Deploying SteelHead-v
This chapter provides a brief description of the initial SteelHead-v configuration process and detailed information on licensing, upgrading, and verifying SteelHead-v. Initial configuration for SteelHead-v is the same as for a physical SteelHead; for complete details about the initial configuration process see the SteelHead Installation and Configuration Guide.
Setting up your SteelHead-v
To finish setting up your SteelHead-v, complete the actions listed in this table
Task | Reference |
1. Complete the initial configuration. | |
2. Exit the configuration wizard and log in to the SteelHead-v Management Console. | |
3. License your SteelHead-v. | |
4. Optionally upgrade from the default model. | |
5. Optionally upgrade the RiOS software. | |
6. Save the configuration and restart. | |
7. Power on the VM and log in to the SteelHead-v Management Console. | |
8. Verify your system configuration, connectivity, and capability. | |
9. Refer to the Riverbed product documentation for more information. In the Riverbed product documentation, the term SteelHead refers to the physical SteelHead as well as SteelHead-v unless otherwise stated. | Getting Started Guide SteelHead User Guide Riverbed Command-Line Interface Reference Manual SteelHead Deployment Guide |
Configuring SteelHead-v for the first time
SteelHead-v includes a configuration wizard which you can access through your virtual machine’s command console. Typically, the command console appears after you install SteelHead-v and start the virtual machine. Use the configuration wizard to perform the initial configuration.
To run the configuration wizard
1. Log in as administrator user (admin) and enter the default password (password). For example:
login as: admin
password: password
The configuration wizard automatically starts after you have entered the login and default password.
2. If you have a SCC appliance installed in your network to manage multiple SteelHeads, you can use it to automatically configure them:
Do you want to auto-configure using a Controller? no
If you answer yes, you are prompted for the SCC host name or IP address. The host name or IP address is used to contact the SCC. The default value is riverbedcmc. If you enter no, the wizard continues.
If you mistakenly answer yes, to return to the wizard from the CLI, enter the configuration jump-start command from configuration mode.
3. To start the configuration wizard, enter yes at the system prompt.
Do you want to use the configuration wizard for initial configuration? yes
Use these helpful short cuts as you progress through the wizard:
– Press Enter to enter the default value.
– Press ? for help.
– Press Ctrl+B to go back to the previous step.
Complete each step in the wizard as described in this table.
Wizard prompt | Description |
Step 1: Host name? | Enter the hostname for SteelHead-v. |
Step 2: Use DHCP on the primary interface? | You are given the option to enable the DHCP to automatically assign an IP address to the primary interface for SteelHead-v. We recommend that you do not set DHCP. The default value is no. |
Step 3: Primary IP address? | Enter the IP address for SteelHead-v. |
Step 4: Netmask? | Enter the netmask address. |
Step 5: Default gateway? | Enter the default gateway for the SteelHead. |
Step 6: Primary DNS server? | Enter the primary DNS server IP address. |
Step 7: Domain name? | Enter the domain name for the network where SteelHead-v is to reside. If you set a domain name, you can enter hostnames in the system without the domain name. |
Step 8: Admin password? | We strongly recommend that you change the default administrator password at this time. The password must be a minimum of six characters. The default administrator password is password. |
Step 9: SMTP server? | Enter the SMTP server. External DNS and external access for SMTP traffic is required for email notification of events and failures to function. Make sure that you provide a valid SMTP server to ensure email notifications for events and failures. |
Step 10: Notification email address? | Enter a valid email address to which notification of events and failures are to be sent. |
Step 11: Set the primary interface speed? | Enter the speed on the primary interface (that is, SteelHead-v). Make sure this value matches the settings on your router or switch. The default value is auto. We recommend this setting for SteelHead-v. |
Step 12: Set the primary interface duplex? | Enter the duplex mode on the primary interface. Make sure this value matches the settings on your router or switch. The default value is auto. We recommend this setting for SteelHead-v. |
Step 13: Would you like to activate the in-path configuration? | Enter yes at the system prompt to configure in-path support. An in-path configuration is a configuration in which the SteelHead is in the direct path of the client and server. For detailed information about in-path configurations, see the SteelHead Deployment Guide. |
Step 14: In-Path IP address? | Enter the in-path IP address for SteelHead-v. |
Step 15: In-Path Netmask? | Enter the in-path netmask address. |
Step 16: In-Path default gateway? | Enter the in-path default gateway (the WAN gateway). |
Step 17: Set the in-path: LAN interface speed? | Accept the default value of auto. If you have configured direct path with ESXi, you can enter the speed, matching the settings on your router or switch. |
Step 18: Set the in-path: LAN interface duplex? | Accept the default value of auto. If you have configured direct path with ESXi, you can enter the speed, matching the settings on your router or switch. |
Step 19: Set the in-path: WAN interface speed? | Accept the default value of auto. If you have configured direct path with ESXi, you can enter the speed, matching the settings on your router or switch. |
Step 20: Set the in-path: WAN interface duplex? | Accept the default value of auto. If you have configured direct path with ESXi, you can enter the speed, matching the settings on your router or switch. |
