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--- infoblox_nios:deploy_reporting_vm [2023/04/16 15:21] – bstafford
+++ infoblox_nios:deploy_reporting_vm [2025/07/11 13:46] (current) – bstafford
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ====== Deploying an Infoblox Reporting Server in a Lab ======
-[[https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/replacing-infoblox-servers-without-pranks-rodrigo-gomes-dos-santos|Useful Guide to replacing old reporting type with new reporting type]]
+===== Management =====
+If MGMT port is enabled on a Grid Member (e.g. DNS member), then the member will use the MGMT port to communicate with the reporting server (if there is a reporting server configured).
-**NOTE**: Even when you have a proper reporting licence, you will still need to set the permanent reporting license using the set temp_licence command on the reporting server after it has joined the Grid.
+===== Deploy NIOS Reporting VM =====
+**NOTE**: Even when you have a proper reporting license, you will still need to set the permanent reporting license using the set temp_license command on the reporting server after it has joined the Grid.
-**NOTE**: When you add the extra logging disk, it can be as large as you like but it cannot be resized after deployment without redeploying the whole VM.
+Before doing anything, SSH into the Grid Manager appliance and run ''show license_uid'' to get the Grid UID (rather than the Grid Managers 'member' UID. This is used to get the reporting license for daily data ingestion from Infoblox as the reporting license is Grid wide rather than being assigned to a specific member.
+<code>Infoblox > show license_uid
+The grid-wide license unique ID (same as LPC_UID):        d6f127686f4549308543a1c2d10497e9</code>
+Be aware that the reporting server will want username/password for a remote SCP server (of your choice) that it can use for data exports. Prepare this in advance.
-**NOTE**: Officially, Infoblox recommends provisioning the reporting disk of size greater than or equal to 250 GB.
+Before deploying the new reporting VM, add the member into the Grid Manager (Grid > Grid Manager > Members > Add). Don't forget to set the Member Type to "Virtual NIOS" rather than "Infoblox" and then set Host Name and IP Address details. Don't forget that reporting servers cannot be deployed as HA members. If required, resiliency is achieved through using multiple reporting servers.
-To deploy an Infoblox Reporting server in a lab, you will need the same OVA file that you use to deploy the Grid Master/Grid Member VMs.
+Once that is done, make sure you also have the
+  * Grid Name
+  * Grid Shared Secret
+  * IP address of the Grid Manager (LAN1 or, if HA is used, the HA VIP).
-When you deploy the OVA file, select IB-5005 as the model number.
+To deploy an Infoblox Reporting server, you will need the same OVA file that you use to deploy the Grid Manager/Grid Member VMs.
-When the VM deploys, it will have 8 CPU cores and 64 GB of RAM. For a lab (e.g. VMware Workstation on your laptop) reduce this to something sensible such as 2 CPU cores and 8 GB RAM (or even less? I got it to boot with 1 CPU and 2Gb of RAM. However, I didn't 'test' it much after boot). As you are adjusting this, add a second data disk. This will be used for storing data and you can't add the NIOS IB-V5005 licence to the VM without it.
+Deploy the OVA BUT DO NOT POWER ON. Before you power the deployed VM for the first time, add a second disk. This will be used for storing logs. IB-V5005 licensed cannot be applied later if there is no second disk attached. It can be as large as you like but it cannot be resized after deployment without redeploying the whole VM. For a tiny test lab, 10GB is fine. For production, talk to your account team at Infoblox or professional services. Officially, Infoblox recommends provisioning the reporting disk of size greater than or equal to 250 GB.
-Power on the machine.
+The amount of CPU/RAM assigned is flexible. For a tiny test lab, 4 vCPU and 8GB RAM is fine to start with. You may even be able to reduce to 2 vCPU and 4GB RAM. For production, talk to your account team at Infoblox or professional services. You will likely need 8 vCPU and 32GB RAM minimum.
-Run set ''temp_licence'' and add a Grid licence (option #7).
+Power on the VM.
-This restarts the system.
+Log in via the console with the credentials admin/infoblox.
-Run set ''temp_licence'' and add a NIOS licence and then select IB-V5005.
+Run set ''temp_license'' and add a NIOS license (option #4) and then select IB-V5005 (option #29). The numbers are based on NIOS 9.0.6. Earlier versions of NIOS might number them differently.
-This restart the system.
+This reboots the VM. Wait for the VM to reboot. It might take the VM about a minute to actually initiate the reboot.
-Run set ''temp_licence'' and you should now see only three options instead of sixteen.
+Log in via the console with the credentials admin/infoblox.
-Choose option 3 "Add Reporting subscription license".
+Run set ''temp_license'' and you should now see only three options instead of twenty nine.
-This installs a Reporting subscription grid-wide. It is this bit that adds the "Reporting" tab to the Grid Master GUI top banner.
+  - Add NIOS License
+  - Add Grid license
+  - Add Reporting subscription license
-**NOTE**: I have seen it before where the reporting appliance is already joined to the Grid. Even then, we consoled onto the reporting box and still only saw three options. We installed the Reporting subscription license on the reporting member and it popped up on the Grid wide licence tab.
