3. Setup Guide

3.1. Create a new ESX VM and Mount the ISO

Create a new VM with your virtualization software. In this case, we will use VMWare ESX managed through a VMWare VCenter.

The new VM must be configured with a Linux base system and Debian GNU/Linux 10 (64 bits) as target version. It is recommended to upload the ASGARD or MASTER ASGARD ISO to an accessible data store and mount the same to your newly created VM.

Please make sure to select a suitable v-switch or physical interface that reflects the IP address scheme you are planning to use for the new ASGARD. Only use one Hard Disk for the installation.

3.2. Navigate through the installer

The installation Process is started by clicking on ASGARD Graphical install. The installer then loads the additional components from the ISO and lets you select location and language.

Warning

Please make sure to select the correct Country, as this will also set your local timezone!

If DHCP is available, network parameters will be configured automatically. Without DHCP, ASGARD drops into the manual network configuration dialogue.

Without DHCP, ASGARD proceeds with the manual network configuration dialogue.

3.3. Network Configuration

Warning

ASGARD needs to be able to resolve internal and external IP addresses.

Important

Important: Make sure that the combination of hostname and domain creates an FQDN that can be resolved from the endpoints on which you intend to install the ASGARD agents. If you've configured a FQDN (hostname + domain) that cannot be resolved on the clients, no agent will be able to find and reconnect to the ASGARD server.

This is especially important since your Management Center will create some certificates during the installation, which will not contain an IP Address as its Subject Alternative Name (SAN), but only the FQDN! You will not be able to connect your ASGARD Management Center with your Analysis Cockpit via IP Address.

3.4. Choosing a password

Set up users and passwords — Choosing a password for the `nextron` user

3.5. Partitioning the Hard Disk

Warning

ASGARD is intended to be installed with only one disk. Do not configure your server with multiple disks. The system won't configure additional disks. Make sure that your disk has the recommended size. See Hardware Requirements for more information.

Finally, write your configuration to the disk by selecting "Yes" and clicking "Continue".

3.6. Proxy Configuration

If you are using a proxy to access the internet, enter the proxy details in the next step. Please note, Internet connectivity is required for the next step – the installation of the ASGARD service.

The base installation is now complete. In the next step we will install the ASGARD service. For this step Internet connectivity is required.

3.7. Install the ASGARD Management Center Services

Use SSH to connect to the appliance using the user nextron and the password you specified during the installation (if you were using an old ISO to install the base system, the password is nextron). Now you can run the following command:

sudo nextronInstaller -asgard (caution: upper case “i" in the middle). This will install ASGARD.

After installation is complete type sudo systemctl status asgard2.

The output should look like the screenshot below with status Active.

Installation is complete, you are ready to log into the web-based GUI.

3.7.1. Changing Proxy Configuration

If you have to change your proxy configuration before you run the nextronInstaller script, you can do so with the following command:

nextron@asgard:~$ sudoedit /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/proxy

The format of the proxy in this configuration file is as follows:

Acquire::http::Proxy "http://<user>:<password>@<proxyfqdn>:<port>";
Acquire::https::Proxy "http://<user>:<password>@<proxyfqdn>:<port>";

Example:

Acquire::http::Proxy "http://proxyuser:mySecurePassword123@proxy.internal.domain:8080";
Acquire::https::Proxy "http://proxyuser:mySecurePassword123@proxy.internal.domain:8080";

3.8. Changing the IP-Address

ASGARD's IP-Address can be changed in /etc/network/interfaces. The IP is configured with the address variable.

nextron@asgard:~$ sudo vi /etc/network/interfaces

auto ens32
iface ens32 inet static
address 192.0.2.7
netmask 255.255.255.0
gateway 192.0.2.254

Important: There might be a case where the name of the network adaptor (in this example: ens32) can vary.

The new IP can be applied with the command sudo systemctl restart networking

3.8.1. Verifying DNS Settings

To verify if ASGARD is using the correct DNS Server, you can inspect the file /etc/resolv.conf:

nextron@asgard:~$ cat /etc/resolv.conf
search example.org
nameserver 172.16.200.2

If you see errors in this configuration, you can change it with the following command:

nextron@asgard:~$ sudoedit /etc/resolv.conf

3.9. First steps in the VM

3.9.1. Change the Command Line Password

Login to ASGARD and type passwd in order to change the password for the default user nextron. The default password is nextron.

Warning

This step is not necessary if you used the new installer ISO, since the password will be already set during installation (see Choosing a password)

3.9.2. Change the Web Password

Login to the ASGARD Web interface with user admin and password admin.

The admin user has limited/restricted access to some sections to ensure the correct audit of certain actions. In order to access restricted functions which require an audit please create an user with the corresponding rights under Settings > Users.

Click on User Settings and update your password.