The Exabeam Appliance is a physical device designed for security management, specifically for the Exabeam Security Management Platform (SMP). It serves as a foundational component for various Exabeam solutions, including Data Lake and Advanced Analytics. The appliance requires physical setup, rack mounting, and network configuration to become operational and integrate with the Exabeam software ecosystem.
Function Description:
The Exabeam Appliance functions as a dedicated hardware platform for deploying Exabeam's security management solutions. It is designed to host the operating system and Exabeam software, enabling the collection, analysis, and management of security data. Depending on the model (EX3000, EX2003, EX4003), it supports different Exabeam functionalities like Data Lake (for EX3000) and Advanced Analytics (for EX2003 and EX4003). The appliance is a critical component for establishing a robust security management infrastructure, providing the necessary computational and storage resources for Exabeam's advanced analytics and SIEM capabilities.
Important Technical Specifications:
While specific processor, memory, and storage details are not explicitly listed in the provided pages, the manual highlights key physical and network specifications:
- Rack Unit Size:
- EX2003 and EX4003 are 1U rack units.
- EX3000 is a 2U rack unit.
- Rack Rail Compatibility:
- For EX2003 and EX4003, the rail fits racks between 26" and 33.5" deep.
- For EX3000, the rail fits racks between 26.5" and 36.4" deep.
- Network Interfaces: The appliance features multiple network ports, including at least two RJ45 ports labeled LAN1 and LAN2, and an IPMI port. These are crucial for network connectivity and management.
- Power Supply: The appliance requires two power cables, ideally connected to uninterrupted power supply (UPS) or conditioned power sources originating from different power circuits for redundancy.
- Operating System: The appliance is designed to run a specific operating system image, which is installed after initial network configuration.
- IPv6 Support: Exabeam appliances explicitly do not support IPv6. Network configurations must be set up for IPv4.
Usage Features:
The Exabeam Appliance is designed for straightforward deployment and integration into existing data center environments.
- Physical Installation:
- Rack Mounting: The manual provides detailed instructions for mounting the chassis into a standard rack unit using provided rails. This includes identifying rail sections (inner, outer, middle), installing inner rail extensions (optional for stabilization), and securing outer and middle rails to the rack. The process is tailored for both 1U (EX2003, EX4003) and 2U (EX3000) units, with specific steps for each.
- Two-Person Installation: It is recommended that two people work together to install the chassis into the rack to prevent damage or injury.
- Rack Stabilization: A critical safety feature emphasizes that the rack stabilizing mechanism must be in place, or the rack bolted to the floor, before sliding the unit out for servicing to prevent tipping.
- Bottom-Up Installation: Servers should always be installed to the bottom of a rack first.
- Cabling:
- Ethernet Connection: Requires connecting an Ethernet cable to the RJ45 port labeled LAN1 for initial network access.
- Console Access: A monitor and keyboard are needed for the initial configuration, which can be detached once setup is complete.
- Power Redundancy: Two power cables should be connected to separate power circuits for enhanced reliability.
- Network Configuration:
- Initial Setup: The appliance requires network configuration (IP address, subnet, network gateway, DNS addresses) before the operating system and Exabeam software can be installed.
- Console-Based Configuration: Network settings are configured via the console using the
nmtui program.
- DHCP and Static IP Options: Supports both static leased DHCP addresses and persistent static IP address assignments at the host.
- CIDR Notation: When entering static IP addresses, CIDR notation (e.g., 10.10.10.10/24) is mandatory to ensure correct subnet mask assignment.
- Network Teaming (NIC Teaming):
- Redundancy and Bandwidth: Supports NIC teaming to aggregate network interfaces (e.g., eno1 and eno2 into team0) for increased network bandwidth and redundancy (active/backup runner state).
- Configuration Steps: Detailed command-line instructions are provided for configuring NIC teaming for both DHCP and static IP environments, including creating team interfaces, adding slave interfaces, and restarting network services.
- Session Management: Users are advised to use
screen sessions to prevent accidental termination of configuration processes, especially during network restarts.
- Verification: Commands like
teamdctl team0 state and teamnl team0 ports are used to verify the teaming configuration and throughput.
Maintenance Features:
While the manual primarily focuses on initial setup, some aspects touch upon maintenance and operational considerations:
- Rack Servicing: The design of the rack rails allows the server to be pulled out for servicing, with a locking latch mechanism to prevent it from coming completely out of the rack.
- Configuration Backups: During network teaming setup, users are instructed to back up existing network interface configuration files (e.g.,
ifcfg-eno*) to a safe location (e.g., /home/exabeam/) before making changes. This is a crucial step for disaster recovery and maintaining system integrity.
- Software Updates: Although not detailed in the provided pages, the need to install an operating system image and Exabeam software implies a lifecycle of updates and patches, which would be managed through the software layer.
- Troubleshooting: The
teamdctl and teamnl commands serve as diagnostic tools for verifying network teaming status and throughput, aiding in troubleshooting network connectivity issues.
- Exabeam Community and Support: The manual directs users to the Exabeam Community for the most up-to-date version of the guide and provides an email address (
docs@exabeam.com) for feedback. It also mentions contacting Exabeam Technical Support for the default password after setup, indicating a support structure for ongoing maintenance and issues.
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