1. Preparing your environment for installation

Review the following prerequisites before you install Smart Proxy server.

1.1. System requirements

The following requirements apply to the networked base operating system:

  • x86_64 architecture

  • 4-core 2.0 GHz CPU at a minimum

  • A minimum of 12 GB RAM is required for Smart Proxy server to function. In addition, a minimum of 4 GB RAM of swap space is also recommended. Smart Proxy running with less RAM than the minimum value might not operate correctly.

  • Administrative user (root) access

  • Full forward and reverse DNS resolution using a fully-qualified domain name

Foreman only supports UTF-8 encoding. If your territory is USA and your language is English, set en_US.utf-8 as the system-wide locale settings. For more information about configuring system locale in Enterprise Linux, see Configuring the system locale in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 Configuring basic system settings.

Foreman server and Smart Proxy server do not support shortnames in the hostnames. When using custom certificates, the Common Name (CN) of the custom certificate must be a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) instead of a shortname. This does not apply to the clients of a Foreman.

Before you install Smart Proxy server, ensure that your environment meets the requirements for installation.

Warning

The version of Smart Proxy must match with the version of Foreman installed. It should not be different. For example, the Smart Proxy version nightly cannot be registered with the Foreman version 3.15.

Smart Proxy server must be installed on a freshly provisioned system that serves no other function except to run Smart Proxy server. The freshly provisioned system must not have the following users provided by external identity providers to avoid conflicts with the local users that Smart Proxy server creates:

  • apache

  • foreman-proxy

  • postgres

  • puppet

  • redis

SELinux mode

SELinux must be enabled, either in enforcing or permissive mode. Installation with disabled SELinux is not supported.

Synchronized system clock

The system clock on the base operating system where you are installing your Smart Proxy server must be synchronized across the network. If the system clock is not synchronized, SSL certificate verification might fail.

FIPS mode

You can install Smart Proxy on a Enterprise Linux system that is operating in FIPS mode. You cannot enable FIPS mode after the installation of Smart Proxy. Red Hat Enterprise Linux clones are not being actively tested in FIPS mode. If you require FIPS, consider using Red Hat Enterprise Linux. For more information, see Switching RHEL to FIPS mode in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 Security hardening.

Note

Foreman supports DEFAULT and FIPS crypto-policies. The FUTURE crypto-policy is not supported for Foreman and Smart Proxy installations. The FUTURE policy is a stricter forward-looking security level intended for testing a possible future policy. For more information, see Using system-wide cryptographic policies in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 Security hardening.

1.2. Supported operating systems

The following operating systems are supported by the installer, have packages, and are tested for deploying Foreman:

Table 1. Operating systems supported by foreman-installer

Operating System

Architecture

Notes

Enterprise Linux 9

x86_64 only

EPEL is not supported.

Foreman community advises against using an existing system because the Foreman installer will affect the configuration of several components.

1.3. Port and firewall requirements

For the components of Foreman architecture to communicate, ensure that the required network ports are open and free on the base operating system. You must also ensure that the required network ports are open on any network-based firewalls.

The installation of a Smart Proxy server fails if the ports between Foreman server and Smart Proxy server are not open before installation starts.

Use this information to configure any network-based firewalls. Note that some cloud solutions must be specifically configured to allow communications between machines because they isolate machines similarly to network-based firewalls. If you use an application-based firewall, ensure that the application-based firewall permits all applications that are listed in the tables and known to your firewall. If possible, disable the application checking and allow open port communication based on the protocol.

Integrated Smart Proxy

Foreman server has an integrated Smart Proxy and any host that is directly connected to Foreman server is a Client of Foreman in the context of this section. This includes the base operating system on which Smart Proxy server is running.

Clients of Smart Proxy

Hosts which are clients of Smart Proxies, other than Foreman’s integrated Smart Proxy, do not need access to Foreman server. For more information on Foreman Topology, see Smart Proxy networking in Planning for Foreman.

Required ports can change based on your configuration.

