Using the Riverbed (RSP)

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Summary:

This document outlines the process for creating an RSP vm guest. This document assumes that the reader has knowledge of creating vm guests using Vmware products. It is also assumed that the Riverbed Stealhead appliance is configured for RSP and the users of this document has the appropriate rights to manage the RSP functionality on the Steelhead appliance.

Requirements:

  • Steelhead Appliance with RSP Enabled
  • Rights to administrator RSP on the Steelhead
  • RSP Package Creator 2.1 (or current baseline version)
  • Vmware Converter 4.x
  • Rios 6.0.2
  • RSP 6.0.2

Verify RSP:

  1. Choose Configure > Branch Services > RSP Service
  2. Verify that RSP is install and running on the Steelhead Appliance

Creating a RSP Package steps:

  1. Create the virtual machine in Vmware Server, vSphere, or Vmware Workstation.
  2. Ensure that your virtual hardware is Generation 4, 6 or 7
  3. Under Settings, deselect “Enable Logging” to disable logging
  4. Allocate all the necessary disk space when you create the virtual machine because RSP does not support the grow option and make sure it’s Persistent. Note: 180GB is the Total Max Usable.
  5. Remove the following - external adaptors, such as sound cards, USB interfaces, CDROM, and floppy adapters.
  6. Network Adapter needs to be Bridged and make sure it Connects at Power ON.
  7. Install the Windows Server guest operating system on the virtual machine.
  8. Install VMware Tools on the virtual machine.
  9. Configure services on the virtual machine guest operating system.
  10. Using Vmware Converter convert the virtual machine to the local drive
  11. Make sure that the lines below are removed from the vm guests *.vmx file or you will receive an error in the next step.

ide0:0.present = “TRUE”
ide0:0.autodetect = “TRUE”
ide0:0.filename = “auto detect”
ide0:0.deviceType = “cdrom-raw”

Using the Riverbed Package Generator Wizard to package up the vm guest:

  1. Start the Package Generator Wizard. The Welcome page appears.
  2. Browse to the folder that contains the virtual machine you created. For example, on a Windows operating system, the virtual machine is located in the “C:virtual machines” folder.
  3. Click Next to display the RSP Package Configuration page.
  4. Configure the package Name, Version, and Description.
  5. Set “Enable Watchdog” setting to NO.
  6. Change the “Reboot VM On Failure” to Yes.
  7. Click Next to display the Network Interface Preferences page.
  8. The available virtual machine network interfaces appear under Available Virtual Machine Network Interfaces.
  9. Configure the management interface by clicking Add.
  10. Click Next to display the Ready to Generate RSP Package page.
  11. Click Browse to locate the folder in which to store the RSP package.
  12. Enter a name for the RSP package or select an existing file (the file will be overwritten). Do not include spaces in the filename. Riverbed recommends the extension .pkg.
  13. Under Compression, set the compression level. (Default setting is fine)
  14. Under Configuration, click “Save Configuration” to permanently save the configuration.
  15. Click “Create Package”
  16. Click Finish to close the Package Generator Wizard when the Package Creation is Completed.
  17. Upload the RSP package to an ftp or scp server. You can also use an HTTP server or a laptop if your RSP package is not larger than 2 GB.
  18. If you use the cli to upload ssh to the appliance then enter:
    • enable
    • conf t
    • rsp package fetch ftp://

Add RSP Package:

  1. Choose Configure > Branch Services > RSP Packages to display the RSP Packages page.
  2. Under Packages, complete the configuration as described in the following table.
Control Description
Fetch a Package Displays the controls to obtain an RSP package.
Name Optionally, type a descriptive name for the package (up to eight characters).
From URL Select this option and type the URL to the RSP package image. For third-party packages, get the URL directly from the vendor.
From Local File (for packages less than 2 GB in size) Click this option and type the path or click Browse to navigate to the local file directory.
Remove Selected Packages Click the check box next to the name and click Remove Selected Packages.

To install an RSP package in a slot:

  1. Choose Configure > Branch Services > RSP Packages to display the RSP Packages page.
  2. Under Slots, click the slot name and complete the configuration as described in the following table.
Control Description
Slot Name Optionally, type a unique descriptive name for the slot (up to eight characters). Note: The slot must be empty before you can change its name.
Package File Name Select the package name from the drop-down list.
Update Slot Adds the package to the slot and updates the configuration. Note: This step can take five minutes or longer to complete.
  1. Click Save to save your settings permanently.
  2. Note: To disable a package, click the slot number and then click Disable Package.

Enabling a Slot:

  1. Choose Configure > Branch Services > RSP Packages to display the RSP Packages page.
  2. Under Slots, click the slot name and click Enable Slot to enable the slot.
  3. The slot status changes to enabled.
  4. Click Save to save your settings permanently.

Check out my blog that goes over my experience with RSP.

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