4. The system displays your settings.
– Press Enter to confirm and save your settings.
– Enter a step number to return to that step and change your setting for that item.
5. To log out of the system, enter the exit command at the system prompt.
Logging in to the SteelHead-v Management Console
This section describes how to log in to the SteelHead-v Management Console. The Management Console provides a web browser interface that facilitates managing SteelHead-v.
You can connect to SteelHead-v through any supported web browser. To connect, you must know the host, domain, and administrator password that you assigned during the initial setup.
Cookies and JavaScript must be enabled in your browser.
To log in to SteelHead-v
1. Enter the URL for SteelHead-v in the location box of your browser:
<protocol>://<host>.<domain>
<protocol> is HTTP or HTTPS. The secure HTTPS uses the SSL protocol to ensure a secure environment. If you use HTTPS to connect, you are prompted to inspect and verify the SSL key.
<host> is the IP address or hostname you assigned to SteelHead-v during the initial configuration. If your DNS server maps the IP address to a name, you can specify the DNS name.
<domain> is the full domain name for the SteelHead-v.
Alternatively, you can specify the IP address instead of the host and domain.
The Management Console Login page appears.
2. In the Username text field, enter the user login: admin or monitor. The default login is admin.
Users with administrator (admin) privileges can configure and administer the SteelHead. Users with monitor privileges can view connected SteelHeads and reports. A monitor user cannot make configuration changes, modify private keys, view logs, or manage cryptographic modules in the system.
3. In the Password text field, enter the password you assigned in the configuration wizard.
4. Click Login to display the Dashboard page.
The Dashboard page summarizes the current status of SteelHead-v.
Licensing for Next Generation (VCX10-110) models
Feature-tier licensing is available for models VCX30 through VCX110. Feature-tier licensing is not available for models VCX10 and VCX20.See the SteelHead User Guide for details.
The first time you purchase a license you receive a
customer key, which is used across all subsequent purchases. Licenses are tied to your customer key and are provided for model performance tier, WAN optimization, and optional add-on features. Some features may require a challenge-response to activate the license. See
To activate a license that requires a challenge-response.In addition, a support identification code is provided for included or purchased support services.
Virtual appliances with subscription licenses must run in connected mode, which requires daily connectivity to the Riverbed Cloud Portal. Virtual appliances with evaluation licenses or perpetual licenses can run in disconnected mode and do not require a connection to the internet. When a virtual appliance with a subscription license cannot connect to the Riverbed Cloud Portal, an email alert is sent daily for two weeks, or until connectivity is restored, to the address that is configured on the appliance to receive event notifications. If connectivity is not restored after two weeks, the license expires and the functionality associated with it stops.
One-year, three-year, and five-year subscription licenses are available. When a SteelHead-v is licensed for a capacity that exceeds the capacity of the underlying virtual machine’s hardware configuration, the SteelHead-v will operate at the maximum capacity allowed by the underlying virtual machine’s hardware configuration.
To use automatic licensing, the appliance must run in connected mode.
Legacy models that upgrade to RiOS 9.6 or later experience no change in licensing behavior. Legacy models cannot use new-paradigm licenses.
