Installing the Client Accelerator

This chapter describes how to install and configure the Client Accelerator. It includes these sections:

• Basic steps for deploying the Client Accelerator

• Checking your inventory

• Site requirements

• Completing the configuration checklist

• Powering on the Client Accelerator

• Connecting to the Client Accelerator

• Initial configuration of the Client Accelerator

• Connecting the Client Accelerator to your network

• Logging in to the Management Console

Before using this guide, you should be familiar with installing and configuring networks with deployed SteelHeads. For detailed information about the SteelHead, see the SteelHead Installation and Configuration Guide, the SteelHead User Guide, and the SteelHead Deployment Guide.

Basic steps for deploying the Client Accelerator

This section describes the basic steps required to install and configure the Client Accelerator.

Typically, you install and deploy Client Accelerator endpoints without modifying the default policies that ship with the product. Modify the default policies only if necessary.

If your network environment requires the deployment of multiple packages, create the packages you need before deploying the default package. For details, see the Client Accelerator User Guide.

Basic steps for deploying the Client Accelerator

1. Complete the configuration checklist to ensure that you have the necessary information before you begin the configuration process. For details, see Completing the configuration checklist.

2. Power on the Client Accelerator. For details, see Powering on the Client Accelerator.

3. Connect to the Client Accelerator using a terminal emulation program such as Tera Term. For details, see Connecting to the Client Accelerator.

4. Complete the configuration wizard steps. For details, see Initial configuration of the Client Accelerator.

5. Connect to the network and log in to the Client Accelerator. For details, see Connecting the Client Accelerator to your network.

6. Deploy the default package to the endpoints in your network using the deployment tool of your choice (for example, Microsoft SMS). For details, see the Client Accelerator User Guide.

7. Verify your endpoint connections in Reports > Endpoints > Endpoint Report on the Client Accelerator. For details, see the Client Accelerator User Guide.

Checking your inventory

This section describes the contents of the Client Accelerator appliance shipping carton. Check your shipment to confirm that it contains these items:

• One Client Accelerator appliance

• One CAT-6 straight-through cable (gray or beige)

• One CAT-6 crossover cable (orange)

• One RS-232 serial extension cable

• One power cable

• One mounting kit

• One Phillips screwdriver

The Client Accelerator appliance is completely assembled, with all the equipment parts in place and securely fastened. The Client Accelerator is ready for installation with no further assembly required.

If any items are damaged or missing, notify Riverbed Support at https://support.riverbed.com for replacement or repair.

Site requirements

This section lists the prerequisites to installation. Your site must meet these requirements:

• A standard electronic environment in which the ambient temperature does not exceed 40°C (104°F) and the relative humidity does not exceed 80 percent (noncondensing). For detailed information, see Environmental specifications.

• An Ethernet connection available within the standard Ethernet limit.

• Space on a two-post or four-post, 19-inch, Telco-type mounting rack. The Client Accelerator requires 1U of rack space. For details about installing the Client Accelerator in a rack, see the Rack Installation Guide or the printed instructions included with your Client Accelerator.

• A clean power source dedicated to computer devices and other electronic devices.

Completing the configuration checklist

The following checklist contains the parameters you specify to complete the initial configuration of the Client Accelerator.

Verify system requirements before you begin. For details, see Software and configuration requirements.

Be prepared to provide values for the parameters listed in the following checklist.

Component	Parameter	Your value
Client Accelerator	Host Name
	IP Address
	Netmask
	Default Gateway (the WAN gateway)
	Primary DNS Server (Domain Name Server IP address)
	Domain Name
	Administrator Password
Client Accelerator client (endpoints)	Data Store Size - A minimum size of 256 MB is required for the data store. For PCs, the default value is 10 GB.
	Maximum Log Size - The default value is 5000 KB.
	Maximum Number of Log Files - The default value is 2.
	VPN Port Number - Enter a port number if you’re adding a pass-through rule.

Values for Data Store Size, Maximum Log Size, and Maximum Number of Log Files are needed only if you don’t use the default package that ships with the Client Accelerator.

Memory usage

Ensure that there is enough memory on your client computers to run the Client Accelerator software. This table provides an example of memory usage per data store size. Your memory usage might vary.

Data store size	Memory usage
256 MB	81 MB
512 MB	81 MB
1 GB	81 MB
2 GB	100 MB
5 GB	112 MB
10 GB	161 MB
15 GB	171 MB
20 GB	228 MB

Powering on the Client Accelerator

This section describes how to connect and power on the Client Accelerator.

Powering on the Client Accelerator

1. If your model has a master power switch, make sure that it is in the off position.

2. Plug one end of the AC power cord provided in your shipment into the Client Accelerator.

3. Plug the other end of the AC power cord into an uninterrupted AC outlet.

4. If your model has a master power switch, press it (ON).

5. Check the status lights on the Client Accelerator. For detailed information, see Client Accelerator Controller status lights and ports.

Connecting to the Client Accelerator

To access the configuration wizard and the SteelHead CLI, you establish a serial connection using a terminal emulation program.

