Cluster Groups

By default, Tenable Nessus assigns new nodes and agents to the default cluster group. You can create cluster groups that conform to your network topology. For example, you could create cluster groups for different regions of where your nodes and agents are physically located, which could minimize network traffic and control where your agents' connections occur.

A cluster group is different from an agent group, which is a group of agents that you designate to scan a target. You can use cluster groups to manage the nodes that agents link to within a cluster.

Note: If cluster child nodes have automatic software updates disabled, you must manually update them to Nessus 8.12 or later to use agent cluster groups. If cluster child nodes have automatic software updates enabled, nodes can take up to 24 hours to update. To ensure correct linking and configuration, wait for all child nodes to update to a supported Nessus version before configuring custom cluster groups. All child nodes must be on the same Nessus version and operating system.

Before you begin:

• Enable Clustering on the Tenable Nessus Manager parent node.

To create a cluster group:

1. Log in to the Tenable Nessus Manager parent node.

2. In the left navigation bar, click Agent Clustering.

   The Cluster Groups page appears.

3. In the upper-right corner, click New Cluster Group.

   The New Cluster Group window appears.

4. Type a Name for the cluster group.

5. Click Add.

   Tenable Nessus Manager creates a new cluster group.

You can edit a cluster group name or set a cluster group as the default cluster group. Tenable Nessus assigns the new linked nodes to the default cluster group.

To modify a cluster group:

1. Log in to the Tenable Nessus Manager parent node.

2. In the top navigation bar, click Sensors.

   The Linked Agents page appears. By default, Linked Agents is selected in the left navigation menu and the Linked Agents tab is active.

3. In the left navigation bar, click Agent Clustering.

   The Cluster Groups page appears.

4. In the cluster groups table, in the row of the cluster group you want to modify, click the button.

   The Edit Cluster Group window appears.

5. Edit any of the following settings:
   • Name — Type a new name for the cluster group.
   • Set as Default — Select this check box to set this cluster group as the default cluster group that Tenable Nessus adds new linked nodes to.

6. Click Save.

   Tenable Nessus Manager updates the cluster group settings.

By default, Tenable Nessus assigns new linked nodes to the default cluster group. You can also add a node to a different cluster group manually; for example, you could add nodes that are in a similar location to the same cluster group. A node can only belong to one cluster group at a time.

When you move a node that belonged to another cluster group, any agents that were linked to that node remain in their original cluster group and relink to another node in the original cluster group.

Note: If cluster child nodes have automatic software updates disabled, you must manually update them to Nessus 8.12 or later to use agent cluster groups. If cluster child nodes have automatic software updates enabled, nodes can take up to 24 hours to update. To ensure correct linking and configuration, wait for all child nodes to update to a supported Nessus version before configuring custom cluster groups. All child nodes must be on the same Nessus version and operating system.

Before you begin:

• Ensure you have added at least one child node to the cluster, as described in Link a Node.
• If you want to add a node to a cluster group other than the default cluster group, create a cluster group first.

To add a child node to a cluster group:

1. Log in to the Tenable Nessus Manager parent node.

2. In the left navigation bar, click Agent Clustering.

   The Cluster Groups page appears.

3. In the cluster groups table, click the row of the cluster group to which you want to add a node.

   The cluster group details page appears and shows the Cluster Nodes tab by default.

4. In the upper-right corner, click Add Nodes.

   The Add Nodes window appears and shows the available nodes.

5. (Optional) Search for a node by name to filter the results.

6. In the nodes table, select the check box next to each node you want to add.

   Note: A node can only belong to one cluster group at a time. When you move a node that belonged to another cluster group, any agents that were linked to that node remain in their original cluster group and relink to another node in the original cluster group.

7. Click Add.

   Tenable Nessus Manager moves the node to the cluster group.

By default, Tenable Nessus assigns new agents to the default cluster group. You can also add agents to a different cluster group manually; for example, you could add agents that are in a similar location to the same cluster group. An agent can only belong to one cluster group at a time.

When you add an agent to a cluster group, the agent relinks to an available node in the cluster group.

Before you begin:

• Ensure you have added at least one child node to the cluster, as described in Link a Node.
• Ensure the cluster group you want to add an agent to has at least one node.

To add an agent to a cluster group:

1. Log in to the Tenable Nessus Manager parent node.

2. In the left navigation bar, click Agent Clustering.

   The Cluster Groups page appears.

