Next Generation Firewall 7.0 Installation Guide

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Security Management Center deployment
SMC is the management component of the Forcepoint NGFW system. SMC must be installed and running before you can deploy the Forcepoint NGFW engines.
Installing the SMC
The SMC is the management component of the Forcepoint NGFW solution. The SMC manages and controls the other components in the system. You must install the SMC before you can install Forcepoint NGFW Engines.
SMC installation options
You can install SMC server components on your own hardware or use an all-in-one SMC Appliance.
Requirements for running SMC on third-party hardware
There are some minimum requirements and recommendations when you run the SMC on third-party hardware.

Introduction to the Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall solution
Before setting up Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall (Forcepoint NGFW), it is useful to know what the different components do and what engine roles are available. There are also tasks that you must complete to prepare for installation.
Security Management Center deployment
SMC is the management component of the Forcepoint NGFW system. SMC must be installed and running before you can deploy the Forcepoint NGFW engines.
- Installing the SMC
  The SMC is the management component of the Forcepoint NGFW solution. The SMC manages and controls the other components in the system. You must install the SMC before you can install Forcepoint NGFW Engines.
  - SMC installation options
    You can install SMC server components on your own hardware or use an all-in-one SMC Appliance.
    - Requirements for running SMC on third-party hardware
      There are some minimum requirements and recommendations when you run the SMC on third-party hardware.
    - Security considerations for SMC deployment
      The information stored in the Security Management Center (SMC) is highly valuable to anyone conducting or planning malicious activities in your network. Someone who gains administrator rights to the Management Server can change the configurations.
    - Basic system settings for the SMC components
      Check these operating system settings on the computers that you use as a platform for the SMC components.
    - Installing on Linux
      The installation creates sgadmin user and group accounts.
  - SMC installation overview
    The process of installing SMC consists of several high-level steps.
  - Install the SMC
    You can install the SMC using a graphical user interface installation wizard in Windows and Linux.
  - Install the SMC in Demo Mode
    The Demo Mode installation creates a simulated network environment for evaluation.
  - Install the SMC in Linux from the command line
    In Linux, you can install the Security Management Center on the command line.
  - Install the SMC Appliance
    The SMC Appliance ships with the Management Server and a Log Server pre-installed on it. Starting the SMC Appliance initiates an installation wizard.
  - Start the SMC after installation
    Proceed through the following sections to start the SMC for the first time.
  - Post-installation SMC configuration
    After installation, you can configure settings for system communication and enable more features for the SMC.
- Configuring the SMC
  After initial installation is complete, configure the SMC to allow adding the other components for your system.
Forcepoint NGFW deployment
Forcepoint NGFW deployment consists of adding and configuring engine elements in the SMC, and configuring the Forcepoint NGFW software on the engine.
Maintenance
To maximize the benefit of Forcepoint NGFW, upgrade the SMC and Forcepoint NGFW regularly.
Appendices

Requirements for running SMC on third-party hardware

There are some minimum requirements and recommendations when you run the SMC on third-party hardware.

For more information, see the Release Notes.

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Published 25 August 2023