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# Getting Started Checklist

Before you can use Intel SCS to configure Intel AMT, you will need to collect some data about your network and make some decisions. In many organizations, responsibilities and knowledge about the network is located in several departments. You can print out this checklist and use it as a reference as you collect the necessary data.

Getting Started Checklist for Intel SCS
1 | FQDN | How is Domain Name System (DNS) resolution done in your network? On an Intel AMT system, the host platform and the Intel AMT device both have a Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN). These FQDNs are usually the same, but they can be different. Intel SCS configures the FQDN of the Intel AMT device. This is one of the most important configuration settings. You must define an FQDN that can be resolved by the DNS in your network. If you do not, after configuration you might not be able to connect to the device. By default, this is how Intel SCS configures the FQDN (hostname.suffix): The hostname part of the FQDN is the hostname from the host operating system. The suffix is the “Primary DNS Suffix” from the host operating system. If this default is not correct for your network, change the setting in the configuration profile. For information about the available settings, see Defining IP and FQDN Settings. |
2 | IP | How does your network assign Internet Protocol (IP) addresses? On an Intel AMT system, the host platform and the Intel AMT device both have an IP address. These IP addresses are usually the same, but they can be different. Intel SCS configures the IP address of the Intel AMT device. By default, Intel SCS configures the Intel AMT device to get the IP address from a DHCP server. If this default is not correct for your network, change the setting in the configuration profile. For information about the available settings, see Defining IP and FQDN Settings. |
3 | Domains | Do you want to limit access to Intel AMT based on domain location? Intel AMT includes an option to limit access to the Intel AMT device based on the location of the host system. If you want to use this option, you must define a list of trusted domains. When the host system is not located in one of the domains in the list, access to the Intel AMT device is blocked. The list of domains is defined in the Home Domains window of the configuration profile (see Defining Home Domains). Note: If you use this option, make sure that you have a complete and accurate list of all the domains where the host system can operate. If you make a mistake when defining this list, you might not be able to connect to the Intel AMT device after it is configured. You must make sure that you always configure systems only with a profile that contains a list of domains correct for those systems. You must make sure that you define the domain names exactly as they are defined in option 15 of the DHCP servers (on-board specific DNS suffix). |
4 | VPN | Do you want to permit access to Intel AMT via a VPN? By default, Intel AMT devices are configured to block access via Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections. If you want to manage systems outside of the organization’s network and are connected to it using VPN, you will need to change this setting. This setting is defined in the Home Domains window of the configuration profile. Note: A prerequisite for this setting is to define a list of Home Domains (see item #3 in this checklist). |
5 | AD | Do you want to integrate Intel AMT with Active Directory (AD)? If your network uses AD, you can integrate Intel AMT with your AD. Intel AMT supports the Kerberos authentication method. This means that Intel SCS and management consoles can authenticate with the Intel AMT device using “Kerberos” users. The users are defined in the Intel AMT device using the Access Control List. If integration is enabled, during configuration Intel SCS creates an AD object for the Intel AMT device. Some of the entries in this object define parameters used in Kerberos tickets. Before you can integrate Intel AMT with your AD, you must: Create an Organizational Unit (OU) in AD to store objects containing information about the Intel AMT systems. In a multiple domain environment, Intel recommends that you create an OU for each domain. Give Create/Delete permissions in the OU you created to the user account running the Intel SCS component doing the configuration After the OU is created, you must define it in the configuration profile (see Defining Active Directory Integration). |
