Install OVA With VMware ESXi

Introduction

The nShield Monitor OVA can be installed on a VMware ESXi hypervisor including the following versions:

  • vSphere ESXi 6.0

  • vSphere ESXi 6.5

For installation of the VMware ESXi hypervisor it may be necessary to involve your vSphere management team if you plan to install this system in a corporate VMware environment and you do not have access/authority to create and manage virtual machines (administrative rights will be required).

It will be required to have access to a DVD or the nShield Monitor OVA file from the machine that has the vSphere software running for proper installation of the Virtual Appliance.

The nShield Monitor OVA has been digitally signed with a signature based on the SHA-256 algorithm. Legacy VMWare software, such as the platform-native vCenter client, only supports signatures based on the deprecated SHA-1 algorithm and cannot directly deploy the nShield Monitor OVA.To deploy nShield Monitor to VMWare ESXi 5.5 or later, use the vCenter web client.

Install the nShield Monitor OVA

Screen views are based upon vSphere ESXi 6.5.

Run the vSphere software.

  1. Log into the web client.

    The initial VMware page opens.

    Login

    The web client is ready to be deployed.

  2. Select your version.

    Version

  3. Navigate to Deploy OVF Template.

    Deploy OVF Template

    You will be prompted through the process:

    Select template

  4. Select template.

  5. Enter the file location or select Browse and navigate to the location.

    Browse to select template

  6. Select Next.

    Next

  7. Select name and location.

    Select name and location

  8. Select Next.

  9. Select a resource (i.e., host).

    Select resource

  10. Select Next.

  11. Review the details.

    Review details

  12. Select Next.

  13. Review the Agreement, (selecting Next to scroll through the Agreement).

  14. Select Accept.

    Accept license

  15. Select storage.

    Select storage

  16. Select Next.

  17. Select your network.

    Select networks

  18. Select Next.

  19. Review the configuration data.

    Review configuration data

  20. Select Finish.

  21. You can follow the status.

    Status

  22. You are now ready to power on.

    Ready to power on

Turn on the Virtual Machine

  1. Click on the VM that you just created.

  2. Select the Getting Started tab.

  3. Select Power on the virtual machine.

    Power on the virtual machine

  4. Allow five minutes for the virtual appliance to load.

Run the Virtual Machine

Unfamiliar with VMware ESXI

  1. Select the Console tab, if you are unfamiliar with VMware ESXi and cannot determine the IP Address of the nShield Monitor VM that you just created:

    Console tab

  2. The login prompt displays.

  3. Login to the system using the default user ID and password:

    • Default user id: admin

    • Default password: password123

    The system will prompt you to change the password.

  4. Change the password to one that meets the same minimum requirements those for a user on the nShield.

After the first login from the CLI, the system prompts you to start the CLI Setup Wizard.

nCipher recommends using the WebUI set up wizard. If you would like to use the WebUI for setup, then answer "no" to the prompt for starting the CLI setup wizard.

Entering the wrong password 3 or more times will lock the user out of system and a re-install of OVA is required.
Password error

Familiar with VMware ESXI

If you are familiar with VMware ESXi and can determine the IP address assigned to the new VM, record your new password and the IP Address listed, and provide information to the appropriate personnel.

In most organizations the information technology or infrastructure group will accomplish the setup of the OVA, while the installation and operation of the nShield Monitor Virtual Appliance will be performed by a different functional group.

If you are to perform both tasks (nShield Monitor OVA install and nShield Monitor setup), record your new password and the IP Address listed above.

Proceed to Setup Wizard for instructions on using the WebUI Setup Wizard for setting up and configuring the nShield Monitor Virtual Appliance.