Introduction
This guide describes how to download, deploy and register a Sinefa Probe on a VMware hypervisor running ESX, ESXi or vSphere. You can deploy a VM either in-line or out-of-path.
Overview
Prerequisites
Network Setup
Step 1: Download
Step 2: Deploy
Step 3: Registration
Step 4: Subscription
Step 5: Direct SPAN traffic (only for out-of-path deployment)
Prerequisites
This Quick Start Guide assumes the following:
- You have a Sinefa Account (if not, go to http://www.sinefa.com/ and click on "Free Trial")
- A VMware ESX / ESXi / vSphere hypervisor
- At least 2GB of RAM resource
- At least 1 vCPU resource
- 8GB of thick provisioned storage is available
- A virtual network that has Internet access
For help and support with VMware vSphere Hypervisor, including downloading the free version, visit http://www.vmware.com/products/vsphere-hypervisor/overview.html.
NOTE: This guide is for the VMware products listed above. If you are using VMware Player, Fusion, Server or Workstation, use this guide instead.
Sizing:
The compute resources needed for a Virtual Probe depend on the amount of data that is being processed. This is typically the size of the WAN/Internet connection, but can be anything from 100Mbps to 40Gbps is supported with the appropriate resources and licence. Below are the specifications needed. Note that the storage need to be set to "Thick":
Bandwidth: <100Mbps
vCPU: 2
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 16GB
Bandwidth: <500Mbps
vCPU: 4
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 16GB
Bandwidth: <1Gbps
vCPU: 8
RAM: 10GB
Storage: 16GB
Bandwidth: <10Gbps
vCPU: 16
RAM: 24GB
Storage: 16GB
Bandwidth: <40Gbps
vCPU: 32
RAM: 32G
Storage: 16GB
Network Setup
When deploying a Sinefa Probe in a VMware environment you need to configure the virtual server with 2 Network Interface Cards. You will need to add the second NIC to the Machine, but this can be done atany time.
The NICS will need to be setup as follows:
eth0 = management interface (included in OVA)
eth1 = monitoring port connected to the physical NIC on the VMware host
| Out-of-path (SPAN) deployment | In-Line deployment | |
|
Send SPAN traffic to eth1. If sending SPAN from a physical network, then the physical NIC on the VM Host must be used exclusively by the Sinefa VM and cant be used by any other VM on the server. See Setup instructions for SPAN port for more details. IMPORTANT NOTE 1: When sending SPAN traffic into a vSwitch then into Sinefa eth1, the security settings on the vSwitch for "promiscuous mode" must be changed to "Accept". If there is any VLAN encapsulation within the traffic that's being sent to the probe, you will need to set the NIC that's setup for monitoring with the VLAN tag 4095 |
When connecting to a virtual network: If there is any VLAN encapsulation within the traffic that's being sent to the probe, you will need to set the NIC that's setup for monitoring with the VLAN tag 4095 |
|
| Probe console menu - Networking setup eth0 eth1 (mon) |
Probe console menu - Networking setup br1 (eth0, eth1) (mon) |
VM Set-up diagram
IMPORTANT NOTE 2: Extra NICS should be added with type "vmxnet3" otherwise the NIC ordering is random.
Installation
The following installation steps are detailed below:
Step 1. Download
Step 2. Deploy
Step 3. Registration
Step 4. Subscription
Step 5. Direct SPAN traffic (only for out-of-path deployment)
Step 1. Download
Locate the latest VMware ESX / ESXi / vSphere Sinefa Probe software from the "Settings - Probes - Add Probe" section of the Sinefa User Interface.
NOTE: You can either copy the URL of the OVF file (and have the hypervisor download the VMDK disk image directly) or download the OVA file (which contains the VMDK disk image) directly to your PC. This guide assumes you will be copying the URL of the OVF file.
Step 2. Deploy
Open your VMware vSphere Client and select "Deploy OVF Template..." from the File menu. Paste the URL of the OVF file into the text-box and click "Next".
Verify the OVF Template and click "Next".
Read the EULA, click "Accept", then click "Next".
Choose a name for this Sinefa Probe, then click "Next".
Choose a Datastore location (if applicable), then click "Next".
If prompted, choose a Virtual Network. You should map the Sinefa Probe to a virtual network that has Internet access.
Verify the settings and select the "Power on after deployment" option, then click "Finish".
The Sinefa Probe will be deployed and will be started once complete.
Step 3. Register
Automatic Registration
Sinefa Probes deployed using VMware will automatically register with your account soon after start-up, providing the Sinefa Probe can obtain it's network configuration from DHCP and has Internet access.
NOTE: By default, the probe will obtain an IP Address from DHCP. If DHCP is not available, you will need to manually configure a static IP Address using the "Network" option in the menu. See the Configuring a Static IP Address article for more information.
If Automatic Registration fails or is not available, follow the steps for Manual Probe Registration
Step 4. Subscribe
Subscribe the probe to the Sinefa service by logging into ui.sinefa.com.
NOTE: No charges will apply in Trial mode. If you are not the Administrator then please notify the Administrator to complete this step.
- On the Account drop down box at the top right of the screen, make sure you are using the right Account. Under Account, select "<YOUR ACCOUNT>".
- Assuming the Probe is turned on and can communicate via HTTPS to ui.sinefa.com, it will appear online (green) under Settings | Probes.
- Click on 'Subscribe' button and follow the prompts to add a Subscription to the Probe.
Step 5. Direct SPAN traffic (for out-of-path deployment)
Once you have set-up the above successfully, you will need to set-up the SPAN port on your switch/router and set-up SPAN port monitoring through the Sinefa UI
Now that the Sinefa Probe is registered, you can manage it using the Sinefa UI by logging in at ui.sinefa.com.
What Next?
Sinefa Best Practice Guide
Probe Networking Set-up Guide
Setup Application Visibility
Setup reporting via SPAN port
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