How To Connect Auvik Collector?

Connecting an Auvik collector involves several steps, beginning with preparing your network and choosing an installation method, then following the specific deployment procedure, and finally, configuring and managing the collector from the Auvik dashboard.

The process starts in your Auvik account, which provides the necessary installer and credentials.

Preparation and prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you meet the necessary system and network requirements for a smooth installation:

• Auvik account: You must have an active Auvik account with an added site where the collector will be deployed.
• Host specifications: The hardware requirements vary based on the installation type and network size. For instance, a standard Windows service collector requires a 2-GHz dual-core processor, 6GB of RAM, and 12GB of free storage.
• Static IP address: Assign a static or reserved IP address to the collector host. This is recommended to prevent issues with network protocols like SNMP, NetFlow, and syslog, which often rely on specific IP addresses.
• Network connectivity: The collector needs outbound internet access to communicate with the Auvik cloud. Required firewall and web filter rules must allow connections to specific Auvik URLs.
• Local network permissions: The collector requires access to your internal network. This often involves providing credentials, such as SNMP or login credentials, for network devices.

Step 1: Initiate collector deployment from the Auvik dashboard

1. Log in to your Auvik account.
2. Navigate to the site where you want to add the collector.
3. From the side navigation bar, click Auvik Collectors, then select Add Auvik Collector. This will launch the collector setup wizard and present your installation options.

Step 2: Choose and execute an installation method

Auvik provides several installation options to suit different environments. Choose the method that best fits your infrastructure.

Option A: Windows installer

This is the easiest and fastest method for a Windows environment.

1. In the Auvik setup wizard, click Install Collector on a Windows Device and then Download Windows Installer.
2. Run the AuvikInstaller.exe file on your chosen Windows machine. You may need to run it as an administrator.
3. During the installation, enter your Auvik email address, the temporary API key provided in the wizard, and your site's URL prefix.
4. Allow the installer access through your firewall when prompted.
5. After installation, the collector will connect and begin the network discovery process.

Option B: Virtual appliance (OVA)

This method is ideal for virtualized environments, such as those using VMware.

1. From the wizard, select Set up Collector as a virtual appliance on VMWare and download the OVA file.
2. Import the OVA file into your virtualization platform to create a new virtual machine.
3. Power on the virtual machine and access its console to perform initial network configuration (e.g., set a static IP).
4. If your network uses a proxy, configure it through the collector's console.
5. Once the virtual appliance is running, it will automatically connect to your Auvik site.

Option C: Linux bash script

This is for advanced users who want to deploy the collector on a dedicated Linux virtual or physical machine.

1. Create a fresh Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04 server installation. Do not use an existing desktop or server.
2. Access the collector host via SSH.
3. From the Auvik wizard, copy the custom bash installation command, which includes your site-specific credentials.
4. Run the command on your Linux host. The script will download and install the collector.
5. After the installation finishes, reboot the machine.

Option D: Docker image

For deploying the collector as a Docker container, you can use the Auvik Docker image.

1. Select the Set up collector using a Docker Image option from the dashboard.
2. Follow the instructions to pull and run the Docker image. The host machine should meet the specified hardware requirements.
3. The Docker setup will bind the collector to your Auvik account.

Step 3: Configure and approve the collector

After installation, return to your Auvik dashboard to complete the process.

1. Approve the collector: On the Auvik Collectors page, you should see the newly installed collector listed as "Connected and Pending." Click the checkbox next to it and select Approve.
2. Add credentials: For Auvik to fully discover and monitor your network, provide network device credentials. Go to Manage Credentials to add your SNMP communities or login credentials.
3. Manage network discovery: Review the networks discovered by the collector under Discovery > Manage Networks. You can approve newly found subnets or manually add any missing ones.
4. Verify connection: The collector is successfully connected when it shows a "Connected and Approved" status in green on the Auvik Collectors page. You should then see your network map populate with discovered devices.

Best practices and troubleshooting

• Network placement: Install the collector on a machine with unrestricted access to the subnets you want to monitor. For multi-subnet networks, additional collectors may be necessary, especially for failover or if certain subnets are not reachable by the primary collector.
• Multiple collectors: Deploying multiple collectors on the same network provides failover redundancy. If one goes offline, another can take over scanning tasks for accessible subnets.
• Sizing considerations: For large or complex networks, adjust the collector's resource allocation to match the number of devices and interfaces being monitored to avoid performance issues.
• Proxies: If your network uses a proxy, follow the specific configuration steps during installation for your chosen method (Windows, OVA, or script) to ensure the collector can reach the Auvik cloud.