Getting Started with Tripwire Axon Agent for TLC

The Axon AgentA system on which Tripwire Axon Agent for TLC software has been installed. is Tripwire’s new generation of agent technology. Installed on an endpoint to be monitored, Tripwire Axon Agent for TLCA service that may be installed on a Windows, AIX, or Linux system to collect log messages from any log-generating application running on the system. When installed on a Windows system, this service can also collect the system's Windows Event1. Either a log message that a Manager has standardized (i.e. normalized) for use by TLC (a.k.a. Normalized Messages), or an event or vulnerability imported from a scanner. 2. An 'event message' collected from a Log Source. Logs via the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol. is the software that provides data to Tripwire LogCenter Manager.

Supported Platforms

Tripwire Axon Agent for TLC software can be installed on a wide and growing range of operating systems. For this release, the Agent is supported on:

Amazon Linux 2 (64-bit)

CentOS Linux 7.0 - 7.8 (64-bit)

CentOS Linux 8.0 - 8.4 (64-bit)

Debian Linux 10.0 - 10.6 (64-bit)

IBM AIX 7.1 (64-bit)

IBM AIX 7.2 (64-bit)

Microsoft Windows 7, 7 Embedded 64-bit)

Microsoft Windows 8, 8.1, 8.1 Embedded (64-bit)

Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit)

Microsoft Windows Embedded 8.1 (64-bit)

Microsoft Windows Server 2012 (64-bit)

Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 (64-bit)

Microsoft Windows Server 2016 (64-bit)

Microsoft Windows Server 2019 (64-bit)

Oracle Linux RHCK 7.2+ (64-bit)

Oracle Linux UEK 7.2+ (64-bit)

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.0 - 7.9 (64-bit)

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.0 - 8.4 (64-bit)

SUSE 12.51 (64-bit)

SUSE 15.0 (64-bit)

SUSE 15.1 (64-bit)

Ubuntu 18.04 LTS (64-bit)

Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (64-bit)

Choosing an Authentication Method for TLC Axon Agents

The Tripwire Axon Access PointA component of TLC ManagerTripwire LogCenter Manager is the core software in your TLC environment. TLC Manager collects and processes log messages from a wide variety of systems and devices. through which Axon Agents deliver log messages to TLC. is a component through which Axon Agents deliver data to a Tripwire LogCenter Manager. To connect with Axon Agents, the Axon Access Point on a Tripwire LogCenter Manager uses the Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol. Therefore, each Axon Agent needs a set of X.509 certificates in order to communicate with the Access Point.

Axon Agents can use two different methods to obtain the certificates used for securing the connection with the Axon Access Point:

With the registration method, you create a pre-shared key that is used to authenticate a newly-connected Axon Agent while it obtains a certificate to use for subsequent connections. To install an Axon Agent using the registration method, see Installing Tripwire Axon Agent using a Pre-Shared Key.

With the public key infrastructure (PKI) method, you create certificates and build a certificate key store on both the Axon Agent and Axon Access Point systems. To install an Axon Agent using PKI, see Installing Tripwire Axon Agent using PKI.

Tips

Tripwire strongly recommends using the registration method unless you have an existing centralized public key infrastructure and are comfortable with creating and maintaining certificate keys. The registration method is equally secure, and greatly simplifies the configuration process. Changing the authentication method after the initial installation will require modifying all existing Axon Agents to configure new certificates.

Comparing the Registration and PKI Authentication Methods

With the registration method, the Axon Agent and Axon Access Point complete the following steps:

1.

The Axon Agent establishes an anonymous TLS connection with the Access Point.

2.

The Axon Agent sends an X.509 Certificate Signing Request (CSR) to the Access Point. If the Agent has a registration pre-shared-key file, the pre-shared key is included in the request.

3.

The Access Point verifies the CSR and pre-shared key, and it sends a set of signed X.509 certificates to the Axon Agent.

4.

The Axon Agent reads the response and locally stores copies of 1) the Access Point Certificate Authority (CA), and 2) the signed certificates.

5.

The Axon Agent disconnects from the Access Point and deletes its registration_pre_shared_key.txt file.

6.

With the signed certificates, the Axon Agent reconnects with the Access Point and establishes a secure TLS session.

With the PKI method, the Axon Agent connects with the Access Point using the signed certificates and establishes a secure TLS session.

Required Ports and Protocols

The tables in this section list the services installed with Tripwire LogCenter Manager, and the default ports used. Figure 30 illustrates these connections.

Table 9. Axon Access Point services installed with Tripwire LogCenter Manager

Service Name	Listening Ports	Requires Firewall Access?	Description
TripwireAxonAccessPoint	5670	Y	The Axon Agent's connection port to the Access Point.

Table 10. Required ports for the Axon Access Point service on a Tripwire LogCenter Manager

Default Port/Protocol	Configurable During Installation?	Description
5670/TCP/TLS	No	Used for inbound communication received from Axon Agents.

Figure 30.  Agent ports and protocols

Migrating your Monitored Assets to Advanced Collectors

Before installing the Axon Agent for use with Tripwire LogCenter, we recommend that you follow the steps below.

If your TLC environment includes any Windows systems from which the WinLog CollectorA type of CollectorA TLC module that gathers or receives log messages from Log Sources. that collects log messages from Windows Event Logs via the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) protocol. has previously collected log messages, Tripwire recommends that you migrate those Monitored Assets to the Advanced Windows CollectorA type of Collector that collects log messages from Windows Event Logs on Axon Agent systems via the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol..

To identify Monitored Assets that should be migrated to the Advanced Windows Collector, run the Duplicated Assets for Advanced Windows Collectors Report in the Report Center. For instructions, see Running a Report.

To migrate a Monitored AssetAn object in the TLC Configuration Manager that represents a Log SourceAny log-generating application, operating-system service, database instance, or device from which TLC collects log messages. from which TLC collects log messages directly. from the WinLog Collector to the Advanced Window Collector, install Tripwire Axon Agent for TLC on the AssetA Log Source in your TLC environment. See Monitored Assets and Discovered Assets.'s host system, and then assign the Advanced Windows Collector to the Asset in the TLC Console (see Working with Monitored Assets).

If your TLC environmentConsists of all TLC software, Managers, Log Sources, Monitored Assets, Collectors, and data in your TLC installation. included any Windows and/or Linux systems from which the File CollectorA type of Collector that gathers log messages from Log Sources that store messages in an ASCII log file. has collected log messages, Tripwire recommends that you migrate those Monitored Assets to the Advanced File CollectorA type of Collector that collects log messages from log-generating applications running on an Axon Agent host system via the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol..

To identify Monitored Assets that should be migrated to the Advanced File Collector, run the File Collector Assets Report in the Report Center. For instructions, see Running a Report.

To migrate a Monitored Asset from the File Collector to the Advanced File Collector, install Tripwire Axon Agent for TLC on the Asset's host system, and then assign 1) the Advanced File Collector and 2) the system's Log Source(s) to the Asset in the TLC Console (see Working with Monitored Assets and Working with Log Sources for an Advanced File Collector).