Getting Started

This chapter describes how to get started with your ASA.

Access the Console for the Command-Line Interface

For initial configuration, access the CLI directly from the console port. Later, you can configure remote access using Telnet or SSH according to Management Access. If your system is already in multiple context mode, then accessing the console port places you in the system execution space.


Note

For ASA virtual console access, see the ASA virtual quick start guide.

Access the ISA 3000 Console

Follow these steps to access the appliance console.

Procedure

Step 1

Connect a computer to the console port using the provided console cable, and connect to the console using a terminal emulator set for 9600 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit, no flow control.

See the hardware guide for your ASA for more information about the console cable.

Step 2

Press the Enter key to see the following prompt: 


ciscoasa>

This prompt indicates that you are in user EXEC mode. Only basic commands are available from user EXEC mode.

Step 3

Access privileged EXEC mode.

enable

You are prompted to change the password the first time you enter the enable command:

Example:


ciscoasa> enable
Password:
The enable password is not set. Please set it now.
Enter Password: ******
Repeat Password: ******
ciscoasa#

All non-configuration commands are available in privileged EXEC mode. You can also enter configuration mode from privileged EXEC mode.

To exit privileged mode, enter the disable, exit, or quit command.

Step 4

Access global configuration mode.

configure terminal

Example:


ciscoasa# configure terminal
ciscoasa(config)#

You can begin to configure the ASA from global configuration mode. To exit global configuration mode, enter the exit, quit, or end command.

Access the Firepower 2100 Platform Mode Console

The Firepower 2100 console port connects you to the Secure Firewall eXtensible Operating System CLI (FXOS CLI). From the FXOS CLI, you can then connect to the ASA console, and back again. If you SSH to FXOS, you can also connect to the ASA CLI; a connection from SSH is not a console connection, so you can have multiple ASA connections from an FXOS SSH connection. Similarly, if you SSH to the ASA, you can connect to the FXOS CLI.

Before you begin

You can only have one console connection at a time. When you connect to the ASA console from the FXOS console, this connection is a persistent console connection, not like a Telnet or SSH connection.

Procedure

Step 1

Connect your management computer to the console port. The Firepower 2100 ships with a DB-9 to RJ-45 serial cable, so you will need a third party serial-to-USB cable to make the connection. Be sure to install any necessary USB serial drivers for your operating system. Use the following serial settings:

  • 9600 baud

  • 8 data bits

  • No parity

  • 1 stop bit

You connect to the FXOS CLI. Enter the user credentials; by default, you can log in with the admin user and the default password, Admin123.

Step 2

Connect to the ASA:

connect asa

Example:


firepower-2100# connect asa
Attaching to Diagnostic CLI ... Press 'Ctrl+a then d' to detach.
Type help or '?' for a list of available commands.
ciscoasa>

Step 3

Access privileged EXEC mode.

enable

You are prompted to change the password the first time you enter the enable command.

Example:


ciscoasa> enable
Password:
The enable password is not set. Please set it now.
Enter Password: ******
Repeat Password: ******
ciscoasa#

All non-configuration commands are available in privileged EXEC mode. You can also enter configuration mode from privileged EXEC mode.

To exit privileged mode, enter the disable, exit, or quit command.

Step 4

Access global configuration mode.

configure terminal

Example:


ciscoasa# configure terminal
ciscoasa(config)#

You can begin to configure the ASA from global configuration mode. To exit global configuration mode, enter the exit, quit, or end command.

Step 5

To return to the FXOS console, enter Ctrl+a, d.

Step 6

If you SSH to the ASA (after you configure SSH access in the ASA), connect to the FXOS CLI.

connect fxos

You are prompted to authenticate for FXOS; use the default username: admin and password: Admin123. To return to the ASA CLI, enter exit or type Ctrl-Shift-6, x.

Example:


ciscoasa# connect fxos
Connecting to fxos.
Connected to fxos. Escape character sequence is 'CTRL-^X'.

FXOS 2.2(2.32) kp2110

kp2110 login: admin
Password: Admin123
Last login: Sat Jan 23 16:20:16 UTC 2017 on pts/1
Successful login attempts for user 'admin' : 4
Cisco Firepower Extensible Operating System (FX-OS) Software

[…]

kp2110# 
kp2110# exit
Remote card closed command session. Press any key to continue.
Connection with fxos terminated.
Type help or '?' for a list of available commands.
ciscoasa#

Access the Firepower 1000, 2100 Appliance Mode, and Secure Firewall 3100 Console

The Firepower 1000, 2100 Appliance Mode, and Secure Firewall 3100 console port connects you to the ASA CLI (unlike the Firepower 2100 Platform mode console, which connects you to the FXOS CLI). From the ASA CLI, you can then connect to the FXOS CLI using Telnet for troubleshooting purposes.

Procedure

Step 1

Connect your management computer to the console port. Be sure to install any necessary serial drivers for your operating system. Use the following serial settings:

  • 9600 baud

  • 8 data bits

  • No parity

  • 1 stop bit

You connect to the ASA CLI. There are no user credentials required for console access by default.

Step 2

Access privileged EXEC mode.

enable

You are prompted to change the password the first time you enter the enable command.

Example:


ciscoasa> enable
Password:
The enable password is not set. Please set it now.
Enter Password: ******
Repeat Password: ******
ciscoasa#

The enable password that you set on the ASA is also the FXOS admin user password if the ASA fails to boot up, and you enter FXOS failsafe mode.

All non-configuration commands are available in privileged EXEC mode. You can also enter configuration mode from privileged EXEC mode.

To exit privileged EXEC mode, enter the disable , exit , or quit command.

Step 3

Access global configuration mode.

configure terminal

Example:


ciscoasa# configure terminal
ciscoasa(config)#

You can begin to configure the ASA from global configuration mode. To exit global configuration mode, enter the exit , quit , or end command.

Step 4

(Optional) Connect to the FXOS CLI.

connect fxos [admin]

  • admin —Provides admin-level access. Without this option, users have read-only access. Note that no configuration commands are available even in admin mode.

