NGFW 6.9 Online Help

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Maintenance and upgrades
Maintenance includes procedures that you do not typically need to do frequently.
Backing up and restoring system configurations
Backups contain the necessary configuration information to restore the SMC to the state it was in when the backup was taken.

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.
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.
- Configuration of automatic updates and upgrades
  You can configure the Management Server to automatically download and install dynamic update packages, remote upgrades for engines, and licenses.
- Backing up and restoring system configurations
  Backups contain the necessary configuration information to restore the SMC to the state it was in when the backup was taken.
  - Backups and how they work
    Backups are needed to recover from the loss of the system configurations, for example, due to hardware failure. Backups also allow you to relocate the SMC servers onto different hardware.
  - Back up system configurations
    Backups are needed to recover from the loss of the system configurations, for example, due to hardware failure. A backup also allows you to relocate the SMC servers onto different hardware.
  - Copy backup files to a storage location
    Copying backups to a storage location guarantees that the backup files are available if the data on the server on which they were created is lost.
  - Import backup files into the SMC
    To restore a backup of the Management Server, Log Server, or SMC Appliance, import the backup file into the SMC.
  - Restoring backups
    Restoring backups allows you to recover from the loss of the system configurations, or to relocate the SMC servers onto different hardware.
  - Restore system configurations after a hardware failure
    Restoring backups on replacement hardware restores the SMC configurations to the state they were in when you took the backup.
  - Managing SMC Appliance backups
    You can create and manage Management Server and Log Server backups for SMC Appliance using the Management Client. You can also use the smca-backup script on the command line of the SMC Appliance.
- Managing log data
  Log management consists of configuring when log data produced, which log entries are stored, and when stored log entries are deleted or archived. To prevent the Log Server storage from filling up, log data management tools help you manage log entries automatically.
- Managing and scheduling Tasks
  Tasks define parameters of system maintenance operations. You can run maintenance operations manually or automatically according to a schedule you set.
- Managing licenses
  All SMC components and NGFW Engines must be licensed as a proof of purchase. In addition, some additional features can be activated by installing a feature license.
- Upgrading the SMC
  You can upgrade the Management Servers, Management Clients, Log Servers, and Web Portal Servers in your SMC.
- Upgrading NGFW Engines
  You can upgrade Firewalls, IPS engines, Layer 2 Firewalls, and Master NGFW Engines.
- Manual dynamic updates
  Dynamic Update packages include changes and additions to the system Policies, Situations, and other elements of the SMC.
- SMC Appliance maintenance
  The SMC Appliance has a specific patching process that keeps the SMC software, operating system, and appliance firmware up-to-date.
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting helps you resolve common problems in the Forcepoint NGFW and SMC.
Appendices

Backing up and restoring system configurations

Backups contain the necessary configuration information to restore the SMC to the state it was in when the backup was taken.

Backups and how they work
Backups are needed to recover from the loss of the system configurations, for example, due to hardware failure. Backups also allow you to relocate the SMC servers onto different hardware.
Back up system configurations
Backups are needed to recover from the loss of the system configurations, for example, due to hardware failure. A backup also allows you to relocate the SMC servers onto different hardware.
Copy backup files to a storage location
Copying backups to a storage location guarantees that the backup files are available if the data on the server on which they were created is lost.
Import backup files into the SMC
To restore a backup of the Management Server, Log Server, or SMC Appliance, import the backup file into the SMC.
Restoring backups
Restoring backups allows you to recover from the loss of the system configurations, or to relocate the SMC servers onto different hardware.
Restore system configurations after a hardware failure
Restoring backups on replacement hardware restores the SMC configurations to the state they were in when you took the backup.
Managing SMC Appliance backups
You can create and manage Management Server and Log Server backups for SMC Appliance using the Management Client. You can also use the smca-backup script on the command line of the SMC Appliance.

© 2020 Forcepoint
Published 8 December 2020