear and the machine will not
be available for deployment. If this situation occurs, a patch-machine mismatch status results. You can
display or hide the patch-machine mismatch status. Click VCM Patching and select VCM Patching
Administration > UNIX > Settings > Bulletin and Update.
Prerequisites
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Confirm that assessments finished successfully.
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Verify that the patch signature files (.pls files) exist on the Collector.
The .pls files determine whether required patches are installed on the machine. By default, VCM
Patching downloads the .pls files automatically every 4 hours.
Patch files appear in Console > UNIX > Security > Patches > Assessment or Console > Change
Management > Non VCM Initiated > By Machine. During an assessment of the machines using the
Patch Assessment Data Class, the .pls files are sent from the Collector to the machine. A delay might
occur during this process.
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Verify that the VCM Agent is installed on the UNIX or Linux machine.
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Verify that the UNIX or Linux machine is licensed for VCM Patching.
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Verify that you already have pre-configured filters if you choose Filters in the following procedure. See
"Create UNIX and Linux Patch Assessment Filters" on page 194.
The following procedure runs the assessment using patch bulletins.
Procedure
1. On the toolbar, select the All UNIXMachines machine group.
2. Click Patching
3. Select UNIX/Linux Platform > Bulletins > By Bulletin.
4. Select Assess.
5. In the UNIX Patch Assessment wizard, select Default Filter or Filters.
If you selected Filters, you must select a specific filter.
6. Click Next and Finish to begin the assessment on all machines in the selected machine group.
Getting Started with VCM Patching
VMware, Inc. 193