You are not prompted for user credentials. The current ASA username is passed through to FXOS, and no additional login is required. To return to the ASA CLI, enter exit or type Ctrl-Shift-6, x.

Within FXOS, you can view user activity using the scope security/show audit-logs command.

Example:


ciscoasa# connect fxos admin
Connecting to fxos.
Connected to fxos. Escape character sequence is 'CTRL-^X'.
firepower# 
firepower# exit
Connection with FXOS terminated.
Type help or '?' for a list of available commands.
ciscoasa#

Access the ASA Console on the Firepower 4100/9300 Chassis

For initial configuration, access the command-line interface by connecting to the Firepower 4100/9300 chassis supervisor (either to the console port or remotely using Telnet or SSH) and then connecting to the ASA security module.

Procedure

Step 1

Connect to the Firepower 4100/9300 chassis supervisor CLI (console or SSH), and then session to the ASA:

connect module slot { console | telnet}

The benefits of using a Telnet connection is that you can have multiple sessions to the module at the same time, and the connection speed is faster.

The first time you access the module, you access the FXOS module CLI. You must then connect to the ASA application.

connect asa

Example:


Firepower# connect module 1 console
Firepower-module1> connect asa

asa>

Step 2

Access privileged EXEC mode, which is the highest privilege level.

enable

You are prompted to change the password the first time you enter the enable command.

Example:


asa> enable
Password:
The enable password is not set. Please set it now.
Enter Password: ******
Repeat Password: ******
asa#

All non-configuration commands are available in privileged EXEC mode. You can also enter configuration mode from privileged EXEC mode.

To exit privileged mode, enter the disable, exit, or quit command.

Step 3

Enter global configuration mode.

configure terminal

Example:


asa# configure terminal
asa(config)#

To exit global configuration mode, enter the disable , exit , or quit command.

Step 4

Exit the application console to the FXOS module CLI by entering Ctrl-a, d

You might want to use the FXOS module CLI for troubleshooting purposes.

Step 5

Return to the supervisor level of the FXOS CLI.

Exit the console:

  1. Enter ~

    You exit to the Telnet application.

  2. To exit the Telnet application, enter:

    telnet>quit

Exit the Telnet session:

  1. Enter Ctrl-], .

Configure ASDM Access

This section describes how to access ASDM with a default configuration and how to configure access if you do not have a default configuration.

Use the Factory Default Configuration for ASDM Access

With a factory default configuration, ASDM connectivity is pre-configured with default network settings.

Procedure

Connect to ASDM using the following interface and network settings:

  • The management interface depends on your model:

    • Firepower 1010—Management 1/1 (192.168.45.1), or inside Ethernet 1/2 through 1/8 (192.168.1.1). Management hosts are limited to the 192.168.45.0/24 network, and inside hosts are limited to the 192.168.1.0/24 network.

    • Firepower 1100, 2100 in Appliance Mode, Secure Firewall 3100—Inside Ethernet 1/2 (192.168.1.1), or Management 1/1 (from DHCP). Inside hosts are limited to the 192.168.1.0/24 network. Management hosts are allowed from any network.

    • Firepower 2100 in Platform Mode—Management 1/1 (192.168.45.1). Management hosts are limited to the 192.168.45.0/24 network.

    • Firepower 4100/9300—The Management type interface and IP address of your choice defined when you deployed. Management hosts are allowed from any network.

    • ASA Virtual—Management 0/0 (set during deployment). Management hosts are limited to the management network.

    • ISA 3000—Management 1/1 (192.168.1.1). Management hosts are limited to the 192.168.1.0/24 network.

Note

 

If you change to multiple context mode, you can access ASDM from the admin context using the network settings above.

Customize ASDM Access

Use this procedure if one or more of the following conditions applies:

  • You do not have a factory default configuration

  • You want to change the management IP address

  • You want to change to transparent firewall mode

  • You want to change to multiple context mode

For routed, single mode, for quick and easy ASDM access, we recommend applying the factory default configuration with the option to set your own management IP address. Use the procedure in this section only if you have special needs such as setting transparent or multiple context mode, or if you have other configuration that you need to preserve.


Note

For the ASAv, you can configure transparent mode when you deploy, so this procedure is primarily useful after you deploy if you need to clear your configuration, for example.

Procedure

Step 1

Access the CLI at the console port.

Step 2

(Optional) Enable transparent firewall mode:

This command clears your configuration.

firewall transparent

Step 3

Configure the management interface: 


interface interface_id    
   nameif name 
   security-level level    
   no shutdown    
   ip address ip_address mask

Example:


ciscoasa(config)# interface management 0/0
ciscoasa(config-if)# nameif management
ciscoasa(config-if)# security-level 100
ciscoasa(config-if)# no shutdown
ciscoasa(config-if)# ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0

The security-level is a number between 1 and 100, where 100 is the most secure.

Step 4

(For directly-connected management hosts) Set the DHCP pool for the management network: 


dhcpd address ip_address-ip_address interface_name
dhcpd enable interface_name

Example:


ciscoasa(config)# dhcpd address 192.168.1.2-192.168.1.254 management
ciscoasa(config)# dhcpd enable management

Make sure you do not include the interface address in the range.

Step 5

(For remote management hosts) Configure a route to the management hosts:

route management_ifc management_host_ip mask gateway_ip 1

Example:


ciscoasa(config)# route management 10.1.1.0 255.255.255.0 192.168.1.50 1

Step 6

Enable the HTTP server for ASDM:

http server enable

Step 7

Allow the management host(s) to access ASDM:

http ip_address mask interface_name

Example:


ciscoasa(config)# http 192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0 management

Step 8

Save the configuration:

write memory

Step 9

(Optional) Set the mode to multiple mode:

mode multiple

When prompted, confirm that you want to convert the existing configuration to be the admin context. You are then prompted to reload the ASA.

