Solved: Cisco Firepower Management Center on Standalone Server

latenaite2011 · ‎05-10-2016

Can you install a Cisco Firepower Management Center on a standalone server and not a VM? Here is a guide for the VM:

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/security/firepower/60/quick_start/management_center_virtual/FMCv-quick.html

but couldn't find one for a standalone server. Or can I use this steps for a standalone server.

Looks like the only option of not going with a VM is to get the appliance itself.

thanks

Marvin Rhoads · ‎05-10-2016

To install on a bare metal server you could first put ESXi (free version) on it and then run FMC as the only VM on it. I've had customers do that and it works just fine.

View solution in original post

nspasov · ‎05-10-2016

Hi there, you are correct. Your options to install the FirePOWER Management Center are:

1. Using a supported virtualization hypervisor (For instance, VMware)

2. Using a dedicated FMC appliance (750, 2000, 4000)

Thus, you cannot install the software on any other standalone server(s).

I hope this helps!

Thank you for rating helpful posts!

Marvin Rhoads · ‎05-10-2016

To install on a bare metal server you could first put ESXi (free version) on it and then run FMC as the only VM on it. I've had customers do that and it works just fine.

latenaite2011 · ‎05-14-2016

Hi Marvin, There is a free version of ESXi5.5 for download but that looks like an evaluation version for only two months.

Do you know where I can get the free version that you're referring to (and not eval version with no expiration date)?

thanks

Marvin Rhoads · ‎05-14-2016

They include the paid features for two months in the hope that you will find them indispensable and upgrade to the paid version.

Resist the temptation and don't use them and you will not lose any functionality after they are deactivated.

https://my.vmware.com/group/vmware/info?slug=datacenter_cloud_infrastructure/vmware_vsphere_hypervisor_esxi/5_5

See the feature comparison here:

http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/products/vsphere/VMware-vSphere-vSOM-Pricing-Whitepaper.pdf

...where it notes:

VMware vSphere Hypervisor is a free product that provides a simple and easy way to get started with virtualization at no cost. vSphere Hypervisor provides only basic virtualization capabilities, allowing customers to virtualize servers and run applications in virtual machines in a matter of minutes. vSphere Hypervisor cannot connect to vCenter Server and therefore cannot be centrally managed. Users can remotely manage individual vSphere Hypervisor hosts using the vSphere Client.

There are no restrictions on the number of cores per physical CPU, on the number of physical CPUs per host and on the amount of RAM per server/ host. The maximum vCPUs per virtual machine is eight.

latenaite2011 · ‎05-19-2016

Hi Marvin,

So I downloaded vSphere 5.5 iso file (file name is here VMware-VMvisor-Installer-5.5.0-1331820.x86_64.iso) and burned that into an iso file and tried to boot from it. It doesn't want to seem to boot from it. I tried using WinISO file to burn the boot to make it bootable. That also didn't work.

Am I supposed to be able to boot from this CD with the iso file from my server?

Do let me know if there is any other steps that I need to do.

Jetsy Mathew · ‎05-16-2016

Hello,

Stand alone servers were only available in older versions such as 4.10 which is out of support and no more available. For all other supported version either you should get a hardware or install a virtual appliance.

You can now use VMware Tools with FireSIGHT System virtual appliances. This enhances compatibility with the VMware environment and improves management of virtual devices by enabling soft power down, migration, and other virtual specific capabilities. VMware tools are supported on:

■64-bit Virtual Defense Center

■64-bit Virtual managed device

Note: As of Version 5.4 of the FireSIGHT System, the system supports ESXi version 5.1 and ESXi version 5.5.

For all other platform requirements of ESXi , please follow the release notes from the following link :-

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/security/firesight/5407/relnotes/FireSIGHT-System-Release-Notes-version5407-and-5416.html

Rate if this answer helps you

Regards

Jetsy