The following tables indicate the destination port and the direction of network traffic:

Table 2. Smart Proxy incoming traffic
Destination Port Protocol Service Source Required For Description

53

TCP and UDP

DNS

DNS Servers and clients

Name resolution

DNS (optional)

67

UDP

DHCP

Client

Dynamic IP

DHCP (optional)

69

UDP

TFTP

Client

TFTP Server (optional)

8000

TCP

HTTP

Client

Provisioning templates

Template retrieval for client installers, iPXE or UEFI HTTP Boot

8000

TCP

HTTP

Client

PXE Boot

Installation

8140

TCP

HTTPS

Client

Puppet agent

Client updates (optional)

8443

TCP

HTTPS

Foreman

Smart Proxy API

Smart Proxy functionality

8443

TCP

HTTPS

Client

Register Endpoint

Client registration with Smart Proxy servers

8443

TCP

HTTPS

Client

OpenSCAP

Configure Client (if the OpenSCAP plugin is installed)

8443

TCP

HTTPS

Discovered Node

Discovery

Host discovery and provisioning (if the discovery plugin is installed)

Any host that is directly connected to Foreman server is a client in this context because it is a client of the integrated Smart Proxy. This includes the base operating system on which a Smart Proxy server is running.

A DHCP Smart Proxy performs ICMP ping and TCP echo connection attempts to hosts in subnets with DHCP IPAM set to find out if an IP address considered for use is free. This behavior can be turned off using foreman-installer --foreman-proxy-dhcp-ping-free-ip=false.

Table 3. Smart Proxy outgoing traffic
Destination Port Protocol Service Destination Required For Description

ICMP

ping

Client

DHCP

Free IP checking (optional)

7

TCP

echo

Client

DHCP

Free IP checking (optional)

22

TCP

SSH

Target host

Remote execution

Run jobs

53

TCP and UDP

DNS

DNS Servers on the Internet

DNS Server

Resolve DNS records (optional)

53

TCP and UDP

DNS

DNS Server

Smart Proxy DNS

Validation of DNS conflicts (optional)

68

UDP

DHCP

Client

Dynamic IP

DHCP (optional)

443

TCP

HTTPS

Foreman

Smart Proxy

Smart Proxy

Configuration management

Template retrieval

OpenSCAP

Remote Execution result upload

443

TCP

HTTPS

Infoblox DHCP Server

DHCP management

When using Infoblox for DHCP, management of the DHCP leases (optional)

623

Client

Power management

BMC On/Off/Cycle/Status

7911

TCP

DHCP, OMAPI

DHCP Server

DHCP

The DHCP target is configured using --foreman-proxy-dhcp-server and defaults to localhost

ISC and remote_isc use a configurable port that defaults to 7911 and uses OMAPI

8443

TCP

HTTPS

Client

Discovery

Smart Proxy sends reboot command to the discovered host (optional)
Note

ICMP to Port 7 UDP and TCP must not be rejected, but can be dropped. The DHCP Smart Proxy sends an ECHO REQUEST to the Client network to verify that an IP address is free. A response prevents IP addresses from being allocated.

1.4. Enabling connections from Foreman server and clients to a Smart Proxy server

On the base operating system on which you want to install Smart Proxy, you must enable incoming connections from Foreman server and clients to Smart Proxy server and make these rules persistent across reboots.

If you do not use firewall-cmd to configure the Linux firewall, implement using the command of your choice.

Procedure

  1. Allow access to services on Smart Proxy server:

    # firewall-cmd \
--add-service=dns \
--add-service=dhcp \
--add-service=tftp \
--add-service=foreman-proxy \
--add-service=puppetmaster

  2. Make the changes persistent:

    # firewall-cmd --runtime-to-permanent
Verification

  • Enter the following command:

    # firewall-cmd --list-all

For more information, see Using and configuring firewalld in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 Configuring firewalls and packet filters.

2. Installing Smart Proxy server

Before you install Smart Proxy server, you must ensure that your environment meets the requirements for installation. For more information, see Preparing your Environment for Installation.

2.1. Configuring repositories

Procedure

  1. Clear any metadata:

    # dnf clean all

  2. Install the foreman-release.rpm package:

    # dnf install https://yum.theforeman.org/releases/nightly/el9/x86_64/foreman-release.rpm

  3. Install the puppet-release package.

    • For Puppet 8:

      # dnf install https://yum.puppet.com/puppet8-release-el-9.noarch.rpm

    • For Puppet 7:

      # dnf install https://yum.puppet.com/puppet7-release-el-9.noarch.rpm
Verification

  • Verify that the required repositories are enabled:

    # dnf repolist enabled

2.2. Optional: Using fapolicyd on Smart Proxy server

By enabling fapolicyd on your Foreman server, you can provide an additional layer of security by monitoring and controlling access to files and directories. The fapolicyd daemon uses the RPM database as a repository of trusted binaries and scripts.