Examples

The following configuration converts the firewall mode to transparent mode, configures the Management 0/0 interface, and enables ASDM for a management host: 


firewall transparent
interface management 0/0

ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0
nameif management
security-level 100
no shutdown

dhcpd address 192.168.1.2-192.168.1.254 management
dhcpd enable management
http server enable
http 192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0 management

Start ASDM

Launch ASDM using the ASDM-IDM Launcher. The Launcher is an application downloaded from the ASA using a web browser that you can use to connect to any ASA IP address. You do not need to re-download the launcher if you want to connect to other ASAs.

Within ASDM, you can choose a different ASA IP address to manage.

This section describes how to connect to ASDM initially, and then launch ASDM using the Launcher.

ASDM stores files in the local \Users\<user_id>\.asdm directory, including cache, log, and preferences, and also in the Temp directory, including AnyConnect Client profiles.

Procedure

Step 1

On the computer that you specified as the ASDM client, enter the following URL:

https://asa_ip_address/admin

Note

 

Be sure to specify https://, and not http:// or just the IP address (which defaults to HTTP); the ASA does not automatically forward an HTTP request to HTTPS.

The ASDM launch page appears with the following button:

Install ASDM Launcher

Step 2

To download the Launcher and start ASDM:

  1. Click Install ASDM Launcher.

    Figure 1. Install ASDM Launcher
    Install ASDM Launcher

  2. Leave the username and password fields empty (for a new installation), and click OK.

    With no HTTPS authentication configured, you can gain access to ASDM with no username and the enable password, which is blank by default. When you enter the enable command at the CLI for the first time, you are prompted to change the password; this behavior is not enforced when you log into ASDM. We suggest that you change the enable password as soon as possible so that it does not remain blank; see Set the Hostname, Domain Name, and the Enable and Telnet Passwords. Note: If you enabled HTTPS authentication, enter your username and associated password. Even without authentication, if you enter a username and password at the login screen (instead of leaving the username blank), ASDM checks the local database for a match.

  3. Save the installer to your computer, and then start the installer. The ASDM-IDM Launcher opens automatically after installation is complete.

  4. Enter the management IP address, the same username and password (blank for a new installation), and then click OK.

Factory Default Configurations

The factory default configuration is the configuration applied by Cisco to new ASAs.

  • Firepower 1010—The factory default configuration enables a functional inside/outside configuration. You can manage the ASA using ASDM from either the management interface or the inside switch ports.

  • Firepower 1100—The factory default configuration enables a functional inside/outside configuration. You can manage the ASA using ASDM from either the management interface or the inside interface.

  • Firepower 2100—Platform mode (the default):The factory default configuration enables a functional inside/outside configuration. You can manage the ASA using the Secure Firewall chassis manager (formerly Firepower Chassis Manager) and ASDM from the management interface.

    Appliance mode—If you change to appliance mode, the factory default configuration enables a functional inside/outside configuration. You can manage the ASA using ASDM from either the management interface or the inside interface.

  • Secure Firewall 3100—The factory default configuration enables a functional inside/outside configuration. You can manage the ASA using ASDM from either the Management 1/1 interface or the inside interface.

  • Firepower 4100/9300 chassis—When you deploy the standalone or cluster of ASAs, the factory default configuration configures an interface for management so that you can connect to it using ASDM, with which you can then complete your configuration.

  • ASA Virtual—Depending on your hypervisor, as part of deployment, the deployment configuration (the initial virtual deployment settings) configures an interface for management so that you can connect to it using ASDM, with which you can then complete your configuration. You can also configure failover IP addresses. You can also apply a “factory default” configuration if desired.

  • ISA 3000—The factory default configuration is an almost-complete transparent firewall mode configuration with all inside and outside interfaces on the same network; you can connect to the management interface with ASDM to set the IP address of your network. Hardware bypass is enabled for two interface pairs.

For appliances, the factory default configuration is available only for routed firewall mode and single context mode, except for the ISA 3000, where the factory default configuration is only available in transparent mode. For the ASA virtual and the Firepower 4100/9300 chassis, you can choose transparent or routed mode at deployment.


Note

In addition to the image files and the (hidden) default configuration, the following folders and files are standard in flash memory: log/, crypto_archive/, and coredumpinfo/coredump.cfg. The date on these files may not match the date of the image files in flash memory. These files aid in potential troubleshooting; they do not indicate that a failure has occurred.

Restore the Factory Default Configuration

This section describes how to restore the factory default configuration. For the ASA virtual, this procedure erases the deployment configuration and applies the following configuration:


interface management 0/0
  ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0
  nameif management
  security-level 100
  no shutdown
!
asdm logging informational
asdm history enable
!
http server enable
http 192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0 management
!
dhcpd address 192.168.1.2-192.168.1.254 management
dhcpd enable management

Note

On the Firepower 4100/9300, restoring the factory default configuration simply erases the configuration; to restore the default configuration, you must re-deploy the ASA from the supervisor.

Before you begin

This feature is available only in routed firewall mode, except for the ISA 3000, where this command is only supported in transparent mode. In addition, this feature is available only in single context mode; an ASA with a cleared configuration does not have any defined contexts to configure automatically using this feature.

Procedure

Step 1

Restore the factory default configuration:

configure factory-default [ip_address [mask]]

Example:


ciscoasa(config)# configure factory-default 10.1.1.1 255.255.255.0

Note

 

This command does not clear the currently-set mode, Appliance or Platform, for the Firepower 2100.

If you specify the ip_address , then you set the inside or management interface IP address, depending on your model, instead of using the default IP address. See the following model guidelines for which interface is set by the ip_address option:

  • Firepower 1010—Sets the management interface IP address.

  • Firepower 1100—Sets the inside interface IP address.

  • Firepower 2100 in Appliance mode—Sets the inside interface IP address.

  • Firepower 2100 in Platform mode—Sets the management interface IP address.

  • Secure Firewall 3100—Sets the inside interface IP address.

  • Firepower 4100/9300—No effect.

