Deploy the ExtraHop Explore 5200 Appliance
This guide explains how to install the rack-mounted EXA 5200 ExtraHop Explore appliance.
Installation prerequisites
- Appliance
- 2U of rack space and 2x750W of power
- Management
- One 10/100/1000 BASE-T network port or one 10G BASE-SR port for appliance management.
- Network Access
- TCP port 443 must be open between the Explore appliance and any connected Discover or Command appliances as well as any system that connects to the appliance for administration through the ExtraHop Admin UI.
- TCP port 9443 must be open to enable Explore nodes to communicate with other Explore nodes in the same cluster.
Rear panel ports
EXA 5200

- One iDRAC port
- One RS-232 serial port to connect a console device
- One VGA port to connect an external display
- Two USB 3.0 ports to connect input devices such as a keyboard and mouse
- Two 10 GbE ports. Ports 1 and 2 can be configured as a management port.
- Two 10/100/1000 BASE-T network ports. Port 3 is the primary management port.
- Two power ports to connect the appliance to an AC power source
Configure the management IP address
DHCP is enabled by default on the ExtraHop appliance. When you power on the appliance, interface 3 attempts to acquire an IP address through DHCP. If successful, the IP address appears on the home screen of the LCD.
If your network does not support DHCP, you can configure a static IP address through the LCD menu on the front panel or through the command-line interface (CLI).
Configure a static IP address through the LCD
- Make sure that the default management interface is connected to the network and the link status is active.
- Press the select button (✓) to begin.
- Press the down arrow button to select Network, and then press the select button.
- Press the down arrow to DHCP and then press the select button.
- Press the down arrow to select No, and then press the select button to disable DHCP.
- Press the down arrow to select Set static IP, and then press the select button.
- Press the left or right arrows to select the first digit to change, and then press the up or down arrows to change the digit to the desired number. Repeat this step for each digit you need to change. After you configure the desired IP address, press the select button.
- On the Network mask screen, press the left or right arrows to select the first digit to change, and then press the up or down arrows to change the digit to the desired number. Repeat this step for each digit you need to change. After you configure the desired network mask, press the select button.
- On the Default gateway screen, press the left or right arrows to select the first digit to change, and then press the up or down arrows to change the digit to the desired number. Repeat this step for each digit you need to change. After you configure the desired default gateway, press the select button.
- Confirm your modified network settings on the Settings saved screen, and then press any button to return to the Network Menu.
- Press the down arrow and scroll to Set DNS servers, and then press the select button.
- Press the left or right arrows on the DNS1 screen to select the first digit to change, and then press the up or down arrows to change the digit to the desired number. Repeat this step for each digit you need to change, and then press the select button to continue to the DNS2 screen.
- Configure a second DNS server.
- Confirm the DNS settings on the Settings saved screen, and then press any button to return to the Network Menu.
- Press the down arrow twice until ← Back appears, and then press the select button.
- Press the down arrow twice to select iDRAC. Configure the iDRAC DHCP, IP, mask, gateway, and DNS in the same manner as the IP address.
- Press the X button to return to the main menu.
Configure an IP address through the CLI
You can access the CLI by connecting a USB keyboard and SVGA monitor to the appliance or through an RS-232 serial cable and a terminal-emulator program. The terminal emulator must be set to 115200 bps with 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit (8N1), and hardware flow control should be disabled.
Create an Explore cluster
If you are deploying more than one Explore appliance, join the appliances together to create a cluster. For the best performance, data redundancy, and stability, you must configure at least three Explore appliances in an Explore cluster.
In the following example, the Explore appliances have the following IP addresses:
- Node 1: 10.20.227.177
- Node 2: 10.20.227.178
- Node 3: 10.20.227.179
You will join nodes 2 and 3 to node 1 to create the Explore cluster.
Important: | Each node that you join must have the same configuration (physical or virtual) and ExtraHop firmware version. |
Configure the Explore appliance
After you configure an IP address for the Explore appliance, log into the Explore Admin UI, https://<explore_ip_address>, and complete the following recommended procedures.
Note: | The default login username is setup and the password is the system serial number, which can be found on a sticker on the rear of the chassis. Alternatively, the serial number appears in the Info section of the LCD display. |
- Register your ExtraHop appliance
- Configure the system time
- Configure email settings for notifications
- Connect the Discover and Command appliances to Explore appliances
- Send record data to the Explore appliance
- Review the Explore Post-deployment Checklist and configure additional Explore appliance settings.
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