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This chapter describes how to install and deploy a Cisco Mobility Services Engine (MSE) virtual appliance, which is distributed as an Open Virtual Appliance (OVA) file.
Cisco MSE OVA is a prebuilt software solution that comprises one or more virtual machines (VMs) that are packaged, maintained, updated, and managed as a single unit. Cisco MSE virtual appliance is not offered on an ISO or an Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) image; therefore you cannot perform a manual installation.
Cisco MSE acts as a platform (physical or virtual Cisco MSE appliance) to deploy and run the Cisco Connected Mobile Experiences (CMX) services. The MSE virtual appliance installation provides the choice of installing a single-box solution that supports any of the following Cisco CMX services:
This chapter contains the following sections:
Refer to these documents for information on virtualization:
This table lists the Cisco MSE installation process.
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1. Review the deployment checklist and prepare for installation of a Cisco MSE virtual appliance. |
Cisco MSE Virtual Appliance Deployment Checklist and Hardware Guidelines |
Deploying the Cisco MSE OVA File Using the VMware vSphere Client |
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4. Configure the basic configurations and install the Cisco MSE virtual appliance. |
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Setting Up the Cisco MSE Virtual Appliance and Cisco CMX Services |
Note If you are upgrading a 10.0 deployment to 10.1, see the “Upgrading a 10.0 Deployment to 10.1” section.
Review the following checklist before attempting to deploy the Cisco MSE virtual appliance:
– Wireless intrusion prevention system (wIPS)
Table 2 lists the hardware guidelines for the Cisco MSE virtual appliance.
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Cisco MSE virtual appliance is distributed as an Open Virtualization Archive (OVA) file.
To download the Cisco MSE OVA file, follow these steps:
Step 1 Access the MSE image from: https://software.cisco.com/download/navigator.html?mdfid=282152561&i=rm
Step 2 Select Mobility Services Engine Virtual Appliance.
Step 3 Choose Latest > 10.1 for download.
Step 4 Save the Cisco MSE OVA installer to your computer and ensure that it is accessible.
Note Review the “Requirements for Installing Cisco MSE Virtual Appliance” section before you start deploying the Cisco MSE OVA.
To deploy the Cisco MSE OVA file using the VMware VSphere Client, follow these steps.
Step 1 Download the Cisco MSE OVA file from the following location:
https://software.cisco.com/download/navigator.html?mdfid=282152561&i=rm.
Step 2 Deploy the OVA file by using the VMware vSphere client application on your desktop (see Figure 1-1).
Figure 1-1 VMware vSphere Client
Before powering the newly created virtual machine (VM), edit the virtual machine settings by right-clicking on the VM and selecting Edit Settings….
Step 3 Change the memory, the CPUs, and the provisioned disk size to meet the requirements.
Step 4 Power the Virtual Machine, by selecting the VM and clicking Power On the Virtual Machine.
After deploying the Cisco MSE OVA file, configure the basic settings, install, and start Cisco MSE.
To install and configure a Cisco MSE virtual appliance, follow these steps:
Step 1 Log in and begin the installation.
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Step 2 Enter the following command:
The installation script verifies that the minimum requirements are met:
Step 3 Enter the hostname, IP address, network mask, gateway, and DNS.
Step 4 Enter the NTP Server name or IP address.
Note If the NTP server is unreachable, use 127.0.0.1 as the server address during installation.
Step 5 Configure the time zone and save the changes.
Step 1 Press Enter to select OK to start the setup.
Step 2 Select the installation type, that is, the CMX services, to be deployed on the Cisco MSE virtual appliance of your choice.
Step 3 Press Enter to select "All".
Step 4 Press Enter to select "Yes".
The setup and configuration will start and take a few minutes.
It will go through the following steps:
Step 5 Press Enter for "OK" to complete the installation and start all the Cisco MSE services.
Step 6 Enter the cmxctl status command to verify that all services are up and running.
Step 7 Copy the map file from its saved location.
Step 8 Add the Wireless LAN Controller (WLC).
Step 9 Launch the CMX 10.1 user interface and verify the following:
Step 10 Configure the mail server settings to receive system notifications and alerts.
The DEFAULT CLUSTER > SETTINGS page appears.
You can use the System tab of the CMX 10.1 user interface to verify overall system health including the status of CMX services.
The System tab contains four sub tabs.
In the Dashboard of the System tab, make sure all services, memory, and CPU have a healthy status (green) for each Cisco MSE/CMX node and there is at least one active Wireless LAN Controller.