  • ASA Virtual—Sets the management interface IP address.

  • ISA 3000—Sets the management interface IP address.

The http command uses the subnet you specify. Similarly, the dhcpd address command range consists of all available addresses higher than the IP address you specify. For example, if you specify 10.5.6.78 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0, then the DHCP address range will be 10.5.6.79-10.5.6.254.

For the Firepower 1000, and the Firepower 2100 in Appliance mode, and the Secure Firewall 3100: This command clears the boot system command, if present, along with the rest of the configuration. This configuration change does not affect the image at bootup: the currently-loaded image continues to be used.

For the Firepower 2100 in Platform mode: This model does not use the boot system command; packages are managed by FXOS.

For all other models: This command clears the boot system command, if present, along with the rest of the configuration. The boot system command lets you boot from a specific image. The next time you reload the ASA after restoring the factory configuration, it boots from the first image in internal flash memory; if you do not have an image in internal flash memory, the ASA does not boot.

Example:


docs-bxb-asa3(config)# configure factory-default 10.86.203.151 255.255.254.0
Based on the management IP address and mask, the DHCP address
pool size is reduced to 103 from the platform limit 256

WARNING: The boot system configuration will be cleared.
The first image found in disk0:/ will be used to boot the
system on the next reload.
Verify there is a valid image on disk0:/ or the system will
not boot.

Begin to apply factory-default configuration:
Clear all configuration
WARNING: The new maximum-session limit will take effect after the running-config is saved and the system boots next time. Command accepted
WARNING: Local user database is empty and there are still 'aaa' commands for 'LOCAL'.
Executing command: interface management0/0
Executing command: nameif management
INFO: Security level for "management" set to 0 by default.
Executing command: ip address 10.86.203.151 255.255.254.0
Executing command: security-level 100
Executing command: no shutdown
Executing command: exit
Executing command: http server enable
Executing command: http 10.86.202.0 255.255.254.0 management
Executing command: dhcpd address 10.86.203.152-10.86.203.254 management
Executing command: dhcpd enable management
Executing command: logging asdm informational
Factory-default configuration is completed
ciscoasa(config)#

Step 2

Save the default configuration to flash memory:

write memory

This command saves the running configuration to the default location for the startup configuration, even if you previously configured the boot config command to set a different location; when the configuration was cleared, this path was also cleared.

Restore the ASA Virtual Deployment Configuration

This section describes how to restore the ASA virtual deployment (Day 0) configuration.

Procedure

Step 1

For failover, power off the standby unit.

To prevent the standby unit from becoming active, you must power it off. If you leave it on, when you erase the active unit configuration, then the standby unit becomes active. When the former active unit reloads and reconnects over the failover link, the old configuration will sync from the new active unit, wiping out the deployment configuration you wanted.

Step 2

Restore the deployment configuration after you reload. For failover, enter this command on the active unit:

write erase

Note

 

The ASA virtual boots the current running image, so you are not reverted to the original boot image. To use the original boot image, see the boot image command.

Do not save the configuration.

Step 3

Reload the ASA virtual and load the deployment configuration:

reload

Step 4

For failover, power on the standby unit.

After the active unit reloads, power on the standby unit. The deployment configuration will sync to the standby unit.

Firepower 1010 Default Configuration

The default factory configuration for the Firepower 1010 configures the following:

  • Hardware switch—Ethernet 1/2 through 1/8 belong to VLAN 1

  • inside→outside traffic flow—Ethernet 1/1 (outside), VLAN1 (inside)

  • management—Management 1/1 (management), IP address 192.168.45.1

  • outside IP address from DHCP, inside IP address—192.168.1.1

  • DHCP server on inside interface, management interface

  • Default route from outside DHCP

  • ASDM access—Management and inside hosts allowed. Management hosts are limited to the 192.168.45.0/24 network, and inside hosts are limited to the 192.168.1.0/24 network.

  • NAT—Interface PAT for all traffic from inside to outside.

  • DNS servers—OpenDNS servers are pre-configured.

The configuration consists of the following commands: 


interface Vlan1
nameif inside
security-level 100
ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0
no shutdown
!
interface Management1/1
managment-only
nameif management
no shutdown
security-level 100
ip address 192.168.45.1 255.255.255.0
!
interface Ethernet1/1
nameif outside
ip address dhcp setroute
no shutdown
!
interface Ethernet1/2
no shutdown
switchport
switchport mode access
switchport access vlan 1
!
interface Ethernet1/3
no shutdown
switchport
switchport mode access
switchport access vlan 1
!
interface Ethernet1/4
no shutdown
switchport
switchport mode access
switchport access vlan 1
!
interface Ethernet1/5
no shutdown
switchport
switchport mode access
switchport access vlan 1
!
interface Ethernet1/6
no shutdown
switchport
switchport mode access
switchport access vlan 1
!
interface Ethernet1/7
no shutdown
switchport
switchport mode access
switchport access vlan 1
!
interface Ethernet1/8
no shutdown
switchport
switchport mode access
switchport access vlan 1
!
object network obj_any
   subnet 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0
   nat (any,outside) dynamic interface
!
dhcpd auto_config outside
dhcpd address 192.168.1.20-192.168.1.254 inside
dhcpd address 192.168.45.10-192.168.45.12 management
dhcpd enable inside
dhcpd enable management
!
http server enable
http 192.168.45.0 255.255.255.0 management
http 192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0 inside
!
dns domain-lookup outside
dns server-group DefaultDNS
   name-server 208.67.222.222 outside
   name-server 208.67.220.220 outside
!

Firepower 1100 Default Configuration

The default factory configuration for the Firepower 1100 configures the following:

  • inside→outside traffic flow—Ethernet 1/1 (outside), Ethernet 1/2 (inside)

  • outside IP address from DHCP, inside IP address—192.168.1.1

  • management—Management 1/1 (management), IP address from DHCP

  • DHCP server on inside interface

  • Default routes from outside DHCP, management DHCP

  • ASDM access—Management and inside hosts allowed. Inside hosts are limited to the 192.168.1.0/24 network.

