End of Life Notice for the Forum Sentry 556X Platform
Overview
Forum Systems has announced the End of Life (EOL) for the Forum Sentry 556X platform, encompassing both virtual and hardware versions.
This notice marks the official discontinuation of support, updates, and services for all 556X units (hardware and virtual), effective December 31, 2024. After this date, the Forum Sentry 556X platform will no longer receive security updates, patches, or technical support from our team.
All customers utilizing Forum Sentry 556X Hardware Devices and 556X Virtual Appliances are encouraged to migrate to the 656X platform as soon as possible.
Please read this article for important details including the available migration options.
Why is This Happening Now?
The decision to retire the Forum Sentry 556X Platform stems from several key factors:
1. Technological Advancements: The rapid evolution of security technologies and standards necessitates platforms that can adapt and integrate more advanced features. The 656X platform utilizes a new version of the Forum Systems secure proprietary operating system – the ForumOS. Periodic updates to the ForumOS are required to ensure all embedded libraries are up to date.
2. Virtual Environment Advancements: The ForumOS requires periodic updates to stay in compliance with the virtualization platforms it runs on – including VMware, AWS EC2, and MS Azure.
3. ClamAV Engine EOL: Many customers utilize Sentry’s on-board antivirus scanning features. The ClamAV engine v0.103.11 embedded in the 556X ForumOS is EOL in September 2024. The latest ClamAV engines require the 656X ForumOS.
What Sentry Instances are Impacted?
Forum Sentry 556X series instances, either in virtual or hardware form, are directly impacted. This includes:
- Forum Sentry 556X hardware appliances purchased before December 31, 2020.
- Forum Sentry Virtual Appliances for VMware running ForumOS version 4.1 or older.
- Forum Sentry EC2 Instances launched from the ForumOS AMI in the AWS Marketplace running ForumOS version 4.1 or older.
To verify your instance:
1. WebAdmin - Check the ForumOS version on General Info page in the WebAdmin interface
2. ForumOS CLI - Use the “show general” command in the ForumOS command line interface (CLI).
Sentry software instances – which are non-ForumOS variants of Sentry – are NOT impacted by this EOL notice.
What Happens If You Do Nothing?
Choosing to continue using the Forum Sentry 556X platform beyond the EOL date carries several risks and implications:
1. Security Vulnerabilities: Without ongoing security patches, your system will become increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats, including malware and hacking attempts.
2. Compliance Issues: Many industries have regulatory requirements for up-to-date security measures. Using an unsupported platform may result in non-compliance with industry standards and regulations.
3. Technical Issues: As the platform ages without updates, compatibility issues with other software and systems are likely to arise, potentially leading to operational disruptions.
4. Lack of Support: After the EOL date, our support team will no longer provide assistance for any issues related to the 556X platform, leaving you without official resources for troubleshooting and problem resolution.
5. ClamAV Functionality: After the ClamAV engine v0.103.11 EOL happens in September, the antivirus scanning functionality in Sentry may be significantly impacted. Signature updates may not be available to the EOL ClamAV engine.
Customers using the ClamAV functionality in Sentry are strongly encouraged to migrate to the 656X platform prior to September 2024.
What are the 656X Migration Plans Available?
The migration options available depend on the ForumOS variant.
1. Hardware Appliance – Replace existing 556X hardware devices with the latest 656X model. Please contact your Forum Systems representatives for more information.
2. Virtual Appliance for VMware – There are two migration paths available for customers utilizing the Sentry virtual appliances for VMware. Forum Support recommends Option A listed below.
Option A – Hot Swap (Same IPs)
- Launch new VM using the latest 656X OVA file
- Apply network settings using temporary IP addresses
- Obtain and apply the new license (license transfer)
- Import the existing Sentry FSX file from the existing instance
- Validate the configuration
- Schedule a swap of the old to new instance (1 for 1) under change window
- Shutdown the existing instance
- Change the IPs of the new instance to match that of the old
Pros: avoids networking changes
Cons: not running in parallel, slightly longer backout process
Option B – Run in Parallel (New IPs)
- Launch new VM using the latest 656X OVA file
- Apply network settings using new permanent IPs
- Obtain and apply the new license (license transfer)
- Import the existing Sentry FSX file from the existing instance
- Validate the configuration
- Update networking devices for the new VM
- Update existing firewall rules
- Add the new VM to the existing Load Balancer pools
Pros: allows for running old and new in parallel
Cons: requires additional IPs and network changes
3. Forum Sentry AWS AMI – Launch new EC2 instance in the same region and VPC using the latest 656X ForumOS AMI using a supported EC2 instance type.
- Obtain and apply the new license
- Import the existing Sentry FSX file from the existing instance
- Validate the configuration
- Update the applicable EC2 networking components:
- Update existing Security Groups
- Add the new EC2 to the existing Load Balancer pools
Licensing Considerations
License Server Licensing
Customers using the Forum Sentry License Server with the virtual ForumOS variants, will point their new Sentry instances to their existing license server to obtain licenses. Temporary licenses can be provided to ensure the old and new instances can run in parallel for the migration period.
Instance Based Licensing
Customers using instance-based licenses (node locked licenses applicable to a specific Sentry instance) will need to obtain new licenses from Forum Systems for all new VMs or EC2 instances. This will be handled as a license transfer – with new licenses replacing the old.
There will be no licensing costs for Sentry instances covered under a valid Support & Maintenance contract.
Temporary licenses can be provided to ensure the old and new instances can run in parallel for the migration period.
How Do I Get Assistance with This Process?
We understand that transitioning to a new platform can be challenging, and we are committed to providing comprehensive support throughout this process. Here’s how you can get assistance:
1. Contact Support: Reach out to your dedicated support team via email at support@forumsys.com or by opening a ticket on our Help Desk Site. Our experts are available to answer any questions and provide guidance on the migration process.
2. Professional Services: For personalized support, we offer Professional Services. Our consultants will work with you to develop a customized migration plan that addresses your specific needs and constraints. Please reach out to dedicated support team at support@forumsys.com or by opening a ticket on our Help Desk Site for more information.
4. Online Resources: Visit our Help Desk site to access a wealth of resources, including migration guides, installation guides, and FAQs.
We are here to ensure your transition is as smooth and efficient as possible, minimizing any disruption to your operations and maintaining the highest levels of security and performance.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we move forward with this transition. We appreciate your continued trust in Forum Systems and look forward to supporting your security needs with our enhanced product offerings.
For more information, please visit our website or contact our support team.
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