You can turn on or off the fapolicyd on your Foreman server or Smart Proxy server at any point.

2.2.1. Installing fapolicyd on Smart Proxy server

You can install fapolicyd along with Smart Proxy server or can be installed on an existing Smart Proxy server. If you are installing fapolicyd along with the new Smart Proxy server, the installation process will detect the fapolicyd in your Enterprise Linux host and deploy the Smart Proxy server rules automatically.

Prerequisites

  • Ensure your host has access to the BaseOS repositories of Enterprise Linux.

Procedure

  1. For a new installation, install fapolicyd:

    # dnf install fapolicyd

  2. For an existing installation, install fapolicyd using dnf install:

    # dnf install fapolicyd

  3. Start the fapolicyd service:

    # systemctl enable --now fapolicyd
Verification

  • Verify that the fapolicyd service is running correctly:

    # systemctl status fapolicyd
New Foreman server or Smart Proxy server installations

In case of new Foreman server or Smart Proxy server installation, follow the standard installation procedures after installing and enabling fapolicyd on your Enterprise Linux host.

Additional resources

For more information on fapolicyd, see Blocking and allowing applications using fapolicyd in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 Security hardening.

2.3. Installing Smart Proxy server packages

Before installing Smart Proxy server packages, you must update all packages that are installed on the base operating system.

Procedure

To install Smart Proxy server, complete the following steps:

  1. Update all packages:

    # dnf upgrade

  2. Install foreman-installer:

    # dnf install foreman-installer

2.4. Installing Smart Proxy server

Procedure

  • To install Smart Proxy server, enter the following command:

    # foreman-installer \
--enable-foreman-proxy \
--enable-puppet \
--foreman-proxy-foreman-base-url=https://foreman.example.com \
--foreman-proxy-oauth-consumer-key=My_oAuth_Consumer_Key \
--foreman-proxy-oauth-consumer-secret=My_oAuth_Consumer_Secret \
--foreman-proxy-puppetca=false \
--foreman-proxy-tftp=false \
--foreman-proxy-trusted-hosts=foreman.example.com \
--no-enable-foreman \
--no-enable-foreman-cli \
--puppet-server-ca=false

2.5. Assigning the correct organization and location to Smart Proxy server in the Foreman web UI

After installing Smart Proxy server packages, if there is more than one organization or location, you must assign the correct organization and location to Smart Proxy to make Smart Proxy visible in the Foreman web UI.

Procedure

  1. Log into the Foreman web UI.

  2. From the Organization list in the upper-left of the screen, select Any Organization.

  3. From the Location list in the upper-left of the screen, select Any Location.

  4. In the Foreman web UI, navigate to Hosts > All Hosts and select Smart Proxy server.

  5. From the Select Actions list, select Assign Organization.

  6. From the Organization list, select the organization where you want to assign this Smart Proxy.

  7. Click Fix Organization on Mismatch.

  8. Click Submit.

  9. Select Smart Proxy server. From the Select Actions list, select Assign Location.

  10. From the Location list, select the location where you want to assign this Smart Proxy.

  11. Click Fix Location on Mismatch.

  12. Click Submit.

  13. In the Foreman web UI, navigate to Administer > Organizations and click the organization to which you have assigned Smart Proxy.

  14. Click Smart Proxies tab and ensure that Smart Proxy server is listed under the Selected items list, then click Submit.

  15. In the Foreman web UI, navigate to Administer > Locations and click the location to which you have assigned Smart Proxy.

  16. Click Smart Proxies tab and ensure that Smart Proxy server is listed under the Selected items list, then click Submit.

Verification

Optionally, you can verify if Smart Proxy server is correctly listed in the Foreman web UI.

  1. Select the organization from the Organization list.

  2. Select the location from the Location list.

  3. In the Foreman web UI, navigate to Hosts > All Hosts.

  4. In the Foreman web UI, navigate to Infrastructure > Smart Proxies.

3. Performing additional configuration on Smart Proxy server

After installation, you can configure additional settings on your Smart Proxy server.

3.1. Configuring Smart Proxy for host registration and provisioning

Use this procedure to configure Smart Proxy so that you can register and provision hosts using your Smart Proxy server instead of your Foreman server.