  • NAT—Interface PAT for all traffic from inside to outside.

  • DNS servers—OpenDNS servers are pre-configured.

The configuration consists of the following commands: 


interface Management1/1
  management-only
  nameif management
  security-level 100
  ip address dhcp setroute
  no shutdown
!
interface Ethernet1/1
  nameif outside
  security-level 0
  ip address dhcp setroute
  no shutdown
!
interface Ethernet1/2
  nameif inside
  security-level 100
  ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0
  no shutdown
!
object network obj_any
  subnet 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0
  nat (any,outside) dynamic interface
!
http server enable
http 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 management
http 192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0 inside
!
dhcpd auto_config outside
dhcpd address 192.168.1.20-192.168.1.254 inside
dhcpd enable inside
!
dns domain-lookup outside
dns server-group DefaultDNS
   name-server 208.67.222.222 outside
   name-server 208.67.220.220 outside
!

Firepower 2100 Platform Mode Default Configuration

You can set the Firepower 2100 to run in Platform mode; Appliance mode is the default.


Note

For pre-9.13(1) versions, Platform mode was the default and only option. If you upgrade from Platform mode, this mode is maintained.

ASA Configuration

The default factory configuration for the ASA on the Firepower 2100 configures the following:

  • inside→outside traffic flow—Ethernet 1/1 (outside), Ethernet 1/2 (inside)

  • outside IP address from DHCP, inside IP address—192.168.1.1

  • DHCP server on inside interface

  • Default route from outside DHCP

  • management—Management 1/1 (management), IP address 192.168.45.1

  • ASDM access—Management hosts allowed.

  • NAT—Interface PAT for all traffic from inside to outside.

  • FXOS management traffic initiation—The FXOS chassis can initiate management traffic on the ASA outside interface.

  • DNS servers—OpenDNS servers are pre-configured.

The configuration consists of the following commands: 


interface Management1/1
  management-only
  nameif management
  security-level 100
  ip address 192.168.45.1 255.255.255.0
  no shutdown
!
interface Ethernet1/1
  nameif outside
  security-level 0
  ip address dhcp setroute
  no shutdown
!
interface Ethernet1/2
  nameif inside
  security-level 100
  ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0
  no shutdown
!
object network obj_any
  subnet 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0
  nat (any,outside) dynamic interface
!
http server enable
http 192.168.45.0 255.255.255.0 management
!
dhcpd auto_config outside
dhcpd address 192.168.1.20-192.168.1.254 inside
dhcpd enable inside
!
ip-client outside
!
dns domain-lookup outside
dns server-group DefaultDNS
   name-server 208.67.222.222 outside
   name-server 208.67.220.220 outside

FXOS Configuration

The default factory configuration for FXOS on the Firepower 2100 configures the following:

  • Management 1/1—IP address 192.168.45.45

  • Default gateway—ASA data interfaces

  • Chassis Manager and SSH access—From the management network only.

  • Default Username—admin, with the default password Admin123

  • DHCP server—Client IP address range 192.168.45.10-192.168.45.12

  • NTP server—Cisco NTP servers: 0.sourcefire.pool.ntp.org, 1.sourcefire.pool.ntp.org, 2.sourcefire.pool.ntp.org

  • DNS Servers—OpenDNS: 208.67.222.222, 208.67.220.220

  • Ethernet 1/1 and Ethernet 1/2—Enabled

Firepower 2100 Appliance Mode Default Configuration

The Firepower 2100 runs in Appliance mode by default.


Note

For pre-9.13(1) versions, Platform mode was the default and only option. If you upgrade from Platform mode, Platform mode is maintained.

The default factory configuration for the Firepower 2100 in Appliance mode configures the following:

  • inside→outside traffic flow—Ethernet 1/1 (outside), Ethernet 1/2 (inside)

  • outside IP address from DHCP, inside IP address—192.168.1.1

  • management IP address from DHCP—Management 1/1 (management)

  • DHCP server on inside interface

  • Default routes from outside DHCP, management DHCP

  • ASDM access—Management and inside hosts allowed. Inside hosts are limited to the 192.168.1.0/24 network.

  • NAT—Interface PAT for all traffic from inside to outside.

  • DNS servers—OpenDNS servers are pre-configured.

The configuration consists of the following commands: 


interface Management1/1
  management-only
  nameif management
  security-level 100
  ip address dhcp setroute
  no shutdown
!
interface Ethernet1/1
  nameif outside
  security-level 0
  ip address dhcp setroute
  no shutdown
!
interface Ethernet1/2
  nameif inside
  security-level 100
  ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0
  no shutdown
!
object network obj_any
  subnet 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0
  nat (any,outside) dynamic interface
!
http server enable
http 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 management
http 192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0 management
!
dhcpd auto_config outside
dhcpd address 192.168.1.20-192.168.1.254 inside
dhcpd enable inside
!
dns domain-lookup outside
dns server-group DefaultDNS
   name-server 208.67.222.222 outside
   name-server 208.67.220.220 outside
!

Secure Firewall 3100 Default Configuration

The default factory configuration for the Secure Firewall 3100 configures the following:

  • inside→outside traffic flow—Ethernet 1/1 (outside), Ethernet 1/2 (inside)

  • outside IP address from DHCP, inside IP address—192.168.1.1

  • management—Management 1/1 (management), IP address from DHCP

  • DHCP server on inside interface

  • Default routes from outside DHCP, management DHCP

  • ASDM access—Management and inside hosts allowed. Inside hosts are limited to the 192.168.1.0/24 network.

  • NAT—Interface PAT for all traffic from inside to outside.

  • DNS servers—OpenDNS servers are pre-configured.

