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How to Configure Subscription

Once you have planned your subscription architecture, you can configure your CA User Activity Reporting Module environment to implement subscription updates.

An overview of the subscription configuration process follows. For details on each step, see the related procedures.

  1. Using your subscription architecture as a guide, configure each server as a subscription proxy or client. If needed, specify one or more proxies as offline proxies. You specify each server as a proxy or client at the local level.
  2. Configure proxy lists for both client updates and content updates. You can specify a proxy list for client updates globally for your whole environment, or set local proxy lists for individual servers. For content updates, you can only specify a proxy list at the global level.
  3. Select modules to download. You can select modules globally, or locally for individual servers.
  4. Set your subscription schedule. You can schedule globally, or locally for individual servers.

More information:

Configure an Online Subscription Proxy

Configure an Offline Subscription Proxy

Configure a Subscription Client

Select Modules for Online Subscription

Configure Proxy Lists

Set a Subscription Schedule

Download & Select Modules for Offline Subscription

Configure an Online Subscription Proxy

An online subscription proxy contacts the CA Technologies Subscription Server to download the latest CA User Activity Reporting Module updates, and distributes them to subscription clients in turn.

The default online subscription proxy downloads updates to subscription clients if no other proxy is configured or available. The first CA User Activity Reporting Module server you install is configured upon installation as the default subscription proxy. However, you can specify any online proxy as the default subscription proxy. You can configure the default subscription proxy only at the global level.

To configure an online subscription proxy

  1. Click the Administration tab and the Services subtab.
  2. Click Subscription Service.

    The Global Service Configuration: Subscription Service window appears.

    Note: To specify a default subscription proxy different from the one configured upon installation, click Administration and enter the server name in the Default Subscription Proxy field.

  3. In the Service List, expand Subscription Service, and select the server to configure.

    The Subscription Service Configuration for the selected CA User Activity Reporting Module server appears.

  4. Click the Administration tab.
  5. Select the Subscription Proxy checkbox, and select Online Subscription Proxy.
  6. Confirm that the RSS feed URL for subscription updates is correct. If you want this proxy to use an RSS feed different from the global setting, switch to local configuration and enter the correct RSS URL.
  7. If this server is to contact the CA Technologies Subscription Server through an HTTP proxy server different from the inherited one, switch to local configuration and configure the desired HTTP proxy.
  8. Click Save.

More information:

How to Configure Subscription

Configure an Offline Subscription Proxy

An offline subscription proxy provides CA User Activity Reporting Module updates to its clients without connecting to the Internet. This configuration allows you to isolate some or all of your CA User Activity Reporting Module servers from the Internet.

Before performing an offline subscription update, manually copy offline update files from a CA Technologies FTP site to any offline proxies, using physical media, or via scp, which is included with CA User Activity Reporting Module. Copy the update files to the following path: /opt/CA/LogManager/data/subscription/offline.

By design, subscription clients of offline proxy servers automatically receive all updates that are manually installed on the offline proxy, regardless of any modules selected for a client at the local level. Therefore, in a mixed subscription environment where you have configured both online and offline proxies, do not include offline proxies in the proxy list for any online subscription client. If you do, the online subscription client automatically receives all updates that are manually installed on the offline proxy server, instead of the modules you selected for that client.

To configure an offline subscription proxy

  1. Click the Administration tab and the Services subtab.
  2. Expand Subscription Service and select the server to configure.

    The Subscription Service Configuration for the selected CA User Activity Reporting Module server appears.

  3. Click the Administration tab.
  4. Select the Subscription Proxy checkbox, and select Offline Subscription Proxy.
  5. Select the .zip file containing the offline subscription files you want to install from the File drop-down list.

    Note: This procedure presumes that you have already copied the offline subscription package to the correct location on this server. If you have not yet done so, a prompt appears.

  6. Click Save.

More information:

How to Configure Subscription

Configure a Subscription Client

Subscription clients download the latest CA User Activity Reporting Module updates from subscription proxies. After a client retrieves updates, it installs the downloaded components.

All CA User Activity Reporting Module servers that are not configured as subscription proxies are subscription clients, by default. You do not need to configure a server locally as a client, unless you want to override subscription settings that you have set globally.

A subscription client cannot retrieve updates from a subscription proxy until that proxy has fully downloaded and installed the updates itself. A client attempts to retrieve updates from each server in its configured proxy list in turn. If no proxy has completed installation of the updates the client requests, the client retries the request every 5 minutes until the update is successful. If the client cannot download the updates after one hour of retries, the update is canceled, and the client reattempts update at the next scheduled time. Messages appear in the Self Monitoring Events log throughout this process, alerting you to the status of the update.

