AWS

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Installing the CTERA Edge Filer in an AWS Environment

Installing the CTERA Edge Filer involves creating and configuring a virtual machine and then performing an initial configuration, described in First Time Setup.

The CTERA Edge Filer can be installed in an Amazon Web Services EC2 environment. The instance type chosen should depend on the edge filer usage: memory intensive, network intensive, or CPU intensive. Amazon often adds instance types that are more powerful for the same or less money. Example AWS EC2 instance types:

Bursty Continuous Heavy Duty Memory Optimized
T3.large, T3.xlarge, T3.2xlarge M6i.large, M6i.xlarge, M6i.2xlarge, M6i.4xlarge R6i.large, R6i.xlarge, R6i.2xlarge, R6i.4xlarge

These examples are for memory and network intensive workloads and not CPU intensive workloads. CTERA recommends checking with CTERA Support for the latest recommendations.

To set up the Amazon EC2 instance, go through the following sections in order. If you are using Amazon EC2 for the first time, sign up for an Amazon Web Services (AWS) account. Optionally, you can also sign up for an AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) user account. Amazon recommends using IAM to control access to your EC2 instances, as well as other AWS resources.

Contact CTERA and request the latest Amazon Machine Image (AMI).

  • Provide CTERA with your Amazon account number.
  • Provide CTERA with the AWS region where you are planning to install the CTERA Edge Filer instance.

CTERA will then share their latest AMI with your account.

Warning

The CTERA Edge Filer installation must be done using the AMI and not by cloning an existing CTERA Edge Filer.

To install the CTERA Edge Filer:

  1. From your Amazon Web Services account, sign in to the AWS Management Console.

  2. In the AWS Management Console, select Services.

  3. Under Compute, select EC2.
    The EC2 Dashboard is displayed.

  4. In the navigation pane, click IMAGES > AMIs.
    The IMAGES > AMIs screen is displayed.

  5. Select the CTERA Edge Filer image that CTERA shared with you and click Launch.
    The Instances Wizard opens, displaying the Step 2: Choose an Instance Type screen.

  6. Select the instance type recommended for the edge filer usage.

  7. Click Next: Configure Instance Details.
    The Step 3: Configure Instance Details screen is displayed.

  8. Configure the Network and Subnet settings.

  9. Select the Protect Against Accidental Termination check box.

  10. Click Next: Add Storage.
    The Step 4: Add Storage screen is displayed.

  11. Allocate an additional EBS volume.

    1. Click Add New Volume.
      Another row is displayed in the table.
    2. In the Volume Type field, select EBS.
      To install the CTERA Edge Filer:

  12. From your Amazon Web Services account, sign in to the AWS Management Console and select Marketplace.
    image.png

  13. From Discover products search for ctera networks
    The CTERA product offerings are displayed.
    image.png

  14. Click CTERA Edge Filer.
    image.png

  15. Click View purchase options.
    image.png

    Note

    CTERA recommends that you read the Terms and conditions before continuing.

  16. If you have not yet subscribed to this offer, click Subscribe at the bottom of the page, otherwise, click Launch your software.
    image.png

  17. Select the Launch from EC2 Console option.
    image.png

    Note

    Do not use the One-click launch from AWS Marketplace option.

  18. Click Launch from EC2.
    The Launch an instance window is displayed.
    image.png

  19. Under Name and tags, enter a name for the instance.

  20. Optionally, click Add additional tags to add tags, clicking Add tags for each additional tag you want to add.

  21. Under Instance type, select the required instance type.

    Note

    For information on CTERA's server sizing requirements, contact CTERA Support.

  22. Under Key pair (login), do one of the following.

    • If you created a key pair, and have the private key file that corresponds to the pair in a safe and accessible place, select the key pair from the drop-down list
    • If you want to create a new key pair, do the following:
      1. Select Create new key pair.
      2. In the Key pair name field, enter a name for the key pair.
      3. Choose the .pem Private key file format option.
      4. Click Create key pair.

    A private key in *.pem format is downloaded.
    Be sure to save the private key file in a safe place. You will need to provide the name of your key pair when you launch the instance and the corresponding private key each time you connect to the instance.
    This is also the key you will use to setup any additional portal servers.

    Warning

    You must have a key pair for the instance. If you launch your instance without a key pair, you will not be able to connect to it.

  23. Under Network settings, click Edit

    1. Select the VPC Network from the drop-down list.
    2. Select the Subnet from the drop-down list. The subnet can be a private subnet or a public subnet.
      Note

      You only need a public subnet if access to the CTERA Edge Filer will not be within the VPC.

    3. Under Firewall (security groups) choose Create security group for a new security group or Select existing security group if you already have one defined.

      For security reasons, it is recommend to create one security group for servers running CTERA's application service or preview service, and a different security group for servers running CTERA's main database.

      If you chose Create security group, click Add security group rule to add the following from the Type drop-down:
      • DNS (UDP)
      • HTTP
      • Custom TCP and set Port range to 389, for Active Directory.
      • HTTPS
      • Custom TCP and set Port range to 995
      Notes

      TCP port 22 for SSH remote connectivity and assistance by CTERA support personnel is added automatically when you select Create security group.

      CTERA recommends modifying the allowed source IP addresses for each inbound security rule added.

      If you chose Select existing security group, select the security group from the Common security groups drop-down list.

  24. Under Configure storage, click Advanced and then click Add new volume to add the volume:
    Another row is displayed in the table.

    1. In the size field, GiB, enter the size of the EBS volume.
      The maximum size of the volume depends on the license.
      • For an EV16 license, the maximum is 16TB.
      • For an EV32 license, the maximum is 32TB.
      • For an EV64 license, the maximum is 64TB
      • For an EV128 license, the maximum is 128TB
      • For an EV256 license, the maximum is 256TB
    2. In the volume type** field, gp3, select General purpose SSD (gp3) from the drop-down list.

  25. In the Summary section specify the Number of instances you want to create using the specification.

  26. Review the summary and click Launch instance.
    The virtual machine starts up and on the first start up a script is run to create a data pool from the data disk and then to load portal dockers on to this data pool. Loading the dockers can take a few minutes.

  27. After the instance is successfully launched, click the instance id link in the Success box.
    The Instances page is displayed, showing the status of the instance.

  28. Wait until the Status check has finished and then click the Instance ID.
    Information about the instance is displayed.

  29. Note the IP address displayed in either the Public IPv4 address field, when public access was required and a subnet accessible publicly was specified, or in the Private IPv4 addresses field, when the access is within the VPC.

  30. Continue with First Time Setup.

  31. Upgrade the edge filer to the latest version, as described in Upgrading the Edge Filer.

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