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Configure Your Network and Flow Collector

Important Installation Notes

  • This guide assumes that you have Apstra Data Center Director installed. For information about how to install Apstra DC Director, see the HPE Apstra Installation and Upgrade Guide.

  • We recommend that you run Apstra DC Director and Apstra DC Director Flow on the same version. Doing so ensures compatibility and prevents potential issues that can arise between the different versions.

  • Before you begin the configuration, make sure that you download the image file for your virtualization platform. See your platform documentation for details.

  • If you are using KVM, you can install it with VM Manager or with the CLI.

Note: The guide provides instructions using a Configuration tool wizard. The wizard simplifies installing and configuring Apstra DC Director Flow.

Let's get started!

Log in to the Apstra DC Director Flow Console (CLI)

  1. Log in to the Apstra DC Director Flow console with the default credentials (user=apstra and password=apstra) from the web console. If the console is already started, click the green play button at the top of the VM summary.
    Screenshot of VMware interface showing a powered-on virtual machine running Ubuntu with VMware Tools. Options include Launch Web Console and Launch Remote Console. Displays DNS name, IP address, and host details.
  2. If needed, change the default password after deploying the VM.
  3. At the apstra@apstraflow prompt, type manage-config to launch the Apstra DC Director Server configuration tool.

Configure Your OpenSearch Password

On initial boot, you will be prompted to change two passwords:
  1. Terminal screen showing Ubuntu 22.04.5 LTS requiring the user apstra to change their password immediately, prompting for the current password.
    Terminal screen showing Ubuntu 22.04.5 LTS login session for user apstra with password change required message and prompt for current password.
  2. OpenSearch is using the default admin password. Set a new password with at least 8 characters, including uppercase, lowercase, a digit, and a special character. Leaving the field blank cancels the operation.
    Terminal interface prompting to set a new OpenSearch password with requirements: 8+ characters, uppercase, lowercase, digit, special character.

Configure Your Network Settings

This section describes explains how to configure your network settings using DCHP (default) or a static IP address.
Note:

The configuration tool launches automatically. If it does not launch, enter the following command: manage-config.

  1. In the Apstra Server configuration tool, select 7 Network and click Ok. Apstra Server configuration tool interface showing a menu for managing server settings, with Network option highlighted and OK and Cancel buttons for navigation.
  2. Select either DHCP (default) or Manual.

    • For DHCP, click OK and restart the network.

    • To assign a static IP address, select Manual. Follow the prompts to enter the network settings and click Yes to confirm.

    Dialog box for selecting network configuration method with options DHCP for automatic setup and Manual for manual setup. OK and Cancel buttons are at the bottom. DHCP is selected.

Configure the Flow Collector

Note: The configuration tool automatically edits the flowcoll.yaml file. If you prefer to edit the file manually, refer to the instructions under Flow Analytics in the HPE Apstra User Guide.

To configure the flow collector:

  1. From the Apstra DC Director Server configuration tool, select 2 Update configuration.
    Apstra Server configuration tool menu with options for managing credentials, encryption, network settings, and restarting services. Highlighted option is Update configuration.
  2. Enter the Apstra DC Director Server IP address (such as 192.168.1.1) and click Ok.
    Note:

    This address is NOT the IP of the flow server, but refers to your Apstra DC Director management VM.

    Dialog box prompting for Juniper Apstra API IP address with prefilled 192.168.1.1 and OK and Cancel options.
  3. Enter your Apstra DC Director username and click Ok.
    Apstra server API Username prompt with pre-filled admin field and Ok and Cancel options.
  4. Enter your Apstra DC Director server GUI password and click Ok.
    Password prompt for Juniper Apstra server API in a terminal environment. Options: OK and Cancel.
    The CLI automatically populates the values you entered and default port number (443) as shown in the following example:
    Terminal displaying Juniper Apstra API configuration details including API address, password placeholder, port number, username, hostname, TLS verification setting, and backup location in etc/juniper/flowcoll.yml.bak. Prompt says Press enter to proceed.
  5. If the Apstra DC Director Server can't be accesssed with the provided settings, the following message is displayed:
    License Check Failed error message. System could not reach Apstra API at specified address https://10.255.255.1:443. Options: Retry or Cancel.
    Note:

    If this occurs, verify that the IP address and port are configured correctly and that Apstra DC Director Flow can access the Apstra DC Director Management VM.

  6. Press enter to exit and return to the configuration tool.
  7. Restart Apstra DC Director Flow.
    Select 8 Restart the Apstra Flow Service (flowcoll) and click Ok.
    Apstra Server configuration tool interface showing a text-based menu for managing server settings, with Restart Apstra Flow highlighted.
    You completed configuring your network and flow collector. Next, continue to (Optional) Enable File Encryption.