If you’re concerned about the security of your business infrastructure, incorporating the Nessus vulnerability scanner into your system is a smart move. Nessus is a highly reputable web-based vulnerability management program that assists in identifying vulnerabilities, configuration issues, and malware across multiple platforms, including cloud environments, operating systems, and applications. This tutorial provides a step-by-step guide to installing Nessus Essentials on Rocky Linux and accessing its GUI.
What is Nessus Vulnerability Scanner?
Nessus Vulnerability Scanner is a web-based vulnerability management program that helps businesses proactively identify vulnerabilities in their system and assists in resolving the issues. With its capacity to scan IPs and servers for potential threats and vulnerabilities, Nessus provides informative and actionable intelligence to enhance your security.
How to Install Nessus Vulnerability Scanner on Rocky Linux?
In this tutorial, we will install Nessus Essentials on Rocky Linux, which can scan up to 16 IP addresses. To access the advanced features and full scanning capabilities, we’ll require the Nessus Professional license.
Requirements
- A Rocky Linux instance that is online and up-to-date.
- A user with sudo privileges.
- An activation code that can be obtained by registering on the Nessus product page.
Steps to Install Nessus Vulnerability Scanner on Rocky Linux
- Obtain an activation code for your Nessus installation from the Nessus Product Page.
- Log in to your Rocky Linux instance using your admin username and password.
- Download the Nessus Essentials installation package by running the following command:
wget https://www.tenable.com/downloads/api/v1/public/pages/nessus/downloads/12410/download?i_agree_to_tenable_license_agreement=true -O Nessus.rpm
- Install the downloaded package using rpm command:
sudo rpm -ivh Nessus.rpm
- Start the Nessus daemon by running the following command:
sudo /sbin/service nessusd start
- To start Nessus every time you boot the server, run the following command:
sudo /sbin/chkconfig nessusd on
How to Access Nessus GUI?
For accessing the Nessus GUI, you can open a web browser and point it to https://SERVER:8834 (where SERVER is the IP address of the hosting server). Once prompted, choose “Nessus Essentials” and click “Continue.” In the resulting window, click “Skip” because we already have an activation code and paste the code that you received over the email. It can take several minutes to an hour for Nessus to complete its installation, after which you can log in and start using Nessus by entering your login credentials.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I require the Nessus Professional license for Nessus usage?
No, you do not necessarily need a professional license to use Nessus. Nessus Essentials allows scanning up to 16 IP addresses, whereas the professional license provides unlimited IP scan and additional business-specific features.
Can Nessus Vulnerability Scanner prevent attacks?
No, Nessus vulnerability scanner is designed to identify vulnerabilities in your system and does not prevent attacks on its own. However, it provides insights that aid in strengthening your overall security by patching identified vulnerabilities.
What is an activation code for Nessus, and how can I get it?
The activation code is a unique set of characters that you’ll receive over email when you register on the Nessus product page. You’ll require this code to activate your Nessus installation.
What actions can I perform using Nessus?
Nessus can identify vulnerabilities, configuration issues, and malware across multiple platforms, including cloud environments, operating systems, and applications. You can use the information to patch and strengthen your network defenses against potential cyber attacks.
Conclusion
By following our detailed guide for installing Nessus on Rocky Linux, you can easily attain greater security for your business. Nessus vulnerability scanner will provide valuable insights and allow you to respond to vulnerabilities immediately, ensuring effective protection against potential security breaches.