Documentation forKiwi Syslog Server

Legacy Kiwi Syslog Server Installation and Upgrade Guide

This snippet is used for legacy 9.8.3 topics that link to a KSS NG topic of the same name.
SolarWinds strongly recommends that you install legacy Kiwi Syslog Server (KSS) on a server that is protected from unauthorized access by the public. If your use of legacy KSS does not need to be public or internet-facing, install it on a server that is neither public, nor internet-facing. To learn about best practices for configuring your legacy KSS installation securely, see Best practices to secure SolarWinds Products.

Legacy KSS receives syslog messages and SNMP traps from network devices such as routers, switches, and firewalls. You can customize legacy KSS to automatically respond to messages that meet the specified criteria.

Use the information in this guide to prepare your environment and install legacy KSS. If you have already installed legacy KSS and would like to upgrade to the newest version, see the Legacy KSS Upgrade Guide.

Download the PDF: Legacy KSS Installation Guide

This section describes how to prepare the server environment, install legacy KSS, and enter a license key.

Prepare the server to install legacy KSS

Review release notes Review the legacy KSS release notes.
Review system requirements

Verify that the server meets the minimum hardware and software requirements.

Run all Windows updates Check for and run all Microsoft Windows Updates on the server. If a Windows update runs, your system might reboot.
Open ports

Verify that the server's firewall allows traffic to pass through the required ports for legacy KSS.
Check for antivirus software

Determine if any antivirus software is installed on the server where you plan to install legacy KSS. Exclude the SolarWinds directory. For example, on Windows Server 2016, exclude the following directories:

  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Syslogd
  • C:\ProgramData\SolarWinds\

Do not exclude executable files. SolarWinds assumes that C:\ is the default volume.

Installation steps for KSS

Download the installation file

Complete the following steps for new and existing users:

  1. Log in to the SolarWinds Customer Portal.

    If you do not have a SolarWinds account, see Access the Customer Portal to create an account.

  2. Locate legacy KSS under Latest Downloads for Your Products.
  3. Click Choose Download.

Evaluators: Download your free 14-day evaluation from https://www.solarwinds.com/kiwi-syslog-server.

Run the installation file
  1. Log in using a local administrator.
  2. Extract the contents of the downloaded installation ZIP file to the server.

  3. Run Kiwi_Syslog_Server_<version>.setup.exe.

    If the latest, supported version of .NET Framework is not installed, you are prompted to install it. Click Download and install this feature. Then restart Kiwi_Syslog_Server_<version>.setup.exe.
Complete the legacy Kiwi Syslog Server Setup wizard
  1. If you agree with the license agreement, click Next.
  2. Specify whether you want to install legacy KSS as a service or an application, and click Next.
    • Installation as a service logs and processes messages whenever the server is up and the service is running, even if you are not logged in to the server.
    • Installation as an application logs and processes messages only when you are logged in to the server and the application is running.
  3. If you are installing legacy KSS as a service, specify the account to install the service, and click Next.

  4. Specify whether to install Kiwi Syslog Web Access and log messages to legacy KSS, and click Next.

    Kiwi Syslog Web Access is a secure web-based access portal that you can use to view, filter, and highlight syslog messages logged by legacy KSS.

  5. Select the shortcuts to create, and click Next.

  6. Specify the installation location, and click Next.

    The installer displays status messages as it installs legacy KSS.
(Optional) Complete the Kiwi Syslog Web Access Setup wizard

If you are installing Kiwi Syslog Web Access, the Kiwi Syslog Web Access Setup wizard starts automatically.

  1. If any prerequisites are missing, the Web Access Prerequisites wizard opens.
    1. Click Next at the welcome screen.

    2. Click Next to install the missing prerequisites.

      After the prerequisites are installed, the Web Access wizard opens.

  2. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the Web Access wizard.
Close the wizard.

Click Finish to close the legacy KSS Setup wizard and open the legacy KSS Manager.

Activate your license

Enter a license key to activate the licensed edition of legacy KSS.

Next steps after installing legacy KSS