Cisco Email Security Appliance: Initial Setup
Cisco Email Security Appliance: Initial Setup
INITIAL SETUP
October 2015
Version 1.0
Tim Bostrom
Cisco Sales Engineer
OVERVIEW OF STEPS 3
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PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT
There are a few steps that are needed to be followed in order to bootstrap and prepare a Cisco
Email Security Appliance (ESA) and Secure Management Appliance (SMA) for installation. This
document will cover the steps needed to prepare an ESA and SMA to run the Initial Setup Wizard.
The Initial Setup Wizard is a wizard questionnaire helps customers build a base configuration for
email security in their environment. Initial Setup Wizard will be covered in a separate document.
This document will cover gathering and configuring the required network settings (IP, DNS, etc.)
so that the ESA and SMA can be put on the network and configured.
OVERVIEW OF STEPS
The primary audience of this document will be deploying hardware appliances. When deploying
HW appliances, you should connect your laptop to the ESA’s MGMT Ethernet Port and power on
the ESA. This requires a crossover ethernet cable unless your laptop automatically senses the need
for crossover and flips the pin logically — most modern laptops do this automatically. The ESA
will have an IP address of 192.168.42.42/24 on MGMT. Configure your laptop for
192.168.42.41/24. You do not need a Default router nor do you need DNS settings.
Though most deployments will be with a HW appliance, I will discuss “virtual” appliances also in
this document. I will be using a C100v and C300v ESAv appliance and an M300v SMAv
appliance for the purposes of this document.
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• We will be using Management (MGMT) Ethernet Port for both the ESAv and SMAv in my
lab.
• For the ESAv, I will have a single IP Interface named “BiDirectional” and an IP address of
10.0.1.37/24. The Interface hostname will be “esa1.unc-hamiltons.com”. Note that each IP
Interface requires an “Interface hostname” and it is that hostname that is used in the EHLO
conversation when sending email using that Interface. You’ll see me setting this value in
the “interfaceconfig” command below.
• Default Route: 10.0.1.1
• Local DNS: 10.0.1.7
(To be able to easily copy the text output while running the “interfaceconfig” command and paste
in to this document, I wanted to ssh into the appliance instead of using the VMWare Console
feature — the VMWare Console feature has a very low resolution and does not allow an easy way
to copy all text. Therefore, I used the VMWare console to run the “interfaceconfig” command and
only quickly set the IP address and subnet mask (10.0.1.37/24). I then did a “commit” and hit
return — or the Enter key — twice to commit changes. Now you can see below I can ssh directly
to the 10.0.1.37 address and login. As explained earlier in this document “Virtual” appliances use
DHCP to obtain an IP address and you can easily see what address is assigned by issuing the
“interfaceconfig” command and then control-C to end the command. For HW appliances, the IP
address will always be 192.168.42.42 as discussed above)
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ironport.example.com> interfaceconfig
Would you like to configure an IPv4 address for this interface (y/n)? [Y]>
IPv4 Address (Ex: 192.168.1.2 ):
[10.0.1.37]> 10.0.1.37
Would you like to configure an IPv6 address for this interface (y/n)? [N]>
Ethernet interface:
1. Data 1
2. Data 2
3. Management
[3]> <return key entered>
Hostname:
[ironport.example.com]> esa1.unc-hamiltons.com
Do you want to enable SSH on this interface? [Y]> <return key entered>
Do you want to enable HTTP on this interface? [Y]> <return key entered>
Which port do you want to use for HTTP?[80]> <return key entered>
Do you want to enable HTTPS on this interface? [Y]> <return key entered>
Which port do you want to use for HTTPS?[443]> <return key entered>
Do you want to enable Spam Quarantine HTTP on this interface? [N]> <return key
entered>
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Do you want to enable Spam Quarantine HTTPS on this interface? [N]> <return key
entered>
Do you want to enable AsyncOS API (Monitoring) HTTP on this interface? [N]> Y
Which port do you want to use for AsyncOS API (Monitoring) HTTP? [6080]>
Do you want to enable AsyncOS API (Monitoring) HTTPS on this interface? [N]> Y
Which port do you want to use for AsyncOS API (Monitoring) HTTPS? [6443]>
The "Demo" certificate is currently configured. You may use "Demo", but this will
not be secure. To assure privacy, run "certconfig" first.
