NGFW 6.9 Online Help

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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.
Using the Management Client
The Management Client provides the user interface for setting up, managing, and monitoring all features in the SMC.

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.
- Using the Management Client
  The Management Client provides the user interface for setting up, managing, and monitoring all features in the SMC.
  - Management Client and how it works
    Use the Management Client for configuring, controlling, and monitoring the Security Management Center (SMC).
  - Log on to the SMC
    The Management Client connects to the Management Server and to Log Servers.
  - Log on to the SMC using certificate-based authentication
    You can log on to the SMC using an X.509 certificate stored in the Windows certificate store or on a smart card, such as a Common Access Card (CAC).
  - Customize the Management Client layout
    You can select different panes and view options through the Menu > View menu. You can also change the size of the text in various views.
  - Bookmark Management Client views
    Bookmark frequently used views and arrange bookmarks into folders to more easily find them.
  - Change the logon view
    You can choose which view opens when you log on to the Management Client, replacing the default Home view.
  - Centralized management of global system settings
    Use the Global System Properties dialog box to centrally manage global system settings and configure password policy settings.
  - View, approve, and commit pending changes
    You can view the configuration changes that you and other administrators have made before the new configurations and policies are transferred to the NGFW Engines. If an optional approval workflow is enforced, changes must be approved before they are transferred to the engines.
  - Create logon banners and export banners
    You can create logon banners that show all administrators information about the selected Management Server, and export banners that are added to exported elements to indicate that the export contains sensitive or classified data.
  - Change the default language of the Management Client
    Each administrator can change the default language of the Management Client during installation or manually after installation. The options are English and Japanese.
  - Using search features
    You can search for elements, references to other elements, duplicate IP addresses, duplicate Service elements, unused elements, users, and elements in the Trash.
  - Communicating with other administrators
    The administrator messaging feature allows you to communicate with other administrators who are currently logged on to the Management Client.
  - Use Tools Profile elements to add commands to elements
    You can add commands (for example, tracert, SSH, or ping) to an element’s right-click menu with Tools Profiles. The commands are added in the Tools submenu.
  - Use the online help locally
    You can configure the Management Client to use a copy of the online help from your own computer or from a server in the local network.
- Network address translation (NAT) and how it works
  Network address translation (NAT) means changing the IP address or port information in packets. Most often, NAT is used to allow internal hosts to communicate via networks where their actual address is not routable and to conceal the internal network structure from outsiders.
- Configuring system communications
  System communications involve traffic between SMC components, traffic between SMC components and external components that are a part of the system configuration, and external access into the system.
- Managing certificates for system communications
  Certificates are proof of identity that SMC components and NGFW Engines use to authenticate themselves in communications.
- Managing elements
  Certain tasks are common to most elements. Some of these tasks are not mandatory for defining an element, but are still helpful as you get your SMC up and running.
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.
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

Using the Management Client

The Management Client provides the user interface for setting up, managing, and monitoring all features in the SMC.

Management Client and how it works
Use the Management Client for configuring, controlling, and monitoring the Security Management Center (SMC).
Log on to the SMC
The Management Client connects to the Management Server and to Log Servers.
Log on to the SMC using certificate-based authentication
You can log on to the SMC using an X.509 certificate stored in the Windows certificate store or on a smart card, such as a Common Access Card (CAC).
Customize the Management Client layout
You can select different panes and view options through the Menu > View menu. You can also change the size of the text in various views.
Bookmark Management Client views
Bookmark frequently used views and arrange bookmarks into folders to more easily find them.
Change the logon view
You can choose which view opens when you log on to the Management Client, replacing the default Home view.
Centralized management of global system settings
Use the Global System Properties dialog box to centrally manage global system settings and configure password policy settings.
View, approve, and commit pending changes
You can view the configuration changes that you and other administrators have made before the new configurations and policies are transferred to the NGFW Engines. If an optional approval workflow is enforced, changes must be approved before they are transferred to the engines.
Create logon banners and export banners
You can create logon banners that show all administrators information about the selected Management Server, and export banners that are added to exported elements to indicate that the export contains sensitive or classified data.
Change the default language of the Management Client
Each administrator can change the default language of the Management Client during installation or manually after installation. The options are English and Japanese.
Using search features
You can search for elements, references to other elements, duplicate IP addresses, duplicate Service elements, unused elements, users, and elements in the Trash.
Communicating with other administrators
The administrator messaging feature allows you to communicate with other administrators who are currently logged on to the Management Client.
Use Tools Profile elements to add commands to elements
You can add commands (for example, tracert, SSH, or ping) to an element’s right-click menu with Tools Profiles. The commands are added in the Tools submenu.
Use the online help locally
You can configure the Management Client to use a copy of the online help from your own computer or from a server in the local network.

© 2020 Forcepoint
Published 8 December 2020