Installing Net LineDancer on SL1 Appliances

Introduction

ScienceLogic has partnered with LogicVein Net LineDancer to manage configuration of network devices, including routers and switches.

Net LineDancer provides inventory reports, detailed hardware and software information of their devices, configuration comparison and history, password change, automated detection of configuration changes, and integration with network monitoring systems. Net LineDancer is integrated with SL1; you can view data from Net LineDancer in ScienceLogic dashboards.

Net LineDancer includes two modules: Core Server, installed on a server device, and SmartBridge, installed on a collector device. ScienceLogic supports installing Net LineDancer SmartBridge software on ScienceLogic Data Collectors.

Use the following menu options to navigate the SL1 user interface:

• To view a pop-out list of menu options, click the menu icon ([Original reference image unavailable: menu icon]).
• To view a page containing all the menu options, click the Advanced menu icon ([Original reference image unavailable: AdvancedMenu]).

NOTE: You must install Core Server on a server that is not part of the SL1 System.

This section describes how to install and configure SmartBridge on a ScienceLogic Data Collector.

Prerequisites

Before installing the Net LineDancer modules on SL1 appliances, you must:

• Purchase the Net LineDancer software.
• Download the software files for Core Server and install them on a server that is not part of the SL1 system.
• Download the software files for SmartBridge, so you can copy them to the ScienceLogic Data Collector. Contact ScienceLogic for details.
• Obtain a license file for Net LineDancer. Contact ScienceLogic for details.
• Have command-line access to the ScienceLogic Data Collector, either at the terminal or through SSH.
• Have access to the server where Core Server is installed. Use the Core Server username and password to log in to Core Server.

Installing Net LineDancer SmartBridge on a Data Collector

 

Use the following menu options to navigate the SL1 user interface:

• To view a pop-out list of menu options, click the menu icon ([Original reference image unavailable: menu icon]).
• To view a page containing all the menu options, click the Advanced menu icon ([Original reference image unavailable: AdvancedMenu]).

 

This section includes the following topics:

Installing Smart Bridge on a ScienceLogic Data Collector

 

The following steps describe how to install Net LineDancer SmartBridge on a ScienceLogic Data Collector:

1. Download and unzip the netLD installer. For details, see https://lvi.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/13000003799-linux-installation-guide.

 

2. Use SFTP, SCP, or WGET to copy the Net LineDancer SmartBridge installation files and license to the ScienceLogic Data Collector.
3. Log in to the console of the Data Collector or use SSH to access a shell session on the Data Collector.
4. Navigate to the directory where you copied the Net LineDancer SmartBridge installation files. For example, /var/tmp.

 

5. If the Data Collector has internet access, all package dependencies will be automatically installed during installation of SmartBridge. If the Data Collector does not have internet access, ensure that the following packages are installed before you install SmartBridge:

• unzip

 

• wget
• gmp
• iptables
• iptables-ipv6
• openssh
• openssh-clients
• shadow-utils
• sudo

 

6. To install SmartBridge, enter the following command:

sudo sh netld-bridge-2016.00.0-x86_64.bin

 

 

 

7. You will be asked if you would like to create a new certificate for this server.

• If this is a fresh install, enter "y" to continue.
• If this is not a fresh install, enter "n" to preserve the existing certificate.

 

8. You will be prompted to choose a connection type. Choose the same type you specified in the section on Configuring SmartBridge in the Core Server.

 

9. Depending on the connection type you choose, you will be prompted to enter the following information:

• If you select the connection type Bridge to Server, you will be prompted to enter the following:

• Remote Net LineDancer hostname or IP address. Enter the IP address of the Core Server.

 

• Remote NetLineDancer port. Enter the port on the Core Server that will listen for communications from the SmartBridge. The default value is 443.
• SmartBridge authentication token. The token you saved to the clipboard in the section while performing the steps in the section on Configuring SmartBridge in the Core Server.

 

• If you select the connection type Server to Bridge, you will be prompted to enter the following:

• Local SmartBridge listen port. Enter the port on the Data Collector that will listen for communications from the Core Server.
• SmartBridge authentication token. The token you saved to the clipboard in the section while performing the steps in the section on Configuring SmartBridge in the Core Server.

 

10. For details on installation, see https://lvi.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/13000003799-linux-installation-guide and https://lvi.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/13000012970-configuring-a-smartbridge-connection.

Configuring Smart Bridge for Use with SL1

 

Both SL1 and the Net LineDancer Smart Bridget use UDP port 514 for processing syslog data. To avoid a port conflict, perform the following steps:

1. Log in as root to the console of the Data Collector.

 

 

2. Enter the following:

echo "syslogRedirectionEnabled=false" > /usr/share/netld/redirection.settings

 

This command creates a file called /usr/share/netld/redirection.settings and disables syslog redirection. Net LineDancer will no longer forward syslog entries to port 514.

 

3. You must configure rsyslog (the syslog handler for the SL1) to forward copies of all its traffic to port 11514. Port 11514 is the default syslog port for Net LineDancer. This allows Net LineDancer to get copies of all inbound syslog messages. To configure rsyslog, use a text editor like vi to open the file /etc/rsyslog.conf.

 

4. In the file /etc/rsyslog.conf, add the following line:

*.* @@localhost:11514

 

 

 

• To pick up this change, restart the rsyslog service. Enter the following:

service em7_rsyslog restart

 

 

After these changes, the SL1 will receive syslog messages on port 514 and Net LineDancer will receive syslog messages on port 11514.

Configuring Smart Bridge in the Core Server

You must add the new SmartBridge device to the Core Server. To do this:

1. Open a browser session. In the address bar, enter the following URL, inserting the IP address of the server where Net LineDancer Core Server resides where indicated:

https://<ip_address>:11443

 

 

2. If this is your first time logging in to Core Server, you will be prompted to enter your Activation Key.
3. Log in to Core Server with your username and password. (The default credentials are username "admin" and password "password".) The Core Server page appears:

[Original reference image unavailable: core server 576x315]

 

4. Click the Devices tab and then click the Settings button in the upper right. The Server Settings page appears.

 

5. In the Server Settings page, click SmartBridge on the left pane, then click the plus-sign icon in the lower right.

[Original reference image unavailable: settings page 576x384]

 

 

6. The Bridge Host modal page appears. Add the new SmartBridge by making entries in the following fields:

[Original reference image unavailable: bridge host 384x164]

• Name. Enter the name of the SmartBridge instance.

 

• Connection. Specify the connection type between the Core Server and the SmartBridge. This setting depends on your network configuration and firewall settings. For details on connection types, see https://lvi.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/13000012970-configuring-a-smartbridge-connection.
• Token. When Core Server generates a unique token for this SmartBridge, click the clipboard icon to copy the token to the clipboard.

7. Click OK.
8. Click the Devices tab and then click the Settings button in the upper right. The Server Settings page appears.

 

9. In the Server Settings page, click Networks on the left pane.

[Original reference image unavailable: add network 576x411]

 

10. In the Server Settings page, click the plus-sign icon in the lower right.
11. In the Managed Network dialog box, add an entry for the network that contains the new SmartBridge by making entries in the following fields:

• Name. Enter the IP address of the network, in CIDR (slash) notation.
• Bridge Host. Select the IP address of the Data Collector appliance.

12. Click OK.

For information on discovering networks with SmartBridge, see the Net LineDancer documentation at http://www.logicvein.com/product/pdf/netLD_manual.pdf.