To connect to the Client Accelerator

1. Plug the serial cable provided in your shipment into the Console port on the Client Accelerator.

Depending on your model, the Console port is either a DB9F or an RJ45 port. The model 9000 uses the RJ45 port. The appropriate console cable ships with your model.

Connecting the Client Accelerator

2. Start a terminal emulation program such as PuTTY or HyperTerminal. The terminal device must have these settings:

– Baud rate: 9600 bps

– Data bits: 8

– Parity: none

– Stop bits: 1

– No flow control

3. Log in as an administrator user (admin) and enter the default password (password):

Sent username "admin"

password: password

The configuration wizard automatically starts.

4. Check the system and disk status lights to see if the lights are illuminated and to see if the system and hard disks are operating normally.

Initial configuration of the Client Accelerator

This section describes how to complete the initial configuration of the Client Accelerator using the configuration wizard.

To configure the Client Accelerator

1. When you log in to the Client Accelerator as an administrator, the system prompts you to start the configuration wizard. Type yes.

Configuration wizard.

Do you want to use the wizard for initial configuration? yes

2. Complete the configuration wizard steps as described in the following table.

Press Enter to enter the default value. Click ? for help. Press Ctrl+B to go back to the previous step.

Wizard prompt	Description	Example
Step 1: Host Name?	Enter the hostname for the Client Accelerator.	Step 1: Hostname? minna
Step 2: Use DHCP on primary interface?	You are given the option to enable the DHCP to automatically assign an IP address to the primary interface for the Client Accelerator. We recommend that you don’t set DHCP. The default value is no.	Step 2: Use DHCP on primary interface? no
Step 3: Primary IP address?	Enter the IP address for the Client Accelerator.	Step 3: Primary IP address? 10.0.0.74
Step 4: Netmask?	Enter the netmask for the network on which the Client Accelerator is to reside.	Step 4: Netmask? 255.255.0.0
Step 5: Default gateway?	Enter the default gateway for the network on which the Client Accelerator is to reside.	Step 5: Default gateway? 10.0.0.1
Step 6: Primary DNS server?	Enter the primary DNS server for the network on which the Client Accelerator is to reside.	Step 6: Primary DNS server? 10.0.0.2
Step 7: Domain name?	Enter the domain name for the network on which the Client Accelerator is to reside. If you set a domain name, you don’t need to specify the domain names when you set up remote appliances to be managed by the Client Accelerator.	Step 7: Domain name? example.com
Step 8: Admin password?	We strongly recommend that you change the default password. The password must be a minimum of six characters.	Step 8: Admin password? xxxyyy

3. The system confirms your settings:

You have entered the following information:

1. Hostname: minna

2. Use DHCP on primary interface: no

3. Primary IP address: 10.0.0.74

4. Netmask: 255.255.0.0

5. Default gateway: 10.0.0.1

6. Primary DNS server: 10.0.0.2

7. Domain name: example.com

8. Admin password: xxxyyy

To change an answer, enter the step number to return to.

Otherwise hit <enter> to save changes and exit.

The Client Accelerator configuration wizard automatically saves your initial configuration settings.

4. To log out of the system, enter the exit command at the system prompt:

amnesiac> exit

You can always restart the configuration wizard and change your answers by entering configuration jump-start at the system prompt. Using this command can be an easy way to change the primary IP address or other values as configuration requirements change.

Connecting the Client Accelerator to your network

This section describes how to connect the Client Accelerator to your network.

To connect the Client Accelerator to your network

1. Plug the straight-through cable provided in your shipment into the primary port of the Client Accelerator and the LAN switch. The primary part can be any port on your LAN switch that acts as a host.

Connecting the primary port and LAN switch

2. If your controller has a front bezel, and you removed it previously, put the bezel back in place.

Logging in to the Management Console

This section describes how to log in to the Client Accelerator using the Management Console. Use this front-end, web-based GUI to configure and manage your Client Accelerator deployment.

It is possible to connect to the Client Accelerator Console through any supported web browser. To connect to the Client Accelerator, you must know the hostname, domain name, and administrator password that you entered during the initial setup of the Client Accelerator.

To log in to the Management Console

1. Enter the URL for the Client Accelerator in the address bar of your browser:

<protocol> is HTTP or HTTPS. HTTPS uses SSL protocol to ensure a secure environment. If you use HTTPS to connect, you’re prompted to inspect and verify the SSL key.

<host> is the name that you entered for the Client Accelerator during initial configuration. If your DNS server maps that IP address to a name, you can specify the DNS name.

<domain> is the full domain name for the Client Accelerator.

The Client Accelerator Console GUI appears, displaying the login page.

2. In the Username text box, the default account username admin appears.

You must use the admin account the first time you log in.

Later, you can configure the monitor username, RADIUS users, or TACACS+ users. For detailed information about these options, see the Client Accelerator User Guide.

3. In the Password text box, type the password you assigned in the Client Accelerator configuration wizard.

4. Click Log In to log in and display the home page.

After you have logged in to the Client Accelerator, you’re ready to create a package to deploy to your endpoints. For details, see the Client Accelerator User Guide.