About Multi-Instance

SonicOSX 7 on NSsp 15700 supports the Multi-Instance feature. This feature allows the security appliance to launch multiple instances of SonicOSX, each serving as an independent firewall. The Root Instance configures and launches each instance. Once the individual instances are up and running, their X0...X7 interfaces allow access for detailed firewall configuration.

Multi-Instance is configured from the DEVICE | Multi-Instance menu group.

Configuration starts from the Multi-Instance > Settings page:

Each instance’s X0, X1, X2... X7 interfaces are mapped to a VLAN on the NSsp front panel port (X0 to X25) by the Root Instance. Each instance can be configured with up to 8 ports. Each instance port can be mapped to a front panel port and tagged with a VLAN ID.

When you register your NSsp 15700 appliance, a number of instance licenses are automatically created. These licenses are displayed in the Multi-Instance > Instance Licenses page.

You can configure two instances as a High Availability pair: on a single NSsp 15700 and across two NSsp 15700 appliances that are already established as an HA pair.

• On a Single NSsp – Multiple instances within an NSsp can support Stateful HA. This multi-instance HA model exactly mimics the NSv HA model in terms of the behavior and capabilities. Two instances can be paired to form a Stateful HA pair. One of them assumes the role as a Primary active instance and the other as the Secondary standby instance. The active and standby roles can change during an instance's lifetime.
• On an NSsp HA pair – Multiple instances residing on different units of an established NSsp HA pair can support Stateful HA. This requires a physical connection between at least one dedicated physical port on each of the NSsp HA units, to be used for the Multi-instance HA Control interface and HA Data interface.

For more information about enabling and configuring Multi-Instance, refer to the SonicOSX 7 Multi-Instance Administration Guide and the SonicOSX 7 Getting Started for the NSsp 15700 guide on the SonicWall technical documentation portal.