To configure a subscription client

  1. Click the Administration tab and the Services subtab.
  2. Expand Subscription Service and select the server to configure.

    The Subscription Service Configuration for the selected CA User Activity Reporting Module server appears.

  3. Identify the selected server as a client by leaving Subscription Proxy check box unselected.
  4. Because subscription clients contact subscription proxies through the internal network, there is no need to configure local HTTP Proxy settings for an individual client server.
  5. Click Save.

More information:

How to Configure Subscription

Configure Proxy Lists

If you configure multiple subscription proxies for your environment, you can configure proxy lists for client updates. If a given proxy is unavailable when a client requests updates, the client contacts each proxy on its proxy list in turn until it succeeds in downloading the updates. You can configure a proxy list for client updates globally for your entire CA User Activity Reporting Module environment, or locally for individual subscription clients.

With multiple subscription proxies, you can also configure a proxy list for content updates. These are servers that receive content updates, such as queries, reports and correlation rules, and distribute them to the Management Server where they are stored for use by CA User Activity Reporting Module. You can configure a proxy list for content updates only at the global level.

Proxy lists help ensure that subscription updates are successfully retrieved and distributed in a timely manner. Even in a small CA User Activity Reporting Module environment, it is good practice to configure at least one backup proxy for both client and content updates, in case the primary proxy is unavailable.

To configure a proxy list

  1. Click the Administration tab and the Services subtab.
  2. Click Subscription Service.

    The Global Service Configuration for the Subscription Service appears.

  3. Do one of the following:
  4. Add the desired proxy servers to the proxy lists.

    Important! In a mixed subscription environment, where you have configured both online and offline subscription proxies, do not include offline proxies in the proxy list for any online subscription client. If you do, the online subscription client automatically receives all updates that are manually installed on the offline proxy server, instead of the modules you selected.

  5. Click Save.

More information:

How to Configure Subscription

About Modules to Download

Updates are packaged into modules, which are downloaded through the CA Technologies Subscription Server. You access the list of available modules through an RSS feed URL provided by CA Technologies, or in the case of offline subscription, through a CA Technologies FTP site. CA Technologies determines what each module contains.

The following table describes each module, its function, and how frequently CA makes an update available:

Module Type

Description

Frequency

Content

Updates the Query List, Report List, and Correlation Rules with new content. The proxy for content updates automatically pushes this content to the management server repository.

Monthly

Integrations

Updates connectors when you run the Subscription Wizard and select Connector Updates.

Monthly

Operating System

Updates the operating system installed on each CA User Activity Reporting Module server.

Periodically

Agents

Updates agents when you run the Subscription Wizard and select Agent Updates.

Periodically

Log Manager Service Pack

Updates the CA User Activity Reporting Module product on each server with the indicated Service Pack.

Quarterly

Log Manager Version

Upgrades the CA User Activity Reporting Module product on each system to the indicated version.

Periodically

You can select the list of modules to download for your CA User Activity Reporting Module environment at a global level. Individual subscription proxy and client servers inherit these global settings. You can also override the global settings by configuring a local list of modules to download for an individual CA User Activity Reporting Module server.

Note: A subscription proxy cannot distribute a module to a client that the proxy has not, itself, installed. When selecting modules for a subscription proxy, include at minimum all modules selected for the proxy's clients.

You can perform updates to your CA User Activity Reporting Module environment using one, or both, of the following methods:

  1. Automatically: You select modules in advance, and specify a schedule for download. The Subscription Service automatically downloads and installs the modules you select, according to the schedule you specify.
  2. Manually: You select modules when needed, using the Update Now feature of the Subscription Service to download and install these modules at a time you choose.

Because Content, Integration, Operating System and Agent modules are updated regularly, consider setting your subscription schedule to download these modules automatically at least once per month. Log Manager Service Pack and Version updates are less frequent, and can require additional consideration and planning before you apply them to your CA User Activity Reporting Module environment. Consider downloading these types of updates manually, as needed.

As new modules become available, they appear in the Subscription RSS feed, or in the case of offline subscription, on the CA Technologies offline subscription FTP site. Because modules available for download vary with the update cycle, it is good practice to monitor the available list to be sure that all modules you need are selected. You can also check the CA Support Site at http://ca.com/support to learn when new Log Manager service packs and versions are available.

More information:

Select Modules for Online Subscription

How to Plan Subscription Updates

How to Configure Subscription

Download & Select Modules for Offline Subscription

Select Modules for Online Subscription

The CA User Activity Reporting Module subscription updates currently available are listed in the RSS feed provided by CA Technologies. The RSS feed URL is provided by default in the Subscription Service Administration tab upon installation.

