156-836 Check Point Certified Maestro Expert - R81 (CCME) Questions and Answers

Network mode is the distribution mode that assigns packets to an SGM based solely on the packet destination IP. In this mode, the Orchestrator uses a hash function to map each destination IP to a specific SGM. This mode ensures that all packets with the same destination IP are processed by the same SGM, regardless of the source IP or port. This mode is suitable for scenarios where the destination IP is the main factor for load balancing, such as NAT or VPN.

References

•Check Point Certified Maestro Expert (CCME) R81.X Courseware, Module 2: Maestro Security Groups, Lesson 2.4: Traffic Flow, page 2-19

•Check Point R81 Maestro Administration Guide, Chapter 2: Maestro Security Groups, Section: Traffic Distribution, page 2-7

•Maestro basic setup documentation - Page 2 - Check Point CheckMates

The correct interfaces to connect to Orchestrator 1 for downlinks’ intra-orchestrator redundancy when using two Orchestrators are Port 1 in Slot 1 and Port 1 in Slot 2. This is because each slot represents a different NIC, and each port represents a different physical link. By connecting two ports from different slots, the appliance can have redundant connections to the same orchestrator, and avoid a single point of failure in case of a NIC or link failure.

References

•Check Point 156-835 Certification Flashcards | Quizlet1

•Maestro Expert (CCME) Course - Check Point Software, page 182

•Maestro Technical Training, Module 2: Maestro Security Groups and the Single Management Object, slide 163

SecureXL is typically used to accelerate trusted traffic, including non-F2F (face-to-face) traffic, through a secure, fast path.

References =

•SecureXL Fast Accelerator (fw fast_accel) for R80.20 and above 1

•SecureXL Fast Accelerator - Need to clarify packet flow 2

1: https://supportcenter.checkpoint.com/supportcenter/portal?eventSubmit_doGoviewsolutiondetails= &solutionid=sk156672 2: https://community.checkpoint.com/t5/Security-Gateways/SecureXL-Fast-Accelerator-Need-to-clarify-packet-flow/td-p/114651

According to the Maestro Hyperscale Orchestrator Datasheet1, the Orchestrator MHO-140 supports the following transceiver types: SFP, SFP+, SFP28. These transceivers can be used for the management, uplink, and downlink ports of the Orchestrator. The SFP transceivers support 1 GbE, the SFP+ transceivers support 10 GbE, and the SFP28 transceivers support 25 GbE.

References:

•Maestro Expert (CCME) Course - Check Point Software, page 42

•Check Point Certified Maestro Expert (CCME) R81.X - Global Knowledge, course outline3

•Maestro Hyperscale Orchestrator Datasheet - Check Point Software, page 2

The Correction Layer mechanism is a Maestro component that ensures that packets from the same connection are handled by the same Security Group Module (SGM) in a multi-appliance system. This is especially important when NAT or VPNs are involved, as packets sent from the client to the server can be distributed to a different SGM than packets from the same session sent from the server to the client. The Correction Layer must then forward the packet to the correct SGM.

References:

•NAT and the Correction Layer on a VSX Gateway - Check Point Software1

•Solved: Maestro queries - Check Point CheckMates

The g_all prefix is used to run commands globally in Expert mode on all Security Group Members of the current Security Group. For example, g_all cpstop will stop the Check Point services on all SGMs. The other prefixes are not valid for global commands in Expert mode.

References

•Check Point Certified Maestro Expert (CCME) R81.X Courseware, Module 4: Using the Command Line Interface and WebUI, Lesson 4.3: Global Commands, page 4-11

•Check Point R81 Maestro Administration Guide, Chapter 4: Using the Command Line Interface and WebUI, Section: Global Commands, page 4-9

•Global Expert Mode Commands - Check Point CheckMates

According to the Check Point MAESTRO R80.20SP Administration Manual1, NAT is not supported on the management network. If you configure NAT on the management network, the Orchestrator will disable NAT and allow the traffic to pass without translation. This is to ensure that the management traffic can reach the Security Group members and the SmartConsole without any issues.

References

•Check Point MAESTRO R80.20SP Administration Manual, page 291

The Correction Layer mechanism is a Maestro component that ensures that packets from the same connection are handled by the same Security Group Module (SGM) in a multi-appliance system. This is especially important when NAT or VPNs are involved, as packets sent from the client to the server can be distributed to a different SGM than packets from the same session sent from the server to the client. The Correction Layer must then forward the packet to the correct SGM.

References:

•NAT and the Correction Layer on a VSX Gateway - Check Point Software1

•Solved: Maestro queries - Check Point CheckMates

This configuration likely provides balanced and redundant connectivity for orchestrator redundancy.

