Documentation forSecurity Event Manager

Prepare to install SEM

If you are installing and deploying SEM, complete the pre-installation checklist below. These checklists help you:

  • Verify that system requirements are met, all required software is installed, and required roles and features are enabled.
  • Gather the information required to complete the installation.

Be sure to reserve memory and CPU resources for SEM, and not just allocate these resources. See The reason why SEM needs memory and CPU resource reservations for more information.

To prevent access by unauthorized users, SolarWinds recommends setting up the SEM appliance with no access to the Internet or any public-facing network. See the SEM security checklists for additional recommendations.

Plan for the installation

Review the Security Event Manager release notes.

Identify the environment where SEM will be installed. Ensure that it meets the hardware and software requirements for your installation.

See the system requirements for details.

Create a user profile on the SolarWinds Customer Portal. This profile allows you to download SolarWinds products and licenses.

See Access the Customer Portal for instructions.

Determine if your network architecture will include one or more syslog servers.

See SEM deployment examples for details.

Locate your local administrator account information. This account is required to install SEM.

The Local Administrator Account is not the same as a domain account with local admin rights. A domain account is subject to your domain group policies.

Create a log in password for your deployment that:

  • Does not include the word username.

  • Includes between 6 and 40 characters.

  • Includes at least one uppercase letter.

  • Includes at least one lowercase letter.

  • Includes at least one digit.

You will need this password when you complete the installation.
Schedule the installation in your environment.

Prepare the environment

Before the installation, prepare the SolarWinds environment: 

Prepare the servers based on your deployment size and system requirements.

Before the installation, run all operating system updates on all servers. As you install, if an operating system update runs, your system may reboot and require you to restart the installation process.

Open the required ports for your server ports and firewall.

See the SEM port requirements in the system requirements. SEM uses these ports to send and receive data.

Next steps: