Overview
This article guides you on how to configure GFI LanGuard Relay Agent and assign computers to get the definition updates and patches from this relay instead of downloading from the LanGuard server.
Information
Use Cases and Recommendations
To help avoid performance issues, to spread the load, and to apply load balancing techniques, GFI LanGuard enables you to configure Agents as a Relays for the server. Agents that are configured as Relay Agents act as caching points. These download patches and definitions directly from the GFI LanGuard server or from an upstream Relay Agent and serve them to client computers (which can be Agent-based and Agent-less computers).
The main advantages of using Relay Agents are:
- Reduced bandwidth consumption in local or geographically distributed networks. If a Relay Agent is configured on each site, a patch is only downloaded once and distributed to client computers
- Reduced hardware load from the GFI LanGuard server
- Using multiple Relay Agents increases the number of devices that can be protected simultaneously.
Follow the below recommendations to take full advantage of Relay Agents:
- Keep the number of computers/agents directly connected to the GFI LanGuard server or to one Relay Agent below 100.
- In geographically distributed networks, designate at least one Relay Agent for each remote site. This ensures that each file is only transmitted once from the GFI LanGuard server site to the remote site.
- Fine-tune network use by configuring cascading Relay Agents.
Configuring an Agent as a Relay
-
Launch the GFI LanGuard console and go to Configuration tab > Agent Management. Right-click on the Agent you want to configure and select Properties. This opens the Agent's Properties dialog.
Alternatively, right-click on a computer with an Agent installed from the Computer Tree and select Properties.
- From the Relays tab, click Set as relay...
- Carefully read the warning about resource requirements for the computer running a Relay Agent. Click Next.
- Choose the caching location for the Relay Agent. The caching directory is used by the relay to store audit and remediation information when auditing remote computers. By default, the RelayCache folder is created in
C:\ProgramData\GFI\LanGuard 12\RelayCache. - Click Next, then click Finish.
The selected Agent is configured as a Relay Agent. You can monitor this process from Dashboard > Overview > Agent status.
Configuring Relay Agent Advanced Options
-
Launch the GFI LanGuard console and go to Configuration tab > Agent Management. Right-click on the Agent Relay you want to configure and select Properties. This opens the Agent's Properties dialog.
Alternatively, right-click on a computer assigned as Relay from the Computer Tree and select Properties.
- From the Relays tab > Advanced settings...
- From the Relay Agent Advanced Settings dialog, configure the options described below and click Ok.
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Caching directory | The location where the relay agent caches information when auditing remote computers. Refer to the article Moving the Repository Folder (Cache Directory) for the Relay Agent Servers |
| Address | Displays the computer name that is running the relay agent. Click Default to restore the field to its original value. |
| TCP port | Communication port used by the relay agent to communicate with the GFI LanGuard server. Port 1072 is assigned by default and is automatically changed if GFI LanGuard detects that port 1072 is being used by another application. |
Connecting Computers to a Relay
-
Launch the GFI LanGuard console and go to Configuration tab > Agent Management. Right-click on the Agent you want to configure and select Properties. This opens the Agent's Properties dialog.
Alternatively, right-click on a computer/group from the Computer Tree and select Properties.
- Click the Relays tab.
- From the Assign a relay agent area, select Use relay agent, and choose the relay from the drop-down menu.
- Click Ok.