3. In the cluster groups table, click the row of the cluster group to which you want to add an agent.

   The cluster group details page appears and shows the Cluster Nodes tab by default.

4. Click the Agents tab.

   The agents assigned to the cluster group appear in a table.

5. In the upper-right corner, click Add Agents.

   The Add Agents window appears and shows available agents.

6. (Optional) Search for an agent by name to filter the results.

7. In the agents table, select the check box next to each agent you want to add.

   Note: Agents can only belong to one cluster group at a time. If you move the agent to a different group, it relinks to an available node in the new cluster group.

8. Click Add.

   Tenable Nessus Manager adds the agent to the cluster group.

By default, Tenable Nessus assigns new linked nodes to the default cluster group. You can manually add a node to a different cluster group; for example, you could add nodes that are in a similar location to the same cluster group. A node can only belong to one cluster group at a time.

When you move a node that belonged to another cluster group, any agents that were linked to that node remain in their original cluster group and relink to another node in the original cluster group.

Before you begin:

• Ensure you have added at least one child node to the cluster, as described in Link a Node.
• If you want to move a node to a cluster group other than the default cluster group, create a cluster group first.

To move a child node to a different cluster group:

1. Log in to the Tenable Nessus Manager parent node.

2. In the left navigation bar, click Agent Clustering.

   The Cluster Groups page appears.

3. In the cluster groups table, click the row of the cluster group that contains the agent you want to move.

   The cluster group details page appears and shows the Cluster Nodes tab by default.

4. In the cluster nodes table, select the check box for each node that you want to move to a different cluster group.

   Note: If there are agents assigned to the cluster group, you must leave at least one node in the cluster group.

5. In the upper-right corner, click Move.

   The Move Node window appears.

6. In the drop-down box, select the cluster group to which you want to move the node.

   Note: A node can only belong to one cluster group at a time. When you move a node that belonged to another cluster group, any agents that were linked to that node remain in their original cluster group and relink to another node in the original cluster group.

7. Click Move.

   Tenable Nessus Manager moves the node to the selected cluster group.

By default, Tenable Nessus assigns new agents to the default cluster group. You can manually add agents to a different cluster group; for example, you could add agents that are in a similar location to the same cluster group. An agent can only belong to one cluster group at a time.

When you move an agent to a cluster group, the agent relinks to an available node in the cluster group. There may be a mismatch in the number of agents listed for the cluster group and actual usage when an agent is moving or relinking.

Before you begin:

• Ensure you have added at least one child node to the cluster, as described in Link a Node.
• Ensure the cluster group you want to add an agent to has at least one node.

To move an agent to a different cluster group:

1. Log in to the Tenable Nessus Manager parent node.

2. In the top navigation bar, click Sensors.

   The Linked Agents page appears. By default, Linked Agents is selected in the left navigation menu and the Linked Agents tab is active.

3. In the left navigation bar, click Agent Clustering.

   The Cluster Groups page appears.

4. In the cluster groups table, click the row of the cluster group that contains the agent you want to move.

   The cluster group details page appears and shows the Cluster Nodes tab by default.

5. Click the Agents tab.

   The agents assigned to the cluster group appear in a table.

6. In the agents table, select the check box for each agent that you want to move to a different cluster group.

7. In the upper-right corner, click Move.

   The Move Agent window appears.

8. In the drop-down box, select the cluster group to which you want to move the agent.

   Note: Agents can only belong to one cluster group at a time. If you move the agent to a different group, it relinks to an available node in the new cluster group.

9. Click Move.

   Tenable Nessus Manager moves the agent to the cluster group.

You can delete a cluster group that does not have any assigned nodes or agents. You cannot delete the default cluster group.

Before you begin:

• Move or delete the nodes in the cluster group.

To delete a cluster group:

1. Log in to the Tenable Nessus Manager parent node.

2. In the top navigation bar, click Sensors.

   The Linked Agents page appears. By default, Linked Agents is selected in the left navigation menu and the Linked Agents tab is active.

3. In the left navigation bar, click Agent Clustering.

   The Cluster Groups page appears.

4. In the cluster groups table, in the row of the cluster group you want to delete, click the button.

   The Delete Cluster Group window appears.

5. To confirm that you want to delete the cluster group, click Delete.

   Note: You cannot undo this action.

   Tenable Nessus Manager deletes the cluster group.