The configuration consists of the following commands: 


interface Management1/1
  management-only
  nameif management
  security-level 100
  ip address dhcp setroute
  no shutdown
!
interface Ethernet1/1
  nameif outside
  security-level 0
  ip address dhcp setroute
  no shutdown
!
interface Ethernet1/2
  nameif inside
  security-level 100
  ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0
  no shutdown
!
object network obj_any
  subnet 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0
  nat (any,outside) dynamic interface
!
http server enable
http 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 management
http 192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0 inside
!
dhcpd auto_config outside
dhcpd address 192.168.1.20-192.168.1.254 inside
dhcpd enable inside
!
dns domain-lookup outside
dns server-group DefaultDNS
   name-server 208.67.222.222 outside
   name-server 208.67.220.220 outside
!

Firepower 4100/9300 Chassis Default Configuration

When you deploy the ASA on the Firepower 4100/9300 chassis, you can pre-set many parameters that let you connect to the Management interface using ASDM. A typical configuration includes the following settings:

  • Management interface:

    • Management type interface of your choice defined on the Firepower 4100/9300 Chassis supervisor

    • Named “management”

    • IP address of your choice

    • Security level 0

    • Management-only

  • Default route through the management interface

  • ASDM access—All hosts allowed.

The configuration for a standalone unit consists of the following commands. For additional configuration for clustered units, see Create an ASA Cluster. 


interface <management_ifc>
  management-only
  ip address <ip_address> <mask>
  ipv6 address <ipv6_address>
  ipv6 enable
  nameif management
  security-level 0
  no shutdown
!
http server enable
http 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 management
http ::/0 management
!
route management 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 <gateway_ip> 1
ipv6 route management ::/0 <gateway_ipv6>

ISA 3000 Default Configuration

The default factory configuration for the ISA 3000 configures the following:

  • Transparent firewall mode—A transparent firewall is a Layer 2 firewall that acts like a “bump in the wire,” or a “stealth firewall,” and is not seen as a router hop to connected devices.

  • 1 Bridge Virtual Interface—All member interfaces are in the same network (IP address not pre-configured; you must set to match your network): GigabitEthernet 1/1 (outside1), GigabitEthernet 1/2 (inside1), GigabitEthernet 1/3 (outside2), GigabitEthernet 1/4 (inside2)

  • All inside and outside interfaces can communicate with each other.

  • Management 1/1 interface—192.168.1.1/24 for ASDM access.

  • DHCP for clients on management.

  • ASDM access—Management hosts allowed.

  • Hardware bypass is enabled for the following interface pairs: GigabitEthernet 1/1 & 1/2; GigabitEthernet 1/3 & 1/4


    Note

    When the ISA 3000 loses power and goes into hardware bypass mode, only the above interface pairs can communicate; inside1 and inside2, and outside1 and outside2 can no longer communicate. Any existing connections between these interfaces will be lost. When the power comes back on, there is a brief connection interruption as the ASA takes over the flows.

The configuration consists of the following commands: 


firewall transparent

interface GigabitEthernet1/1
 	bridge-group 1
 	nameif outside1
 	security-level 0
		no shutdown
interface GigabitEthernet1/2
	 bridge-group 1
 	nameif inside1
 	security-level 100
 	no shutdown
interface GigabitEthernet1/3
	 bridge-group 1
	 nameif outside2
	 security-level 0
 	no shutdown
interface GigabitEthernet1/4
 	bridge-group 1
 	nameif inside2
 	security-level 100
 	no shutdown
interface Management1/1
		management-only
		no shutdown
		nameif management
		security-level 100
		ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0
interface BVI1
		no ip address

access-list allowAll extended permit ip any any
access-group allowAll in interface outside1
access-group allowAll in interface outside2

same-security-traffic permit inter-interface

hardware-bypass GigabitEthernet 1/1-1/2
hardware-bypass GigabitEthernet 1/3-1/4

http server enable
http 192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0 management

dhcpd address 192.168.1.5-192.168.1.254 management
dhcpd enable management

ASA Virtual Deployment Configuration

When you deploy the ASA virtual, you can pre-set many parameters that let you connect to the Management 0/0 interface using ASDM. A typical configuration includes the following settings:

  • Routed or Transparent firewall mode

  • Management 0/0 interface:

    • Named “management”

    • IP address or DHCP

    • Security level 0

  • Static route for the management host IP address (if it is not on the management subnet)

  • HTTP server enabled or disabled

  • HTTP access for the management host IP address

  • (Optional) Failover link IP addresses for GigabitEthernet 0/8, and the Management 0/0 standby IP address

  • DNS server

  • Smart licensing ID token

  • Smart licensing Throughput Level and Standard Feature Tier

  • (Optional) Smart Call Home HTTP Proxy URL and port

  • (Optional) SSH management settings:

    • Client IP addresses

    • Local username and password

    • Authentication required for SSH using the LOCAL database

  • (Optional) REST API enabled or disabled


Note

To successfully register the ASA virtual with the Cisco Licensing Authority, the ASA virtual requires Internet access. You might need to perform additional configuration after deployment to achieve Internet access and successful license registration.

See the following sample configuration for a standalone unit: 


interface Management0/0
  nameif management
  security-level 0
  ip address ip_address
  
  no shutdown
http server enable
http managemment_host_IP mask management
route management management_host_IP mask gateway_ip 1
dns server-group DefaultDNS
  name-server ip_address
call-home
  http-proxy ip_address port port
license smart
  feature tier standard
  throughput level {100M | 1G | 2G}
  license smart register idtoken id_token
aaa authentication ssh console LOCAL
username username password password
ssh source_IP_address mask management
rest-api image boot:/path
rest-api agent

Note

The Essentials license used to be called “Standard” license.

