Veritas Flex Appliance Console Administration & First Use

 Following the Veritas Flex Appliance Initial Configuration Guide, the appliance hardware and basic network setup should now be complete. The next stage involves using the Flex Appliance Console (WebUI) to perform essential administrative tasks and prepare the system for production workloads.

This article provides a step-by-step walkthrough for accessing the console, verifying storage, configuring networks, adding tenants, and preparing the system for NetBackup deployment. Whether you're managing your first deployment or revisiting the process, this guide will ensure a smooth start.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Accessing the Flex Appliance Console Web Interface

To begin configuration, you’ll need to access the appliance’s web console:

1. Open any modern web browser.
   
2. Enter the following in the address bar:
   

   https://<Flex_Appliance_FQDN_or_IP_Address>{codeBox}

Tip: Ensure that the system you’re using to access the web interface is on the same network or has a route to the management interface of the appliance.{alertInfo}

Step 2: Login to Flex Appliance Console and Change Password

Upon first login, use the default credentials:

• Username: admin
• Password: P@ssw0rd

After logging in, you will be automatically redirected to a password change page:

1. Enter the default password in the "Current Password" field.
2. Provide a strong new password in the respective fields.
3. Click Save to apply the change.

Security Tip: Make sure your new password complies with your organization’s security policies.{alertInfo}

Step 3: Verify and Add Storage Shelves

After login, confirm that all storage shelves are correctly recognized by the appliance:

1. Navigate to the System Topology tab.
2. Review the total storage capacity displayed. It should reflect the internal disk capacity of the head node plus any connected expansion shelves.
3. If any shelves are missing, click Add Storage to detect and integrate them.

Important: When powering on the appliance, always start with the last shelf in the chain and move toward the head unit. Reversing this sequence may result in the appliance failing to detect all storage components.{alertWarning}

Step 4: Update Appliance Firmware and OS

Keeping your Flex Appliance up to date is critical for stability and security. To perform an update, refer to the dedicated guide:

👉 Veritas Flex Appliance Firmware & OS Update Guide

This will walk you through the latest procedures for applying firmware and OS patches.

Step 5: Configure Network Interfaces

1. Proper network configuration ensures reliable data flow and access to services:
2. Go to the Network Interfaces tab.
3. Identify interfaces with link status marked as UP.
4. (Optional) To enable high availability or load balancing, create a bond between two or more interfaces.
5. Assign a VLAN tag if required.
6. Enter the following details for the VLAN:
   
   • VLAN interface name
   • VLAN ID
   • IPv4 subnet
   • Default gateway

Note: Ensure the VLAN ID is consistent with your network switch configuration.{alertInfo}

Step 6: Add a Tenant

The Flex Appliance uses tenants to logically separate workloads. At least one tenant must be created before deploying applications:

1. Navigate to the Tenants section.
2. Click + Add Tenant.
3. Fill in the required fields:
   
   • Tenant Name
   • Label
   • Domain Name
   • DNS Name Servers
4. Click Save.

Step 7: Add the NetBackup Application to the Repository

Before you can deploy NetBackup instances, you must first upload the application package:

1. Download the NetBackup .rpm installer from the official Veritas Download Center.
2. Go to Repository > Applications.
3. Click + Add Application.
4. Upload the .rpm package file.
5. The system will redirect you to the Activity Monitor, where the installation process can be tracked.
6. Once the installation completes successfully, return to the Repository. You should now see two components:
   
   • NetBackup Primary Server
   • NetBackup Media Server

Next Steps

To deploy and configure NetBackup server instances, follow our upcoming guide:
👉 How to Create NetBackup Instances on Veritas Flex Appliance