Both HTTP and HTTPS are enabled for this interface, should HTTP requests redirect
to the secureservice? [Y]> N
Updating SNMP agent interface referencing the old interface name "Management" to
the new interface name "BiDirectional".
2.
Set
the
System
Hostname
This is the “System Hostname” — which may be different than the “interface hostname”
you configured in previous step. Since I have only one Interface (going with Deployment
Option 1), the Interface hostname is the same as the System Hostname.
ironport.example.com> sethostname
[ironport.example.com]> esa1.unc-hamiltons.com
Warning: setting an incorrect default gateway may cause the current connection to
be interrupted when the changes are committed.
1. IPv4
2. IPv6
[1]> <return key entered>
ironport.example.com>
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ironport.example.com> dnsconfig
[NOTE: This is a virtual appliance and as you can see below, it obtained a DNS
server from DHCP. I’ll remove it and step you through how to configure your ESA
to point to your local DNS server]
Do you want to delete a local DNS cache server or an alternate domain server?
1. Delete a local DNS cache server.
2. Delete an alternate domain server.
[]> 1
Note: You have removed the last local nameserver entry. DNS will now use the
Internet root servers.
Do you want the Gateway to use the Internet's root DNS servers or would you
like it to use your own DNS servers?
1. Use Internet root DNS servers
2. Use own DNS cache servers
[1]> 2
Enter the number of seconds to wait before timing out reverse DNS lookups.
[20]>
ironport.example.com
esa1.unc-hamiltons.com>
5. Testing
Let’s use “dig” to ensure the ESA is getting name-resolution (DNS resolution). To find out the
legal parameters of any command, type help and the name of the command. Here is the help for
dig (for example)
Options:
-s <source_ip> Specify the source IP address.
-t Make query over TCP.
-u Make query over UDP (default).
Options:
-s <source_ip> Specify the source IP address.
-t Make query over TCP.
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You can get the MX record for a domain by placing MX in the “qtype” field. Let’s get the MX
records for “cisco.com” to test DNS resolution
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;cisco.com. IN MX
;; ANSWER SECTION:
cisco.com. 21600 IN MX 10 alln-mx-01.cisco.com.
cisco.com. 21600 IN MX 30 aer-mx-01.cisco.com.
cisco.com. 21600 IN MX 20 rcdn-mx-01.cisco.com.
esa1.unc-hamiltons.com>
Now test your outbound firewall settings by seeing if you can get a layer-4 socket connection to
one of the MTAs specified in the Cisco MX records. Note that once I get connected, I enter the
“Control+]” key combination to get to the “telnet” prompt where I can type “quit”.
Trying 72.163.7.166...
Connected to rcdn-mx-01.cisco.com.
Escape character is '^]'.
220 rcdn-inbound-l.cisco.com ESMTP
^]
telnet> quit
Connection closed.
esa1.sectest.net>
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For the ESAv virtual appliances, they do not ship with any licenses. You will need to work with
your Partner or your Cisco Content Security Account Manager (Content SAM) to get an XML
license file. Once you have a license file, you will install/load the license file into the virtual
appliance as instructed below. We must have a license file to even receiving email and to upgrade
the operating system of the appliance. So this is one of the first things we need to do.
An easy way to check the licenses of an appliance is to issue the “showlicense” command:
esa1.unc-hamiltons.com> showlicense
No License Installed
esa1.unc-hamiltons.com>
Once you have the XML license file, open in a text editor such as Notepad++ or Wordpad on
Windows or Text Wrangler on Mac. DO NOT USE WINDOWS NOTEPAD as the formatting
from the XML file will be destroyed and will not copy/paste correctly.
Now that the license file is open on your machine, ssh into the appliance and issue the
“loadlicense” command:
esa1.unc-hamiltons.com> loadlicense
Now copy and then paste the entire text contents of the XML file into the screen. Press enter to
move to blank line and then press CTRL-D to finish. The EULA will be displayed for your
acceptance.