As new modules become available, they appear in the Subscription RSS feed. Periodically monitor the list of available modules to be sure that all modules you need are selected. You can also check the CA Support Site at http://ca.com/support to learn when new Log Manager service packs and versions are available.

To select modules to download

  1. Click the Administration tab and the Services subtab.
  2. Click Subscription Service.

    The Global Service Configuration for the Subscription Service appears.

  3. Do one of the following:
  4. Confirm that the correct RSS address appears in the RSS feed URL field, or to configure a custom RSS address for a specific server, switch to local configuration and enter the RSS URL.
  5. Click Browse.

    The Modules Available for Download dialog appears.

  6. Select the modules you want to download.

    Note: To receive new updates from CA as soon as they are available, select modules that are updated Monthly and Periodically, and set your subscription schedule to update automatically at least once per month. Service Pack and Version updates are less frequent, and can require additional consideration and planning before you apply them to your CA User Activity Reporting Module environment. Consider downloading these types of updates manually, as needed.

    Note: Clients cannot download modules that their proxy has not also downloaded. Be sure that the modules selected for a subscription proxy include at minimum all modules selected in the download lists of that proxy's clients.

  7. Click OK.

    The Modules Available for Download dialog closes, and the modules you selected appear in the Modules Selected for Download list.

  8. Click Save.

More information:

About Modules to Download

How to Configure Subscription

Download & Select Modules for Offline Subscription

Offline subscription update files are available at the CA Technologies offline subscription FTP site, packaged in .zip files. As new modules become available, they appear on the FTP site. Periodically monitor the list of available modules to be sure that you have downloaded the most recent updates. You can also check the CA Support Site at http://ca.com/support to learn when new Log Manager service packs and versions are available.

Before you can select modules to download for offline subscription proxies, download the offline update file package from the CA Technologies FTP site and manually copy it to your offline proxies. You can then select which modules to download and install. Offline subscription clients, by contrast, automatically receive all updates that are manually installed on their offline proxy, regardless of any modules selected for the client at the local level.

To download and select offline subscription modules

  1. On a system with Internet or FTP access, navigate to the FTP offline subscription site:

    ftp://ftp.ca.com/pub/elm/connectors/ftp/outgoing/pub/elm/ELM_Offline_Subscription

    The directory index displays a folder for each major CA User Activity Reporting Module release.

  2. Download the appropriate .zip file for the update you want to perform.

    Note: The folder for the CA User Activity Reporting Module r12.5 release contains a subfolder as well as a .zip file. The subfolder contains modules for upgrading from any previous version to version r12.5. The .zip file contains the modules for performing routine, periodic updates to version r12.5. If you are performing a routine update, select the .zip file.

  3. Using physical media such as a disk, or using scp, manually copy the .zip file to the following file path on your offline proxies:

    /opt/CA/LogManager/data/subscription/offline.

  4. Log in to a system in your CA User Activity Reporting Module environment.
  5. Click the Administration tab and the Services subtab.
  6. Expand Subscription Service and select an offline proxy server to configure.

    The Subscription Service Configuration for the selected CA User Activity Reporting Module server appears.

    Note: Offline subscription clients automatically receive all modules that are manually installed on their offline proxy. The contents of the proxy server control which updates the subscription client receives. Modules selected at the local level for an offline client have no effect.

  7. Click the Administration tab.
  8. In the File drop-down, select the offline update .zip file you copied to the server, and click Browse.

    The Modules Available for Download dialog appears.

  9. Select the modules you want to download.
  10. Click OK.

    The Modules Available for Download dialog closes, and the modules you selected appear in the Modules Selected for Download list.

  11. Click Save.

    Offline subscription clients can now download these modules automatically according to the subscription schedule you set, or on demand when you begin a manual update.

  12. (Optional) Click Update Now.

    The offline proxy server updates itself with the selected modules.

    Note: Though you can allow the offline proxy to update itself according to the subscription schedule you set, it is good practice to perform a manual update whenever you transfer new files. This practice ensures that the updates are available when offline subscription clients request them.

More information

About Modules to Download

How to Configure Subscription

Set a Subscription Schedule

You set a subscription schedule to define when, and how frequently, the Subscription Service performs automatic updates. You can set a subscription schedule globally, for your entire CA User Activity Reporting Module environment, or you can set a custom schedule for individual subscription proxies and clients.

To configure a subscription schedule

  1. Click the Administration tab and the Services subtab.
  2. Click Subscription Service.

    The Global Service Configuration for the Subscription Service appears.

  3. Do one of the following:
  4. Set the subscription schedule. Select your time zone and a start time for updates, then specify the update frequency you want.

More information

How to Configure Subscription