To activate a license that requires a challenge-response
The challenge-response process must be completed within one hour. If the process is not completed within one hour, the challenge string and response string are invalidated. You must generate a new challenge to start again.
1. Click Generate under Generate Challenge in the License Validation section.
2. Copy the challenge string.
3. Go to the Licensing page > Manage Licensing section of the Riverbed Support site at:
and paste the challenge string into the Enter Unique Product Identifier text field.
4. Click Next.
5. Copy the response string.
6. Return to the appliance interface and paste the response string into the text field in the License Validation section.
7. Click Submit. Your license is now activated.
Upgrading and downgrading Next Generation (VCX10-110) models
You can switch among models from the Administration > Maintenance: Licenses page in the Management Console. Before you change models, ensure that you have purchased licenses appropriate to the model and functionality you want to use and that the appliance can connect to the Riverbed Licensing Portal.
You must stop services before you change to a different model.
All models are listed under the Appliance Specifications section. Only those models with specifications supported by your currently installed licenses and your underlying virtual machine hardware are selectable. By default, your SteelHead-v runs the highest capacity hardware specification that your license and underlying virtual machine hardware configuration allows.
If you require a model that is not selectable, ensure that you purchase a license for that model and that the underlying virtual machine hardware is sufficient to run that model’s hardware specification.
If you need to change the hardware configuration of the underlying virtual machine, ensure that you stop the optimization service by using the no service enable command. After reconfiguring the hardware, activate the correct licensed capabilities by using the hardware spec activate <model-name> command, and then restart the SteelHead-v.
If you attach a new RiOS data store disk, you must run the restart service clean command.
Model downgrades based on the performance tier are not supported through the SteelHead Management Console web interface; you must use the CLI to downgrade the performance tier. For details, see
Downgrade limitations.
To choose a different model and automatically license it
1. Log in to your SteelHead-v and display the Management Console.
2. Choose Administration > Maintenance: Licenses to display the Licenses page.
3. Click Stop Services.
4. In the Appliance Specifications section, choose an available model.
5. Click Update.
New licenses are fetched from the Riverbed Licensing Portal and applied. Old licenses are removed.
6. Click Restart Services.
To choose a different model and manually license it
1. Log in to your SteelHead-v and display the Management Console.
2. Choose Administration > Maintenance: Licenses to display the Licenses page.
3. Remove the current license.
4. Add the new license.
5. Click Stop Services.
6. Reconfigure the virtual machine hardware to at least the minimum required resources for the model you want to run.
7. Click Restart Services.
The SteelHead-v should operate with the capabilities of the new license. If the SteelHead-v does not reflect the capabilities of the new license, open a command prompt and issue these commands:
no service enable
hardware spec activate <model-name>
Model upgrade overview
Some model upgrades require additional virtual hardware. When the appliance has the required virtual hardware, activating the hardware specification upgrades the appliance to the new model number. When the existing hardware is not adequate, the message “hardware required” appears after the hardware specification description.
For details about SteelHead-v model requirements, see
SteelHead-v models.Upgrading SteelHead-v from a V1050L or V1050M model to a V1050H model clears all data in the RiOS data store and requires a reboot.
Model upgrade and flexible RiOS data store
With SteelHead-v 8.5 and later, you can configure the size of the RiOS data store disk for SteelHead-v on VCX models. This configuration is still fixed for other SteelHead models.
If you upgrade to a version later than 8.0.3, your RiOS data store configuration remains intact. However, due to changes in the RiOS data store disk layout, if you modify the disk size either manually or during a model upgrade and then later downgrade to the earlier image, data store corruption can result.
If you see errors related to the RiOS data store, you must clean it. If your disk is smaller than the SteelHead model is expecting based on the values required in the earlier version, increase the disk size to the expected size, and then enter the restart clean command.
To avoid this situation, upgrade the SteelHead model prior to upgrading to SteelHead-v 9.0 or later.
When you upgrade SteelHead-v to a model that can use more of the available RiOS data store disk, the data store is automatically cleared.