Procedure

  1. Enable the Registration and Templates features on your Smart Proxy server and set the template URL:

    # foreman-installer \
--foreman-proxy-registration true \
--foreman-proxy-templates true \
--foreman-proxy-template-url "http://smartproxy.example.com:8000"

  2. On your Smart Proxy server, open the corresponding ports:

    # firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=public --add-port=8000/tcp

  3. On your Smart Proxy server, reload the firewall configuration:

    # firewall-cmd --reload

  4. On Foreman server, add the Smart Proxy to the list of trusted proxies.

    This is required for Foreman to recognize hosts' IP addresses forwarded over the X-Forwarded-For HTTP header set by Smart Proxy. For security reasons, Foreman recognizes this HTTP header only from localhost by default. You can enter trusted proxies as valid IPv4 or IPv6 addresses of Smart Proxies, or network ranges.

    Warning

    Do not use a network range that is too broad because that might cause a security risk.

    Enter the following command. Note that the command overwrites the list that is currently stored in Foreman. Therefore, if you have set any trusted proxies previously, you must include them in the command as well:

    # foreman-installer \
--foreman-trusted-proxies "127.0.0.1/8" \
--foreman-trusted-proxies "::1" \
--foreman-trusted-proxies "My_IP_address" \
--foreman-trusted-proxies "My_IP_range"

    The localhost entries are required, do not omit them.

Verification

  1. List the current trusted proxies using the full help of Foreman installer:

    # foreman-installer --full-help | grep -A 2 "trusted-proxies"

  2. The current listing contains all trusted proxies you require.

3.2. Enabling remote execution

Use this procedure to enable remote execution on your Smart Proxy server. To learn more about remote execution, see Configuring and Setting Up Remote Jobs in Managing hosts.

Prerequisites

  • You have enabled the remote execution plugin on your Foreman server. To do this, run the following command:

    # foreman-installer --enable-foreman-plugin-remote-execution
Procedure

  • Enable remote execution with foreman-installer:

    # foreman-installer --enable-foreman-proxy-plugin-remote-execution-script

3.3. Enabling OpenSCAP on Smart Proxy servers

On Foreman server and the integrated Smart Proxy of your Foreman server, OpenSCAP is enabled by default. To use the OpenSCAP plugin and content on external Smart Proxies, you must enable OpenSCAP on each Smart Proxy.

Procedure

  • To enable OpenSCAP, enter the following command:

    # foreman-installer \
--enable-foreman-proxy-plugin-openscap \
--foreman-proxy-plugin-openscap-ansible-module true \
--foreman-proxy-plugin-openscap-puppet-module true

3.4. Enabling power management on hosts

To perform power management tasks on hosts using the intelligent platform management interface (IPMI) or a similar protocol, you must enable the baseboard management controller (BMC) module on Smart Proxy server.

Prerequisites
Procedure

  • To enable BMC, enter the following command:

    # foreman-installer \
--foreman-proxy-bmc "true" \
--foreman-proxy-bmc-default-provider "freeipmi"

Appendix A: Smart Proxy server scalability considerations when managing Puppet clients

Smart Proxy server scalability when managing Puppet clients depends on the number of CPUs, the run-interval distribution, and the number of Puppet managed resources. Smart Proxy server has a limitation of 100 concurrent Puppet agents running at any single point in time. Running more than 100 concurrent Puppet agents results in a 503 HTTP error.

For example, assuming that Puppet agent runs are evenly distributed with less than 100 concurrent Puppet agents running at any single point during a run-interval, a Smart Proxy server with 4 CPUs has a maximum of 1250 – 1600 Puppet clients with a moderate workload of 10 Puppet classes assigned to each Puppet client. Depending on the number of Puppet clients required, the Foreman installation can scale out the number of Smart Proxy servers to support them.

If you want to scale your Smart Proxy server when managing Puppet clients, the following assumptions are made:

  • There are no external Puppet clients reporting directly to your Foreman server.

  • All other Puppet clients report directly to Smart Proxy servers.

  • There is an evenly distributed run-interval of all Puppet agents.

Note

Deviating from the even distribution increases the risk of overloading Foreman server. The limit of 100 concurrent requests applies.

The following table describes the scalability limits using the recommended 4 CPUs.

Table 4. Puppet scalability using 4 CPUs
Puppet Managed Resources per Host Run-Interval Distribution

1

3000 – 2500

10

2400 – 2000

20

1700 – 1400

The following table describes the scalability limits using the minimum 2 CPUs.

Table 5. Puppet scalability using 2 CPUs
Puppet Managed Resources per Host Run-Interval Distribution

1

1700 – 1450

10

1500 – 1250

20

850 – 700