Managing self-upgrades from 2014 R2/R3 (or later) inventory beacons

There are two settings, both controlled from the web interface for FlexNet Manager Suite, that manage the self-updating behavior of inventory beacons:
  • Global settings for the overall update strategy
  • Individual settings for each inventory beacon.
The combination allows you to silently upgrade all inventory beacons automatically; or to run a pilot program to test the behavior of one new inventory beacon before allowing all others to automatically update. The following procedure covers both strategies.

To manage self-upgrades of inventory beacons:

  1. First check the global settings for inventory beacons:
    1. In the compliance browser, navigate to Discovery & Inventory > Settings.
      The Inventory Settings page appears.
      Tip: Check the release details using the View Change History for FlexNet Beacon link in the Beacon settings section.
    2. In the Beacon settings section, make a selection from the Beacon version approved for use control.
      • For fully automated updates of your inventory beacons, choose Always use the latest version (currently release-number). With this setting operational for all your inventory beacons, updates are silent and self-managing. (You need to check, as described below, that each inventory beacon is permitted to accept this setting.)
      • For a pilot program, choose the most recent version of self-updating FlexNet Beacon software that is already installed in your enterprise. This must be earlier than the new release that you now want to test in a pilot program. (For example, suppose you previously installed version X.3 of FlexNet Beacon, but now X.4 is available. In this example, setting the approved version to X.3 prevents the later X.4 being installed until after you approve it with your pilot program.) By limiting the global automation to your previous approved version, you control when the upgrades flow through your estate.
  2. Now check the settings for each individual inventory beacon:
    1. In the compliance browser, navigate to Discovery & Inventory > Beacons (in the Network group).
      The list of your current inventory beacons displays. In the Actions column on the right-hand end of each entry, there is an edit icon (pen).
    2. For the desired inventory beacon, click its edit icon.
      The properties page for this inventory beacon displays. Ensure that the General tab is selected.
    3. In the Overview section of the General tab, make a selection from the Upgrade mode drop-down list.
      • For all operational inventory beacons (but not for your pilot test one), choose Always use the approved version (currently release-number) — This setting makes this inventory beacon respond to the global settings for all your inventory beacons (navigate to Discovery & Inventory > Settings ).
      • For the pilot test inventory beacon, choose Choose a specific version — Another control appears where you can choose the Specific version. Choose the latest version that you want to test.
  3. After your testing period, when you are satisfied with the functionality of the upgraded pilot inventory beacon, remember to return to the global settings (step 1) and authorize the latest version.
    Tip: Remember that you cannot access the latest inventory collection functionality until all relevant inventory beacons have been upgraded (allow up to a day after you approve the latest version at your central server for all inventory beacons to self-update).