The HCL BigFix platform enforces a hierarchical version compatibility rule to ensure proper communication and functionality during and after an upgrade. The server component must always be at a version greater than or equal to the relays it manages. Similarly, relays must be at a version greater than or equal to the clients that report to them. This rule facilitates a phased upgrade process, which mandates upgrading the server first, followed by the relays, and then the clients, ensuring that higher-level components can always process information from lower-level components.

A. This is an ideal end-state but not a mandatory rule during the upgrade process; mixed-version environments are fully supported.

B. This option incorrectly omits the relay component, which is critical to the BigFix hierarchy and version dependency chain.

C. This is incorrect because a relay cannot be at a lower version than a client it manages, as it might not understand the newer client's data format.

1. HCL BigFix Platform Installation Guide Version 10.0. In the "Upgrading" chapter

the section "Upgrading the BigFix components" specifies the mandatory upgrade order: "1. Server

2. Consoles

3. Relays

4. Clients". This prescribed order directly enforces the version relationship where server version >= relay version >= client version at all times during the upgrade cycle.

2. HCL BigFix Capacity Planning

Performance

and Management Guide Version 10.0. The "Upgrading" section reinforces this principle by stating

"The recommended upgrade path is to upgrade the BigFix server first

then the BigFix relays

and finally the BigFix clients." This best practice is based on the underlying technical requirement for hierarchical version compatibility.