+Add a Grid license (option #2). This is necessary for us to be able to join the VM to the NIOS Grid.
-Run ''set network'' to set the appropriate IP.
-This restart the system.
+Run ''set network'' to set the appropriate IP. When asked if you want to become a Grid Member, say no (you can say yes if you want but I like to keep my steps segregated).
-Ensure that the Grid Master has a member entry for this appliance.
+This reboots the VM.
-On this appliance, run ''set membership'' to join it to the Grid.
+Assuming you didn't choose to join the Grid when setting the network, log in via the console with the credentials admin/infoblox.
-This restarts the system.
+If you want to use the MGMT port (you probably don't) then configure it now as per [[infoblox_nios:deploy_nios_vm#mgmt_port|these instructions]].
-Log into the Grid Master and check that the member is connected by checking ''Grid > Grid Manger > Members''.
+On the VM, run ''set membership'' and provide the Grid Manager VIP (LAN1 or HA as appropriate), the Grid Name, and the Grid Shared Secret to join it to the Grid.
+This reboots the VM and joins it to the Grid. Once it has joined to the Grid, any further configuration is doing using the Grid Manager UI or via SSH to the reporting member using credentials for the Grid Manager.
-Set the reporting settings by going to ''Grid > Grid Manager > Reporting > Services'' and clicking the "Edit" button the right.
+Log into the Grid Master and check that the member is connected by checking ''Grid > Grid Manger > Members''. It should be Green. Yellow indicates it is still setting up/syncing.
-Under ''General > Basic'' tick "Enable Data Indexing". Then select the check boxes and enter the index percentages below this box. Where a category is ticked, it must be configured to have an index % greater than 0 and you cannot exceed 100%.
+SSH into the reporting member (assuming you have enabled SSH under Grid > Grid Manager > Grid Properties >Advanced mode >Security > Advanced > Enable Remote Console Access.
+Run set ''temp_license'' and you should now see only three options instead of twenty nine.
+  - Add NIOS License
+  - Add Grid license
+  - Add Reporting subscription license
+Add a Reporting subscription license (option #3). This will generate a perpetual, Grid Wide, Reporting license which can be seen under Grid > Licenses > Grid Wide.
+<code>Select license (1-3) or q to quit: 3
+This action will generate a perpetual Reporting license.
+Are you sure you want to do this? (y or n): y
+Reporting Subscription temporary grid-wide license installed.
+Temporary license (grid-wide) is installed.
+Infoblox ></code>
+Log out of the Grid Manager UI and back in and you will now see the "Reporting" tab next to "Smart Folders" in the GUI top banner. The icon of the reporting server under Grid > Grid Manager > Members will also have changed from solid blue to the reporting icon.
+Set the reporting settings by going to ''Grid > Grid Manager > Reporting > Services'' and clicking the "Edit" button the right (or 'Grid Reporting Properties' if you click the little black down arrow next to "Edit" on the right side of the screen.
+Under ''General > Basic'' tick "Enable Data Indexing". If you want to have data older than X days deleted, tick "Enable Time Based Retention" and set the "Retention in days" field when enabling Category.Then select the check boxes and enter the index percentages below this box. Where a category is ticked, it must be configured to have an index % greater than 0 and the sum of all the ticked boxes must not exceed 100%.
 Save and close.
@@ Line 57: / Line 89: @@
 You should now be able to view the reporting server under the ''Reporting'' tab on the Grid Master.
+When you access the "Reporting" tab for the first time, you will see the "App configuration" wizard (SCP folder configuration)
+Click the "Continue to app setup page"
+Set username/password for SCP protocol as well as Host/IP address and Host port and destination path.
+Finally, don't forget to get proper licenses installed. You will need to apply two sets of licenses
+  * The NIOS and Grid license for the reporting server that makes it a TE-v5005 (or IB-v5005, same thing) as well as gives it permission to join the Grid. These are $0 from Infoblox and you can have as many as you like.
+  * The Grid Wide reporting license that specifies the maximum amount of data the reporting system in the Grid can ingest daily. 500Mb is $0. Higher than that, you get 1GB, 2GB, etc.
+To get the proper licenses, you need to register the reporting VM in the Infoblox Support portal. Get the Hardware ID by running show hwid
+<code>Infoblox > show hwid
+Hardware ID: 564D21240E8FA9695FCE5704BEA203AA</code>
+To get the proper Grid wide license, you need to register the "Grid" as a VM in the Infoblox support portal and assign the Grid Wide ingestion license to it.
+===== Replacing Perpetual Reporting=====
+  * Run ''show license_uid'' on the Grid Manager **NOTE**: You need to already have a Grid license and NIOS license installed. Set a temp license if required.
+  * Create "Virtual Appliance" in the support portal using the Grid UID from step 1. Assign the Grid Wide reporting license.
+  * Remove the old permanent reporting license from the Grid.
+  * Power off the old reporting server.
+  * Power on the new reporting server.
+  * Add the new reporting server to the Grid.
+  * And the new "Grid Wide" subscription reporting license to the Grid.
+[[https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/replacing-infoblox-servers-without-pranks-rodrigo-gomes-dos-santos|Useful Guide to replacing old reporting type with new reporting type]]