How to create a bootable USB install/upgrade key for Security Analytics on Dell hardware

Products

Security Analytics

Issue/Introduction

If you don't have access to install Security Analytics using an external USB DVD drive, you may need to create a bootable USB thumb drive to perform an install or upgrade. This procedure is not valid for SA-S500 hardware.

Resolution

Requirements

Minimum 2GB USB key
Security Analytics 7.3.1 (or earlier) system with an available USB port (to create a thumb drive for all versions of 7.3.1 or earlier)
Security Analytics 7.3.2 (or later) system with an available USB port (to create a thumb drive for all versions of 7.3.2 or later)
For 7.3.1 or earlier, create-install-device.sh script (download at the end of article)
For 7.3.2 or later, solera-iso-to-usb.sh script (download at the end of the article)
Security Analytics ISO image
Access to a Fedora/CentOS repo to download syslinux and dosfstools suites

Steps

Download the ISO file

Download the latest ISO file here: https://license.soleranetworks.com/upgrades/latest_iso. Use your License Key for the username and password.

Use SCP to transfer the files and install the necessary packages on the Linux appliance

These commands require root-level and Internet access on the Linux system.

Place the ISO file and either the create-install-device.sh script or the solera-iso-to-usb.sh script in the same directory on the Linux system (/home directory is recommended). Also, the Linux system will need the syslinux and the dosfstools packages. A valid DNS server address must be configured on the Security Analytics appliance. To install these packages, execute the following commands and answering y to all prompts.

yum install syslinux
yum install dosfstools

Confirm that the create-install-device script or the solera-iso-to-usb.sh script has execute permissions: chmod +x script_filename.sh

Insert the USB key into an available USB port

If using a Security Analytics workstation VM, make sure that the USB connects to the VM and not to the host. Connect the USB key to an available port on the Linux system and confirm the device mapping by issuing the following command:

fdisk –l

The output should be similar to the following:

Disk /dev/sdd: 2004 MB, 2004877312 bytes
64 heads, 11 sectors/track, 5562 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 704 * 512 = 360448 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xc3072e18

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdd1   *           1        5563     1957872    c  W95 FAT32 (LBA)

In this example, the drive mapping is /dev/sdd1. If needed, unmount the auto-run partition by using the umount command. For the example above, the command is:

umount /dev/sdd1

The volume must be unmounted before running any create scripts.

Execute the create script

The create-install-device and solera-iso-to-usb.sh scripts will make a bootable USB drive that can be used for both new installs and upgrades on Security Analytics appliances.

Change to the directory (cd) where the create-install-device or solera-iso-to-usb scripts and ISO file are located
Issue the following command:

./create-install-device --init <name of ISO file> </dev/device_mapping>

    OR

./solera-iso-to-usb.sh --force <name of ISO file> </dev/device_mapping>

For example:

./create-install-device --init Solera-7.1.10-36708-x86_64-DVD.iso /dev/sdd

    OR

./solera-iso-to-usb.sh --force atpsa-7.3.3-50885-x86_64-DVD.iso /dev/sdd

Please be careful when specifying the device, because the script will reformat the drive specified in the command. Also note that the partition number for the device should NOT be used (e.g. /dev/sdd1)

NOTE: The process can take up to 5 minutes depending on the type of USB drive being used. Typical output of a successful drive creation should look like this:

create-install-device.sh

solera-iso-to-usb.sh

Retrieve the USB key

After the script has finished, you can disconnect the USB key from the Linux system. The USB key is now ready to be used for installing the Security Analytics software.

NOTE: The full ISO is copied to the root of the USB drive. If you need to update the USB drive with a newer ISO, you must go through the entire process again. Do not try to overwrite the existing ISO on the USB drive with a newer ISO.

Attachments

solera-iso-to-usb.sh get_app

create-install-device.sh get_app