Upgrading a model that requires no additional virtual hardware
This section describes how to activate a hardware specification that does not require additional virtual hardware on SteelHead-v.
Upgrades to models within a platform family require only a new license because the existing virtual hardware is sufficient.
To activate a hardware specification
1. Stop the optimization service.
2. Choose Administration > Maintenance: Licenses to display the Licenses page.
The appliance specifications appear at the bottom of the page. The appliance specification description includes the potential bandwidth and connection counts. The current specification appears in bold.
You might see specifications listed but grayed out. After the license or required hardware for the model is installed, these specifications become available.
3. Select the hardware specification that you want to activate.
4. Click Apply.
5. Click Restart to restart the optimization service.
Upgrading a model that requires additional virtual hardware
This section describes how to activate a hardware specification that requires additional virtual hardware on SteelHead-v.
Hypervisor reservations and overhead
When you reserve CPU and other resources, reserve the full amount required for the SteelHead-v model. In addition, verify that additional unclaimed resources are available. Due to hypervisor overhead, VMs can exceed their configured reservation.
The overhead calculations for the ESXi and Hyper‑V hypervisors differ:
• For ESXi, reserve the memory and CPU cycles needed for the SteelHead-v model and verify that the host has resources to accommodate the 5 percent VMware overhead.
• For Hyper‑V, reserve the memory and CPU percentage needed for the SteelHead-v model and verify that the host has 1.5 GB and 15 percent CPU remaining, for overhead purposes.
After you deploy SteelHead-v on Hyper‑V, set the reserve weight for CPU to 100 and the memory weight to High.
To upgrade a model and add virtual hardware, perform this procedure after installing the license.
To upgrade a model
1. In the Management Console, choose Administration > Maintenance: Licenses.
2. Click Stop to stop the optimization service, and log out of SteelHead-v.
3. Right-click the name of the VM that you want to upgrade, select Power, and select Power Off.
4. In the vSphere Client, right-click the name of the VM that you want to upgrade and select Edit Settings.
5. Check the memory, CPU, and hard disk settings. Change any setting necessary to accommodate the model upgrade.
6. Right-click SteelHead-v, select Power, and select Power On.
7. Log in to SteelHead-v and display the Management Console.
8. Choose Administration > Maintenance: Licenses to display the Licenses page.
The bottom of the screen lists the available appliance specifications. The current specification appears in bold. The hardware specification description includes the potential bandwidth and connection counts. Appliance specifications that will be available after the license or required virtual hardware have been installed are included in the list but are grayed out.
9. Select the hardware specification that you want to activate.
If a hardware specification requires a reboot after activation, you see the message “activation reboots appliance.”
10. Click Apply.
SteelHead-v reboots and the optimization service restarts.
When the upgrade is complete, the new model number appears on the SteelHead-v banner in the upper-right corner of the screen.
To add memory
1. On the Hardware tab, click Memory.
Reserve the RAM needed by the SteelHead-v model.
2. Under Memory Configuration, increase the memory by clicking a colored triangle (on the slider or in the legend), using the slider control, or selecting a number from the drop-down list.
Only multiples of 4 MB are valid for memory settings. If you manually enter a value that is not a multiple of 4 MB, a warning message appears.
3. Click OK.
To increase the size of a hard disk
1. On the Hardware tab, select Hard Disk 2.
2. In the Disk Provisioning section, specify the disk size, in gigabytes.
3. Click OK.
To add a hard disk
1. On the Hardware tab, click Add.
2. Select Hard Disk.
3. Specify the disk size, in gigabytes.
4. Click OK.
To add CPU capacity
1. On the Hardware tab, select CPUs.
2. Increase the number of virtual CPUs to two or four, depending on the model upgrade.
You can configure how the virtual CPUs are assigned in terms of sockets and cores. For example, you can configure a VM with four virtual CPUs in these ways:
– Four sockets with one core per socket
– Two sockets with two cores per socket
– One socket with four cores per socket
3. Click OK.
4. Select the Resources tab.
5. Use the slider control to reserve the number of clock cycles (in terms of CPU MHz).
For example, for a model V550M requiring two virtual CPUs running on a quad-core Xeon-based system running at 2.6 GHz on an ESXi host, reserve two virtual CPUs and 2 * 2.6 GHz CPU cycles.