6 | CA | Does your network use a Certification Authority (CA)? For these Intel AMT features, a CA is a prerequisite: TLS, 802.1x, EAC, and Remote Access. If you have a CA and want to use these features, this is the data that you need to collect: Which type of CA do you have? If you have a Microsoft* CA, which type (Standalone or Enterprise)? On which operating system is the CA installed? What is the name and location of the CA in the network? (Will the same CA be used for all Intel AMT features?) What Common Name (CN) to put in the certificate created for each feature? Intel SCS sends a request to the CA to create certificates. The certificates issued by the CA include CNs. The CNs are defined in the configuration profile for each feature. By default, Intel SCS puts the DNS Host Name in the Subject Name field. In addition, the Subject Alternative Name will include these CNs: DNS Host Name, Host Name, SAM Account Name, User Principal Name, and the UUID of the Intel AMT system. Some RADIUS servers require a specific CN in the Subject Name field. If you need to define a different CN in the Subject Name field, you can do this by selecting the User-defined CNs option for each feature. How does the CA handle certificate requests? Intel SCS does not support pending certificate requests. This means that the CA must be setup to issue certificates immediately without requiring approval. If you have an Enterprise CA, you must create certificate templates in the CA before you define the profile. For more information, see Defining Enterprise CA Templates. |
7 | TLS | Does your management console require the Intel AMT system to use Transport Layer Security (TLS)? When TLS is enabled, the Intel AMT device authenticates itself with other applications using a server certificate. If mutual TLS authentication is enabled, any applications that interact with the device must supply client certificates that the device uses to authenticate the applications. TLS is defined in the Transport Layer Security window of the configuration profile (see Defining Transport Layer Security (TLS)). Note: A Certification Authority is a prerequisite for TLS (item #6 in this checklist). If using Microsoft CA, the CA can be an Enterprise CA or a Standalone CA. |
8 | 802.1x | Does your network use the 802.1x protocol? If your network uses the 802.1x protocol, you must define 802.1x setups in the configuration profile. If you do not do this, you will not be able to connect to the Intel AMT device after it is configured. If you need to define 802.1x setups, this is the data that you need to collect: Which 802.1x protocol is used in your network? Do you want to verify the certificate subject name of the RADIUS Server? You can verify using the FQDN or the domain suffix of the RADIUS server (make a note of the correct value that you want to use). 802.1x is defined in the Network Configuration window of the configuration profile (see Creating 802.1x Setups). Note: These are prerequisites for 802.1x: Integration with Active Directory (item #5 in this checklist) A Certification Authority (item #6 in this checklist). If using Microsoft CA, the CA must be an Enterprise CA. Intel AMT does not support 802.1x when using static IP addresses. This means that both the host operating system and the Intel AMT device must be configured to get their IP address from a DHCP server. |
9 | EAC | Does your network use End-point Access Control (EAC)? If the 802.1x protocol used in your network supports End-Point Access Control (EAC), you can use NAC/NAP authentication with a RADIUS server to authenticate the Intel AMT device. If you need to define EAC, this is the data that you need to collect: Which authentication method does your EAC vendor use? (NAC, NAP, or NAP-NAC Hybrid.) Note that Intel AMT 9.0 and higher does NOT support NAC. What is the highest algorithm method supported by your authentication server? (SHA-1, SHA-256, or SHA-384). Note that SHA-256 and SHA-384 are only supported on Intel AMT 6.0 and higher. EAC is defined in the Network Configuration window of the configuration profile (see Defining End-Point Access Control). Note: These are prerequisites for EAC: Integration with Active Directory (item #5 in this checklist) A Certification Authority (item #6 in this checklist). If using Microsoft CA, the CA must be an Enterprise CA. 802.1x (item #8 in this checklist) |
10 | Remote Access | Does your network have a Management Presence Server (MPS)? The remote access feature lets Intel AMT systems (versions 4.x and higher) located outside an enterprise connect to management consoles inside the enterprise network. The connection is established via an MPS located in the DMZ of the enterprise. If you need to define Remote Access, this is the data that you need to collect: What is the location (FQDN or IP address) and listening port of the MPS? Do you want to use certificate-based authentication or password-based authentication? Remote Access is defined in the Remote Access window of the configuration profile (see Defining Remote Access). Note: A Home Domain is a prerequisite for Remote Access (item #3 in this checklist). |