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File Reputation
Incoming Mail Handling
Intelligent Multi-Scan
IronPort Anti-Spam
IronPort Email Encryption
IronPort Image Analysis
McAfee
Outbreak Filters
RSA Email Data Loss Prevention
Sophos Anti-Virus
License data
------------
vln VLNESA000130
begin_date Mon Oct 20 16:45:42 2014 GMT
end_date Sat Oct 17 16:45:41 2015 GMT
company Dalton Hamilton
seats 25
serial 18D9
email [email protected]
issue a8d171c232f94a5da725badef5837dc4
license_version 1.1
esa1.unc-hamiltons.com>
Issue the “ipcheck” command and you will see the number of days for each feature key.
esa1.unc-hamiltons.com> ipcheck
Ipcheck Rev 1
Date Sun May 10 14:38:19 2015
Model C300V
Platform vmware (VMware Virtual Platform)
MGA Version Version: 9.1.0-032
Build Date 2015-03-17
Install Date 2015-05-10 12:56:09
Burn-in Date Unknown
Serial No. 564DF56D18E45A4F00DE-xxxxxxxxx
BIOS Version 6.00
RAID Version NA
RAID Status Unknown
RAID Type NA
RAID Chunk Unknown
BMC Version NA
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PS1 Unknown
PS2 Unknown
Note: The “showlicense” will show you the VLN number and the “ipcheck”
command will show you the Serial Number.
In order to upgrade the ESAv (Virtual Appliances) you must have a valid “License” file loaded
into the appliance. The topic immediately before this one discussed how to license the appliance.
Issue the “version” command to see the current version of code the appliance is running.
esa1.unc-hamiltons.com> version
Current Version
===============
Product: Cisco C300V Email Security Virtual Appliance
Model: C300V
Version: 9.1.0-032
Build Date: 2015-03-17
Install Date: 2015-05-10 12:56:09
Serial #: 564DF56D18E45A4F00DE-BFB8C738BAB6
BIOS: 6.00
CPUs: 4 expected, 4 allocated
Memory: 8192 MB expected, 8192 MB allocated
RAID: NA
RAID Status: Unknown
RAID Type: NA BMC: NA
esa1.unc-hamiltons.com>
https://supportforums.cisco.com/community/5756/email-security
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Below I will issue the “upgrade” command and note that there are two options:
DOWNLOADINSTALL
DOWNLOAD
When doing the CLI ‘upgrade’ command, remember that you may need to do multiple upgrades to
get to the latest version of code. Do the DOWNLOAD, once the new version is available, the
INSTALL command will appear. Do the INSTALL and it will prompt you to reboot. Once the
appliance is back online, login to the appliance again and try another ‘upgrade’ to see if there is
another upgrade available.
esa1.unc-hamiltons.com> upgrade
Upgrades available.
1. AsyncOS 9.5.0 build 035 upgrade For Email, 2015-04-04
2. AsyncOS 9.5.0 build 067 upgrade For Email, 2015-04-22
[2]> 2
Download of AsyncOS 9.5.0 build 067 upgrade For Email, 2015-04-22 has started in
background.
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esa1.unc-hamiltons.com> upgrade
Download of upgrade image (AsyncOS 9.5.0 build 067 upgrade For Email,
2015-04-22) is in progress (71% complete).
esa1.unc-hamiltons.com> upgrade
Current downloaded version is AsyncOS 9.5.0 build 067 upgrade For Email,
2015-04-22.
Do you want to install it ? [Y]>
Would you like to save the current configuration to the configuration directory
before upgrading? [Y]>
Would you like to email the current configuration before upgrading? [N]>
Performing an upgrade may require a reboot of the system after the upgrade is
applied. You may log in again after this is done.
Do you wish to proceed with the upgrade? [Y]>
At this point you have setup your ESA appliance with the correct IP address, Subnet Mask, DNS
Settings, Default Route, and we’ve discussed Firewall settings. You have also insured your Virtual
Appliance has a license file — Hardware Appliances ship with 30 day Eval keys — which is
required to do an upgrade. You have then upgraded the appliance to the current General
Deployment (GD) version as discussed in the previous section.
You are now ready to run the Initial Setup Wizard which is covered in the next document in the
series.
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