Installing Wazuh OVA in VM

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Introduction

Wazuh is an open-source security monitoring solution that provides comprehensive security analytics and monitoring for endpoints and cloud workloads. Using a pre-configured Open Virtual Appliance (OVA) file simplifies the deployment process, allowing you to get up and running quickly. This guide will walk you through the process of installing the Wazuh OVA on a virtual machine (VM) using VMware Workstation and Oracle VirtualBox.

Prerequisites

  1. Virtualization Software: Ensure you have virtualization software installed on your system.
  2. OVA File: Download the latest Wazuh OVA file from the Wazuh official website.
  3. System Resources: Verify that your system meets the resource requirements for running Wazuh, including sufficient CPU, RAM, and disk space.

Steps

Step 1: Download and Verify the OVA File
  1. Go to the Wazuh Documentation Page and download the OVA file.
  2. Verify the integrity of the downloaded file using the provided checksum to ensure it hasn’t been corrupted during the download.

Powershell 
Get-FileHash -Path <file_path> -Algorithm SHA256
Step 2: Install Wazuh OVA in VMware Workstation

  1. Open VMware Workstation: Launch VMware Workstation on your computer.
  2. Import OVA File:
    • Click on File > Open....
    • Navigate to the downloaded Wazuh OVA file and select it.
    • Click Open to start the import process.
  3. Configure Virtual Machine
    • Assign a name to your VM.
    • Choose the location where you want to store the VM files.
    • Adjust the resources (CPU, RAM, disk space) based on your system's capabilities and Wazuh's requirements.
  4. Finish and Power On:
    • Click Finish to complete the import.
    • Select the newly created VM and click Power on this virtual machine.
  5. Network Configuration:
    • Configure the network settings as required. Bridged networking allows the VM to connect to the network using the host machine’s network interface.
  6. Access Wazuh:
    • Once the VM is running, you can access the Wazuh web interface using the VM's IP address. Open a web browser and enter https://<VM_IP_ADDRESS>.

Post-Installation Steps

  1. Login Credentials:
    • The default credentials are usually provided in the Wazuh documentation or during the first login setup. Make sure to change the default password immediately.
  2. System Updates:
    • Ensure that the Wazuh instance is up to date by running the latest updates.
  3. Configuration:
    • Customize the Wazuh settings based on your specific monitoring requirements. Refer to the Wazuh documentation for detailed guidance on configuration and management.

Conclusion

Installing Wazuh using the OVA file on a virtual machine simplifies the deployment process, allowing you to quickly set up a powerful security monitoring tool. Whether you are using VMware Workstation or Oracle VirtualBox, the steps outlined in this guide should help you get started with Wazuh. Explore the Wazuh dashboard, configure your alerts, and start monitoring your environment effectively!

Feel free to leave any questions or feedback in the comments below.