6. Click OK.
Downgrade limitations
After using flexible licensing to upgrade, you cannot return SteelHead-v to a lower model using the SteelHead UI. You can use the SteelHead CLI to perform a downgrade operation.
To perform a downgrade using the CLI
1. Connect to the SteelHead CLI in configuration mode. For details, see the Riverbed Command-Line Interface Reference Manual.
2. At the system prompt, enter these commands:
no service enable
hardware spec activate <spec>
service enable
where <spec> is the lower VCX model: for example, VCX60.
Removing a license
You can remove a SteelHead-v license.
To remove a license
1. Choose Administration > Maintenance: Licenses to display the Licenses page.
2. Select the license you want to delete.
3. Click Remove Selected.
4. Click Save to save your settings permanently.
Upgrading RiOS software
Your new RiOS software is backward compatible with previous RiOS versions. However, to obtain the full benefits of the new features in this version, you must upgrade the client-side and server-side SteelHeads on any given WAN link. After you have upgraded all appliances, all the benefits of the new RiOS features and enhancements are available.
If you mix RiOS software versions in your network, you might not be able to take full advantage of new features that are not part of older software versions.
For more details, see
Deploying SteelHead-v.Rebooting and shutting down SteelHead-v
You can reboot or shut down the system in the Administration > Maintenance: Reboot/Shutdown page.
Rebooting the system disrupts existing network connections that are currently proxied through it. Rebooting can take a few minutes.
When you shut down the system, connections are broken and optimization ceases. Shutdown can take several minutes.
To reboot or shut down the system
1. Choose Administration > Maintenance: Reboot/Shutdown to display the Reboot/Shutdown page.
2. Optionally select Clear Data Store to remove data from the RiOS data store when the action takes place.
3. Optionally select a date and time when you want the action to take place.
4. Click Reboot.
After you click Reboot, you are logged out of the system and it reboots.
5. Click Shutdown to shut down the system.
After you click Shutdown, the system turns off. To restart the system, you must manually turn on the SteelHead.
Verifying your connections
This section describes how to verify that you have properly connected SteelHead-v.
To verify your connections
1. From a remote host, connect to the CLI. At the system prompt, enter one of these commands:
ssh admin@<host>.<domain>
ssh admin@<ip-address>
2. When you are prompted for a password, specify the administrator password you set when you ran the configuration wizard.
3. At the system prompt, enter ping commands to verify the connections. For example:
ping -I <primary-ip-address> <primary-default-gateway>
—or, to verify in-path connectivity—
ping -I <inpath-interface> <ip-address>
Verifying your configuration
This section describes how to verify that you have properly configured SteelHead-v.
To verify optimization in an in-path configuration
1. Choose Reports > Optimization: Bandwidth Optimization page in the Management Console to verify optimization.
2. Map a remote drive on a client machine.
3. Drag and drop a 1 MB file from the client to the remote server.
4. Drag and drop the 1 MB file again.
For details about managing and configuring SteelHead-v, see the SteelHead User Guide, the SteelHead Deployment Guide, and the Riverbed Command-Line Interface Reference Manual. In the Riverbed product documentation, the term SteelHead refers to the physical SteelHead as well as SteelHead-v unless otherwise stated.
Verifying hardware capabilities of virtual appliances
After you deploy a SteelHead-v appliance, you might want to verify the appliance’s optimization and disk usage performance before using the appliance in a production environment. You can run tests that benchmark your appliance’s performance against that of other Riverbed products from the Reports > Diagnostics: Benchmarks screen. Test results indicate the highest virtual appliance that can be run on the hardware supporting the tested appliance.
Running these tests will delete all RiOS data store contents.
To verify hardware capabilities
1. Log in to the management console on the appliance.
2. Navigate to Reports > Diagnostics: Benchmarks.
3. Ensure that optimization services are stopped.
4. Select the tests that you want to run.
5. Click Run Selected Tests.