See the following sample configuration for a primary unit in a failover pair: 


nameif management
  security-level 0
  ip address ip_address standby standby_ip
  
  no shutdown
route management management_host_IP mask gateway_ip 1
http server enable
http managemment_host_IP mask management
dns server-group DefaultDNS
  name-server ip_address
call-home
  http-proxy ip_address port port
license smart
  feature tier standard
  throughput level {100M | 1G | 2G}
  license smart register idtoken id_token
aaa authentication ssh console LOCAL
username username password password
ssh source_IP_address mask management
rest-api image boot:/path
rest-api agent
failover 
failover lan unit primary
failover lan interface fover gigabitethernet0/8
failover link fover gigabitethernet0/8
failover interface ip fover primary_ip mask standby standby_ip

Set the Firepower 2100 to Appliance or Platform Mode

The Firepower 2100 runs an underlying operating system called the FXOS. You can run the Firepower 2100 in the following modes:

  • Appliance mode (the default)—Appliance mode lets you configure all settings in the ASA. Only advanced troubleshooting commands are available from the FXOS CLI.

  • Platform mode—When in Platform mode, you must configure basic operating parameters and hardware interface settings in FXOS. These settings include enabling interfaces, establishing EtherChannels, NTP, image management, and more. You can use the chassis manager web interface or FXOS CLI. You can then configure your security policy in the ASA operating system using ASDM or the ASA CLI.

This procedure tells you how to change the mode.


Caution

When you change the mode, you need to reload the system, and the configuration is cleared. The default configuration is applied upon reload. Be sure to keep a copy of the original configuration to refer to.

Note that the clear configure all and configure factory-default commands do not clear the current mode.

Before you begin

You can only change the mode at the CLI.

Procedure

Step 1

(Optional) Back up your current configuration. See Back Up and Restore Configurations or Other Files.

Although there are slight differences between an Appliance mode configuration and a Platform mode configuration, a copy of the old configuration can be a good starting point. For example, for Platform mode, the NTP, DNS, and EtherChannel configuration is not part of the ASA configuration, so it will not be included in your backup, but most other ASA settings are valid for both modes.

Step 2

View the current mode.

show fxos mode

Example:


ciscoasa(config)# show fxos mode
Mode is currently set to appliance

Step 3

Set the mode to Platform mode.

no fxos mode appliance

write memory

reload

After you set the mode, you need to save the configuration and reload the device. Prior to reloading, you can set the mode back to the original value without any disruption.

Caution

 

When you reload, the configuration is cleared. The default configuration is applied upon reload.

Example:


ciscoasa(config)# no fxos mode appliance
Mode set to platform mode
WARNING: This command will take effect after the running-config is saved and the system has been rebooted. Command accepted.
ciscoasa(config)# write memory
Building configuration...
Cryptochecksum: c0532471 648dc7c2 4f2b4175 1f162684

23736 bytes copied in 1.520 secs (23736 bytes/sec)
[OK]
ciscoasa(config)# reload
Proceed with reload? [confirm]

Step 4

Set the mode to Appliance mode.

fxos mode appliance

write memory

reload

After you set the mode, you need to save the configuration and reload the device. Prior to reloading, you can set the mode back to the original value without any disruption.

Caution

 

When you reload, the configuration is cleared. The default configuration is applied upon reload.

Example:


ciscoasa(config)# fxos mode appliance
Mode set to appliance mode
WARNING: This command will take effect after the running-config is saved and the system has been rebooted. Command accepted.
ciscoasa(config)# write memory
Building configuration...
Cryptochecksum: c0532471 648dc7c2 4f2b4175 1f162684

23736 bytes copied in 1.520 secs (23736 bytes/sec)
[OK]
ciscoasa(config)# reload
Proceed with reload? [confirm]

Work with the Configuration

This section describes how to work with the configuration. The information in this section applies to both single and multiple security contexts, except where noted.

About the Startup Configuration and the Running Configuration

Startup Configuration

When the ASA starts up, it loads the configuration from a text file called the startup configuration. This file resides by default as a hidden file in internal flash memory. You can, however, specify a different file for the startup configuration that resides in the visible file system. Use the following command to specify a new startup configuration:

boot config {disk0:/ | disk1:/} [path/]filename

Save the new location:

write memory

For example:


ciscoasa (config)# boot config disk0:/startup.cfg
ciscoasa (config)# write memory

Working With Large Configurations

The hidden startup directory has limited space. If your configuration is very large (for example, over 16 MB), then you will not be able to save the startup configuration. In this case, you must use the boot config command to save the startup configuration to the visible file system. For example, if you load a large configuration into running memory and try to save it, you may see the following error message if you enter write memory and the configuration is too large:

%Error writing. nvram:/startup-config (No space left on device:)

In this case, be sure to resave the running configuration to a new file location before you reload the ASA. Otherwise, the ASA may not load a complete configuration.

Running Configuration

When you enter a command, the change is made only to the running configuration in memory. You must manually save the running configuration to the startup configuration for your changes to remain after a reload.

Save Configuration Changes

This section describes how to save your configuration.

Save Configuration Changes in Single Context Mode

To save the running configuration to the startup configuration, perform the following procedure.

Procedure

Save the running configuration to the startup configuration:

write memory

Note

 

The copy running-config startup-config command is equivalent to the write memory command.

Save Configuration Changes in Multiple Context Mode

You can save each context (and system) configuration separately, or you can save all context configurations at the same time.

Save Each Context and System Separately

Use the following procedure to save the system or context configuration.

Procedure

From within the context or the system, save the running configuration to the startup configuration:

write memory

For multiple context mode, context startup configurations can reside on external servers. In this case, the ASA saves the configuration back to the server you identified in the context URL, except for an HTTP or HTTPS URL, which do not let you save the configuration to the server.

Note

 

The copy running-config startup-config command is equivalent to the write memory command.

Save All Context Configurations at the Same Time

Use the following procedure to save all context configurations at the same time, as well as the system configuration.

Procedure

From the system execution space, save the running configuration to the startup configuration for all contexts and the system configuration:

write memory all [/noconfirm]

If you do not enter the /noconfirm keyword, you see the following prompt: 


Are you sure [Y/N]:

After you enter Y, the ASA saves the system configuration and each context. Context startup configurations can reside on external servers. In this case, the ASA saves the configuration back to the server you identified in the context URL, except for an HTTP or HTTPS URL, which do not let you save the configuration to the server.

