System Requirements

This topic provides details about the environment requirements for running and configuring the BigFix UI. It outlines the supported hardware and software platforms, and the methods available to initiate the setup.

Software Requirements

To run BigFix UI Configuration Manager, ensure the following software components are installed and available in your environment:

Operating System: Windows Server Standard edition 2019, Windows Server Standard edition 2022, Windows Server Standard edition 2025, and Windows 11 on x86-64 (x64) architecture.

Database: Microsoft SQL Server 2025 is supported. The database can be installed on the same system where BigFix UI runs, or remotely on a different system. Configure the database server as follows:

  • Install Microsoft SQL Server with FIPS mode enabled.

  • Create a database user with the sysadmin and public roles.

  • Open the port that the database uses. For Microsoft SQL Server, the default port is 1433.

  • Set the server authentication to SQL Server and Windows Authentication mode.

  • Create the database before you run the setup if you plan to connect through a DSN. BigFix UI does not create a database when you supply your own DSN, and the connecting account requires db_owner permissions.

  • If using Integrated Windows Authentication over DSN, both the setup process (BFUI.exe --setup) and the BES UI Windows service must run under Windows accounts with database permissions.

  • Azure SQL is not supported via DSN.

BigFix Platform:

  • BigFix Platform 11.0.7 or later is required to use the BigFix UI.

  • The BES Explorer 11.0.7 or later must be installed and configured in the environment.

  • Ensure the firewall on the system where the BES Explorer is installed does not block the port that the BES Explorer uses. The standard default port for the BES Explorer instance is 9383. If you changed the port when you deployed the BES Explorer, open that port instead. For more information, see the BigFix Platform documentation.

Browsers: Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome are supported for accessing the BigFix UI Configuration Manager.

Hardware Recommendations

Install BigFix UI on a dedicated system. This gives better performance than a shared system.

For details about sizing and capacity planning, see the BigFix Capacity Planning document.

User Privileges

BigFix UI supports installation only with local administrator privileges. Run the setup with a user that is a member of the local Administrators group on the target system.

  • A local administrator can install BigFix UI as a Windows service or run it as a process. Start BigFix UI as a Windows service for smooth operation.

  • A non-administrator user cannot install BigFix UI. The setup does not display the Install the application as a Windows service checkbox, and the BES UI service is not installed.

  • Integrated Windows Authentication: If you configure the database using a DSN with Integrated Windows Authentication:

    • The domain account executing BFUI.exe --setup must be a member of the local Administrators group on the Windows server and hold db_owner privileges on the database.

    • The BES UI Windows service must be configured to run under a domain Windows account with db_owner permissions on the database to maintain connectivity after deployment.

Remember: Install BigFix UI with local administrator privileges and start it as a Windows service.