NGFW 6.9 Online Help

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SMC configuration
Security Management Center (SMC) configuration allows you to customize how the SMC components work.
Configuring the Log Server
You can modify a Log Server element, configure settings for Log Servers, and recertify Log Servers.

About this Help
This online help was created for Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall (Forcepoint NGFW), version 6.9.0.
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.
Deployment
Before you can set up the system and start configuring elements, you must consider how the different SMC components should be positioned and deployed.
Setting up
After deploying the SMC components, you are ready to start using the Management Client and carrying out some of the first configuration tasks.
Monitoring
You can use the SMC to monitor system components and third-party devices. You can also view and filter logs, and create Reports from them.
Controlling NGFW Engines
You can command and set options for engines through the Management Client or on the engine command line. You can also stop traffic manually.
SMC configuration
Security Management Center (SMC) configuration allows you to customize how the SMC components work.
- Administrator accounts
  Administrator accounts define administrator rights and permissions in the SMC.
- Alert escalation
  The SMC can escalate the alerts generated so that notifications are sent to the administrators through multiple channels.
- Domain elements
  Domain elements allow you to restrict which elements are displayed to the administrators in the Management Client and in the optional Web Portal. They also allow you to define in which administrative Domains an administrator has permissions. Configuring Domains requires a special license.
- Setting up the Web Portal
  The Web Portal provides browser-based access to logs, reports, and Policy Snapshots for specific authorized users. The Web Portal is provided by the Web Portal Server, which is an optional component that you can purchase for your SMC.
- Using the Management Client in a web browser
  To avoid installing the full Java-based Management Client on each workstation that an administrator uses, you can run the Management Client in a web browser.
- Management Client downloads from the Management Server
  When the Management Server provides the Management Client for download, administrators can download and install the Management Client from the SMC Downloads page.
- Configuring the Log Server
  You can modify a Log Server element, configure settings for Log Servers, and recertify Log Servers.
  - Modify Log Server elements
    One Log Server element is automatically created during SMC installation. You can change the settings as necessary.
  - Select backup Log Servers for high availability
    You can select one or more backup Log Servers for each Log Server for high availability.
  - Forwarding log data from Log Servers to external hosts
    You can forward log data from Log Servers to external hosts to back up the data or to process the data in an external system.
  - Edit Log Server configuration parameters
    To configure the Log Server in detail, you can edit LogServerConfiguration.txt. Normally, it is not necessary to configure the Log Server outside of the Management Client. However, under special circumstances, you might want more control over the way the Log Server behaves.
  - Certify Log Servers
    If the Log Server was not certified during the installation or if it needs a new certificate, certify the Log Server manually.
- Configuring SMC servers for high availability
  You can install several Management Servers and Log Servers to provide high availability for the SMC.
- Reconfiguring the SMC and NGFW Engines
  You can modify settings for Management Servers, change hardware platforms or the IP addresses used in system communications, change the type of certificate authority, and change the role of NGFW Engines.
NGFW Engine configuration
You can create and modify Firewalls, IPS engines, Layer 2 Firewalls, Master NGFW Engines and Virtual NGFW Engines. You can configure the NGFW Engine properties, activate optional features, and configure advanced NGFW Engine settings.
Routing
Use the Management Client to configure static or dynamic routing, and use a Multi-Link configuration to manage and distribute inbound and outbound connections.
Traffic inspection policies
Policies are key elements that contain rules for allowing or blocking network traffic and inspecting the content of traffic.
Users and authentication
User accounts are stored in internal databases or external directory servers. You can use Forcepoint NGFW in the Firewall/VPN role or external authentication servers to authenticate users.
Virtual private networks
Forcepoint NGFW supports both policy-based and route-based VPN (virtual private network) tunnels between VPN gateways. For full remote access, Forcepoint NGFW supports both IPsec and SSL VPN tunnels for VPN clients.
Maintenance and upgrades
Maintenance includes procedures that you do not typically need to do frequently.
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting helps you resolve common problems in the Forcepoint NGFW and SMC.
Appendices

Configuring the Log Server

You can modify a Log Server element, configure settings for Log Servers, and recertify Log Servers.

Modify Log Server elements
One Log Server element is automatically created during SMC installation. You can change the settings as necessary.
Select backup Log Servers for high availability
You can select one or more backup Log Servers for each Log Server for high availability.
Forwarding log data from Log Servers to external hosts
You can forward log data from Log Servers to external hosts to back up the data or to process the data in an external system.
Edit Log Server configuration parameters
To configure the Log Server in detail, you can edit LogServerConfiguration.txt. Normally, it is not necessary to configure the Log Server outside of the Management Client. However, under special circumstances, you might want more control over the way the Log Server behaves.
Certify Log Servers
If the Log Server was not certified during the installation or if it needs a new certificate, certify the Log Server manually.

© 2020 Forcepoint
Published 8 December 2020