vSCOUT on Linux

Introduction

NetScout vSCOUT verions 6.1.1 build is the most recent version of the agent that supports lite mode.  In lite mode the agent is not analyzing traffic.  Its only use is formwarting pachets to InfiniStream.

The advantage of vSCOUT is a reduced impact on the CPU usage of the host.

The procedure below is a siplified installation procedures; we made most decisions based on our best practices and experience.

 

Solution

Prepare

Create a file /tmp/nsprobeid containing the hostname of the host.  This name will eventually be used to identify this instance of vSCOUT in nGenius Server:

# vi /tmp/nsprobeid

Content of the file:

HOSTNAME

Create a second file /tmp/nsagent_config.cfg.  Replace <A.B.C.D> with the IP address of the nGenius Server.  Replace <MON> and <MAN> with the device name of the network interface(s) of the host.  In many cases the interface to monitor is the same interface used to communicate with nGenius (MON=MAN):

Content of the file:

export NSCONFIG_SERVER=<A.B.C.D>
export NSCOMM_PORT=395
export NSCONSOLE_PORT=7501
export HTTP_PORT=7080
export HTTPS_PORT=7443
export NUM_CPUS=2
export MEM_SIZE=2048
export MON_INF=<MON>
export MGMT_INF=<MAN>
export VSCOUT_MODE=lite

The host will time-stamp the packets.  Make sure the host has adequate time source.

 

Download

Use wget or curl to download the required installation file to the /tmp directory on the host.  There are two versions of this file: RPM to be used with Redhat, CentOS and Amazon Linux and BIN to be used with Ubuntu, Fedore and SUSE Linux.  Keep in mind that only x86_64 architecture is supported.

 

Installing vSCOUT using the RPM file

# md5sum is-6xxx-xxx-vSCOUT.x86_64.rpm
# yum -y is-6xxx-xxx-vSCOUT.x86_64.rpm --prefix=<target directory>

The --prefix argument is optional and allows you to specify a location for the vSCOUT installation.  The default location is /opt/NetScout/.  If you want for example install vSCOUT in /usr/lib/NetScout/, you must specify /usr/lib/ as target directory.

 

Installing vSCOUT using the BIN file

# md5sum is-6xxx-xxx-vSCOUT.bin
# chmod +x is-6xxx-xxx-vSCOUT.bin
# ./is-6xxx-xxx-vSCOUT.bin --prefix=<target directory>