Replace a BeyondTrust Appliance B Series in a Failover Scenario

If your B Series Appliance should experience failure, BeyondTrust Technical Support is prepared to help you return to full functionality as quickly as possible. If you have already set up a failover B Series Appliance, you can continue working with minimal downtime. BeyondTrust Technical Support will work with you to determine if the offline B Series Appliance needs to be replaced. This quick guide gives you the steps to replace a B Series Appliance when you have it set up in a failover scenario.

This document is not comprehensive in its details. Rather, it is a tool to help you assemble the information you need to replace a B Series Appliance. You may need to refer to other BeyondTrust documents during this process. For your convenience, these documents are linked to below:

Install the New B Series Appliance

Reference BeyondTrust Appliance B Series Hardware Installation Guide for installation details and The BeyondTrust Appliance B Series in the Network to determine where to set up your new B Series Appliance.

Please see BeyondTrust Appliance B Series Web Interface for further details regarding the /appliance interface.

  1. Install the B Series Appliance and log in.
    1. When you receive your new B Series Appliance, remove it from its packaging and connect the B Series Appliance to a switch.

      You may wish to save the packaging materials from the replacement B Series Appliance to return the defective B Series Appliance.

    2. Set an IP address of 169.254.1.4 on a workstation and connect to a port on the same switch as the B Series Appliance.
    3. Browse to 169.254.1.1/appliance in a browser, and log in using the default username and password:
      • Username: admin
      • Password: password

      If 169.254.1.1 fails, try browsing to 169.254.1.2/appliance or 169.254.1.3/appliance.

  2. Set up the IP configuration.
    1. Browse to Networking > IP Configuration.
    2. Enter the appropriate IP configuration settings for the network.
    3. Save the changes and test connectivity over the new IP address.
  3. Import SSL certificates.
    1. Log into the /appliance web interface of the primary B Series Appliance, the B Series Appliance which is currently hosting all of your BeyondTrust support processes.
    2. Browse to Security > Certificates and export the certificate chain that is assigned to the active IP address.
    3. Log into the /appliance web interface of the new B Series Appliance.
    4. Import the certificates from the primary B Series Appliance and assign the server certificate to the active IP address.

Restore the Failover Configuration

For detailed failover instructions, please see Failover Dynamics and Options with BeyondTrust and Upgrade the BeyondTrust Software.

  1. Register the B Series Appliance.
    1. In the /appliance web interface of the new B Series Appliance, browse to the Status > Basics page and take a screenshot.
    2. Email the screenshot of the Status > Basics page to your BeyondTrust Technical Support representative.
    3. The BeyondTrust Technical Support team will build a new software package and email you installation instructions when it is ready.
  2. Refer to the Failover Configuration section of the Upgrade Guide and follow either the synchronous or the asynchronous upgrade steps, depending on the preferred procedure.
    1. Since the B Series Appliances will not begin in failover, skip the Break Failover Relationship step in the Upgrade Guide.
    2. If you choose to upgrade asynchronously, you must begin by downloading a backup from the primary B Series Appliance's /login > Management > Software Management page. Then restore these settings to the new B Series Appliance.
    3. Follow the rest of the failover procedure as outlined in the Upgrade Guide.

If you have the original .nss software package that is installed on the primary B Series Appliance, you can install that software package on the backup B Series Appliance. You can then proceed to establish failover without installing the new software package mentioned above.

  1. Notify your BeyondTrust Technical Support representative that the upgrade is complete. BeyondTrust Technical Support will then provide you with the return shipping label and instructions for the failed B Series Appliance.

Return the Defective B Series Appliance

  1. Reset and shut down the defective B Series Appliance.
    1. Log into the /appliance web interface of the defective B Series Appliance.
    2. Browse to the Status > Basics page, and click Reset Appliance to Factory Defaults.
    3. Wait for the reset to complete, and then click Shut Down This Appliance.
  2. Use the shipping label and instructions from BeyondTrust Technical Support along with the packaging materials from the replacement B Series Appliance to return the defective B Series Appliance.