Cisco ASA 5508-X Manual

Cisco ASA 5508-X and ASA 5516-X Hardware Installation Guide
First Published: 2015-04-07
Last Modified: 2017-06-16
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 Overview 1
About the ASA 5508-X and 5516-X 1
Package Contents 2
Front Panel 3
Rear Panel 3
LEDs 4
Network Ports 6
Console Ports 6
Internal and External Flash Storage 6
Solid State Drive 7
Power Supply Modules 7
Hardware Specifications 7
Power Cord Specifications 8
CHAPTER 2 Installation Preparation 17
Installation Warnings 17
Safety Recommendations 18
Maintain Safety with Electricity 18
Prevent Electrostatic Discharge Damage 19
Site Environment 19
Site Considerations 20
Power Supply Considerations 20
Equipment Rack Configuration Considerations 20
CHAPTER 3 Mount and Connect 21
Rack-mount the ASA 21
Connect Cables, Turn on Power, and Verify Connectivity 22
Connect to a Console Terminal or PC 24
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Connect to the Console Port with Microsoft Windows 24
Connect to the Console Port with Mac OS X 26
Connect to the Console Port with Linux 26
CHAPTER 4 Maintenance and Upgrades 27
Replace the SSD 27
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Contents

CHAPTER 1
Overview
This chapter describes the hardware features of the Cisco ASA 5508-X and 5516-X, and contains the following
sections:
•About the ASA 5508-X and 5516-X, page 1
•Package Contents, page 2
•Front Panel, page 3
•Rear Panel, page 3
•LEDs, page 4
•Network Ports, page 6
•Console Ports, page 6
•Internal and External Flash Storage, page 6
•Solid State Drive, page 7
•Power Supply Modules, page 7
•Hardware Specifications, page 7
•Power Cord Specifications, page 8
About the ASA 5508-X and 5516-X
The Cisco ASA 5508-X and the ASA 5516-X adaptive security appliances are part of the ASA 5500-X of
next-generation mid-range ASAs, and are built on the same security platform as the rest of the ASA family.
Your ASA 5508-X and ASA 5516-X ship with either ASA or Firepower Threat Defense software
preinstalled. To reimage your device, see Reimage the Cisco ASA or Firepower Threat Defense Device.
Note
This next-generation ASA delivers unprecedented levels of defense against threats to the network with deeper
web inspection and flow-specific analysis, improved secure connectivity via end-point security posture
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validation, and voice and video over VPN support. It also provides enhanced support for intelligent information
networks through improved network integration, resiliency, and scalability.
The ASA 5508-X and the ASA 5516-X are a standard 1 RU chassis. To compare the performance metrics
and capabilities of the 5500-X ASAs, see Cisco ASA 5500-X Series Next-Generation Firewalls.
Before beginning any of the procedures described in this book, be sure to read the Regulatory Compliance
and Safety Information for the Cisco ASA 5500-X Series appliances and follow proper safety procedures.
Note
Package Contents
The following figure shows the package contents for the ASA 5508-X and ASA 5516-X. Note that the contents
are subject to change, and your exact contents might contain additional or fewer items.
Figure 1: Package Contents
USB console cable (Type A to Type B)2Chassis1
Four 10-32" Phillips screws for rack
mounting
4Power cord3
4 M6 Phillip screws for rack mounting6Four 12-14 Phillips screws for rack
mounting
5
4 M4 Phillips screws for rack mounting7
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Overview
Package Contents

Front Panel
The following figure shows the front panel of the ASA 5508-X. The ASA 5516 has an identical front panel.
There are 4 LEDS on the front panel. See LEDs, on page 4 for the descriptions.
Figure 2: Front Panel
Rear Panel
The following figure shows the rear panel of the Cisco ASA 5508-X. The ASA 5516-X has an identical rear
panel.
Figure 3: Rear Panel
Power cord socket
The chassis power-supply socket. See Power
Supply Modules, on page 7 for more information
about the ASA power supply.
2Power switch
Standard rocker-type power
on/off switch.
1
Network data ports
Eight Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 (8P8C) network I/O
interfaces. The ports are numbered (from left to
right) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Each port includes a pair
of LEDs, one each for connection status and link
status. The ports are named and numbered Gigabit
Ethernet 1/1 through Gigabit Ethernet 1/8. See
Network Ports, on page 6 for additional
information.
4Status LEDs
The locations and meanings of
the status LEDs are described
in LEDs, on page 4.
3
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Overview
Front Panel