After the ASA saves each context, the following message appears: 


‘Saving context ‘b’ ... ( 1/3 contexts saved ) ’

Sometimes, a context is not saved because of an error. See the following information for errors:

  • For contexts that are not saved because of low memory, the following message appears: 

    
The context 'context a' could not be saved due to Unavailability of resources

  • For contexts that are not saved because the remote destination is unreachable, the following message appears: 

    
The context 'context a' could not be saved due to non-reachability of destination

  • For contexts that are not saved because the context is locked, the following message appears: 

    
Unable to save the configuration for the following contexts as these contexts are locked.
context ‘a’ , context ‘x’ , context ‘z’ .

    A context is only locked if another user is already saving the configuration or in the process of deleting the context.

  • For contexts that are not saved because the startup configuration is read-only (for example, on an HTTP server), the following message report is printed at the end of all other messages: 

    
Unable to save the configuration for the following contexts as these contexts have read-only config-urls:
context ‘a’ , context ‘b’ , context ‘c’ .

  • For contexts that are not saved because of bad sectors in the flash memory, the following message appears: 

    
The context 'context a' could not be saved due to Unknown errors

Copy the Startup Configuration to the Running Configuration

Use one of the following commands to copy a new startup configuration to the running configuration:

  • copy startup-config running-config

    Merges the startup configuration with the running configuration. A merge adds any new commands from the new configuration to the running configuration. If the configurations are the same, no changes occur. If commands conflict or if commands affect the running of the context, then the effect of the merge depends on the command. You might get errors, or you might have unexpected results.

  • reload

    Reloads the ASA, which loads the startup configuration and discards the running configuration.

  • clear configure all and then copy startup-config running-config

    Loads the startup configuration and discards the running configuration without requiring a reload.

View the Configuration

The following commands let you view the running and startup configurations:

  • show running-config

    Views the running configuration.

  • show running-config command

    Views the running configuration of a specific command.

  • show startup-config

    Views the startup configuration.

Clear and Remove Configuration Settings

To erase settings, enter one of the following commands:

  • clear configure configurationcommand [level2configurationcommand]

    Clears all the configuration for a specified command. If you only want to clear the configuration for a specific version of the command, you can enter a value for level2configurationcommand.

    For example, to clear the configuration for all aaa commands, enter the following command: 

     
ciscoasa(config)# clear configure aaa

    To clear the configuration for only aaa authentication commands, enter the following command: 

     
ciscoasa(config)# clear configure aaa authentication

  • no configurationcommand [level2configurationcommand] qualifier

    Disables the specific parameters or options of a command. In this case, you use the no command to remove the specific configuration identified by qualifier.

    For example, to remove a specific access-list command, enter enough of the command to identify it uniquely; you may have to enter the entire command: 

     
ciscoasa(config)# no access-list abc extended permit icmp any any object-group obj_icmp_1

  • write erase

    Erases the startup configuration.


    Note

    For the ASA virtual, this command restores the deployment configuration after a reload. To erase the configuration completely, use the clear configure all command.

  • clear configure all

    Erases the running configuration.


    Note

    In multiple context mode, if you enter clear configure all from the system configuration, you also remove all contexts and stop them from running. The context configuration files are not erased, and remain in their original location.


    Note

    For the Firepower 1000, and the Firepower 2100 in Appliance mode, and the Secure Firewall 3100: This command clears the boot system command, if present, along with the rest of the configuration. This configuration change does not affect the image at bootup: the currently-loaded image continues to be used.

    For the Firepower 2100 in Platform mode: This model does not use the boot system command; packages are managed by FXOS.

    For all other models: This command clears the boot system command, if present, along with the rest of the configuration. The boot system command lets you boot from a specific image, including an image on the external flash memory card. The next time you reload the ASA, it boots from the first image in internal flash memory; if you do not have an image in internal flash memory, the ASA does not boot.


    Note

    This command does not clear the currently-set mode, Appliance or Platform, for the Firepower 2100.

Create Text Configuration Files Offline

This guide describes how to use the CLI to configure the ASA; when you save commands, the changes are written to a text file. Instead of using the CLI, however, you can edit a text file directly on your computer and paste a configuration at the configuration mode command-line prompt in its entirety, or line by line. Alternatively, you can download a text file to the ASA internal flash memory. See Software and Configurations for information on downloading the configuration file to the ASA.

In most cases, commands described in this guide are preceded by a CLI prompt. The prompt in the following example is “ciscoasa(config)#”: 

 
ciscoasa(config)# context a

In the text configuration file you are not prompted to enter commands, so the prompt is omitted as follows: 


context a

For additional information about formatting the file, see Using the Command-Line Interface.

Apply Configuration Changes to Connections

When you make security policy changes to the configuration, all new connections use the new security policy. Existing connections continue to use the policy that was configured at the time of the connection establishment. show command output for old connections reflect the old configuration, and in some cases will not include data about the old connections.

For example, if you remove a QoS service-policy from an interface, then re-add a modified version, then the show service-policy command only displays QoS counters associated with new connections that match the new service policy; existing connections on the old policy no longer show in the command output.

To ensure that all connections use the new policy, you need to disconnect the current connections so that they can reconnect using the new policy.

To disconnect connections, enter the following command:

  • clear conn [all] [protocol {tcp | udp}] [address src_ip [-src_ip] [netmask mask]] [port src_port [-src_port]] [address dest_ip [-dest_ip] [netmask mask]] [port dest_port [-dest_port]]

    This command terminates connections in any state. See the show conn command to view all current connections.

    With no arguments, this command clears all through-the-box connections. To also clear to-the-box connections (including your current management session), use the all keyword. To clear specific connections based on the source IP address, destination IP address, port, and/or protocol, you can specify the desired options.

Reload the ASA

To reload the ASA, complete the following procedure.

The reload command is not replicated to data nodes for clustering or to the standby/secondary unit for failover.

In multiple context mode, you can only reload from the system execution space.

Procedure

Reload the ASA.

reload