References

•Check Point Certified Maestro Expert (CCME) R81.X Courseware, Module 3: Dual Orchestrator Environment, Lesson 3.1: Introduction to Dual Orchestrator Environment, page 3-7

•Check Point R81 Maestro Administration Guide, Chapter 3: Working with Security Group Modules, Section: Downlinks, page 3-8

•Check Point 23800 Appliance Datasheet - Check Point Software, page 2

References =

•[Maestro Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)]

•Maestro Dual Site configuration with a direct connection through L2 switches

•Dual Site Single Maestro Hyperscale Orchestrator Cluster (Dual Site Single MHO Redundancy)

•CHECK POINT MAESTRO EXPERT

The Orchestrator MHO-170 supports QSFP and QSFP28 transceivers on its 32x 100 GbE ports. QSFP stands for Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable and QSFP28 is an enhanced version of QSFP that supports up to 28 Gbps per lane. These transceivers can provide high-speed and high-density connectivity for the Maestro environment.

References

•Maestro Hyperscale Orchestrator Datasheet - Check Point Software1, page 2

•Maestro Transceiver & DAC Inventory - Check Point CheckMates

"Asg stat -v" could be a part of the core diagnostic tools, providing valuable statistics and information for manual diagnostics.

References =

•Maestro Expert (CCME) Course - Check Point Software 3

•Check Point Maestro R81.X Administration Guide 1

•Check Point Maestro R81.X Getting Started Guide 2

3: https://www.checkpoint.com/downloads/training/ccme-maestro-expert-r81.10-course.pdf 1: https://www.manualslib.com/manual/2031661/Check-Point-Maestro-R80-20sp.html 2: https://sc1.checkpoint.com/documents/R81/WebAdminGuides/EN/CP_R81_Maestro_GettingStarted/html_frameset.htm

The Pre-Upgrade Verifier is a tool that checks the compatibility and readiness of the Maestro environment for the upgrade process. It verifies the current version, the target version, the hardware requirements, the configuration settings, and the license validity of the Maestro Orchestrators and the Security Groups. It also identifies any potential issues or risks that might affect the upgrade and provides recommendations on how to resolve them. The Pre-Upgrade Verifier should be run before importing the R81.10 software package and before performing the actual upgrade.

References =

•Check Point R81.10 for Scalable Platforms - Check Point Software

•CHECK POINT MAESTRO EXPERT

This aligns with the principle of redundancy in network systems, where the next available device with the lowest ID typically takes over management roles in case of a failure.

References:

•Maestro Expert (CCME) Course - Check Point Software, page 91

•Check Point Certified Maestro Expert (CCME) R81.X - Global Knowledge, course outline

The sx_api_ports_dump.py command should be run on the Orchestrator, which is the device that manages the communication and the configuration of the Security Groups and the SGMs. The command shows the port mapping and the traffic distribution for each Security Group, as well as the backplane bonds and the Orchestrator ports. The command does not work on the Management server, the Security Group, or the SMO Appliance, as they do not have the same role and functionality as the Orchestrator.

References

•R81.20 Maestro Cheat Sheet version 7 - Check Point CheckMates, page 2

•Maestro Expert (CCME) Course - Check Point Software, page 31

•Check Point Certified Maestro Expert (CCME) R81.X - Global Knowledge, page 3

This is the correct answer because Layer 4 distribution is not recommended when dynamic routing protocols are used in Maestro. Layer 4 distribution is a feature that adds the source and/or destination ports to the distribution equation, which can improve the load balancing among the SGMs. However, it can also cause issues with the correction layer, which is a mechanism that ensures the packets are processed by the correct SGM. Dynamic routing protocols, such as BGP or OSPF, use specific ports to exchange routing information and establish neighbor relationships. If Layer 4 distribution is enabled, it can interfere with the routing protocol packets and cause routing instability or failures.

References

•Check Point Certified Maestro Expert (CCME) R81.X Courseware, Module 2: Maestro Security Groups, Lesson 2.4: Traffic Flow, page 2-20

•Check Point R81 Maestro Administration Guide, Chapter 2: Maestro Security Groups, Section: Traffic Distribution, page 2-8

•Layer 4 Distribution - Yes or No? - Check Point CheckMates

•Support, Support Requests, Training … - Check Point Software

A Security Group (SG) requires at least one management port and one uplink port to function properly. The management port is used to connect the SG to the Maestro Hyperscale Orchestrator (MHO) and the customer’s management infrastructure, such as SmartConsole or SmartDomain Manager. The uplink port is used to connect the SG to the customer’s network infrastructure, such as switches, routers, or firewalls. The uplink port is also used to send and receive traffic from the customer’s network to the SG.

References:

•Maestro Expert (CCME) Course - Check Point Software, page 41

•Check Point Certified Maestro Expert (CCME) R81.X - Global Knowledge, course outline

Security groups are used to simplify management and policy enforcement across multiple devices or network segments, often offering redundancy and load balancing features