Console ports
Two serial ports, a mini USB Type B, and a
standard RJ-45 (8P8C), are provided for
management access via an external system. See
Console Ports, on page 6 for additional
information.
6Management port
A Gigabit Ethernet interface
restricted to network
management access only.
Connect with an RJ-45 cable.
5
Reset button
A small recessed button that if pressed for longer
than three seconds resets the ASA to its default
“as-shipped”state following the next reboot.
Configuration variables are reset to factory default.
However, the flash is not erased, and no files are
removed.
You can use the service sw-reset-button
to disable the reset button. The default is
enabled.
Note
8USB port
A standard USB Type A port
is provided, allowing
attachment of an external
device such as mass storage.
See Internal and External
Flash Storage, on page 6 for
additional information.
7
SSD bay
Covered slot in which the SSD is installed. You
can replace this drive if it fails. See Replace the
SSD , on page 27 for more information.
10SSD LED
Status light for installed
solid-state drive (SSD). See
LEDs, on page 4 and Solid
State Drive, on page 7 for
more information.
9
LEDs
The LEDs are located just off center on the front panel, and just to the left of the network ports on the rear
panel, with the SSD LED to the right of the Reset port.
DescriptionLED
Power supply status:
•Unlit –Power supply off.
•Solid green –Power supply on.
See Power Supply Modules, on page 7 for additional power information.
Power
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Overview
LEDs

DescriptionLED
System operating status:
•Green –Normal system function.
•Amber –Critical alarm indicating one or more of the following:
•Major failure of a hardware or software component.
•Over-temperature condition.
•Power voltage outside the tolerance range.
Status
Status of the failover pair:
•Solid green –Failover pair operating normally.
•Unlit –Failover is not operational.
Active
SSD LED behavior at first customer ship:
•Unlit –No SSD present.
•Green –SSD installed.
SSD LED behavior after June 2017:
•Unlit –No SSD present or no activity on the SSD.
•Green –Activity on the SSD.
See Replace the SSD , on page 27 for information on replacing a failed
SSD.
Note
SSD
Network Port Status
On the rear panel, a pair of LEDs (Link status and connection Status) for each of the eight Gigabit Ethernet
network ports, and the Gigabit Ethernet Management port.
Link status (L):
•Unlit –No link, or port is not in use.
•Solid green –Link established.
•Flashing green –Link activity.
Connection-speed status (S):
•One blink every three seconds –10 Mbps.
•Two rapid blinks –100 Mbps.
•Three rapid blinks –1000 Mbps.
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Overview
LEDs

Network Ports
Looking at the rear of the ASA, where the ports are located, port 1 is on the left, and port 8 is on the right,
next to the console and management ports. Each port is accompanied by a pair of LEDs, one each for link
status (L) and connection status (S). The ports are named and numbered Gigabit Ethernet 1/1 through Gigabit
Ethernet 1/8. The ports are named and numbered Gigabit Ethernet 1/1 through Gigabit Ethernet 1/4.
Console Ports
The ASA has two external console ports, a standard RJ-45 port and a Mini USB Type B serial port. Only one
console port can be active at a time. When a cable is plugged into the USB console port, the RJ-45 port
becomes inactive. Conversely, when the USB cable is removed from the USB port, the RJ-45 port becomes
active. The console ports do not have any hardware flow control. You can use the command-line interface
(CLI) to configure your ASA through either serial console port by using a terminal server or a terminal
emulation program on a computer.
See Connect to a Console Terminal or PC, on page 24 for the procedure to install a console terminal.
RJ-45 Port
The RJ-45 (8P8C) port supports RS-232 signaling to an internal UART controller. The RJ-45 console
port does not support a remote dial-in modem. You can use a standard management cable (Cisco part
number 72-3383-01) to convert the RJ45-to-DB9 connection if necessary.
Mini USB Type B Port
The Mini USB Type B port lets you connect to a USB port on an external computer. For Linux and
Macintosh systems, no special driver is required. For Windows systems, you must download and install
a USB driver (available on software.cisco.com). You can plug and unplug the USB cable from the
console port without affecting Windows HyperTerminal operations. We recommend shielded USB
cables with properly terminated shields. Baud rates for the USB console port are 1200, 2400, 4800,
9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, and 115200 bps.
For Windows operating systems, you must install a Cisco Windows USB Console Driver on any PC
connected to the console port before using the USB console port. See Connect to the Console Port with
Microsoft Windows, on page 24 for information on installing the driver.
Note
Internal and External Flash Storage
The ASA contains one internal USB flash drive, and a standard USB Type A port that you can use to attach
an external device. The USB port can provide output power of 5 volts, up to a maximum of 500 mA (5 USB
power units).
Internal USB Device
An embedded eUSB device is used as the internal flash; it is identified as disk0.
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Overview
Network Ports