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Upgrading your Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) from version 2.4 to version 3.0 is an essential step for keeping your network security infrastructure up to date with the latest capabilities and improvements. Before diving into the actual upgrade process, it is crucial to carefully prepare your environment. This preparation involves several key tasks, such as understanding your existing ISE topology, choosing the best upgrade method, backing up your data, and ensuring that your hardware and virtual machines meet the new system requirements for ISE 3.0.

Understanding the ISE Topology

The first step in preparing for the ISE 3.0 upgrade is understanding the existing ISE topology. In our case, we are dealing with a two-node deployment running Cisco ISE 2.4 on virtual appliances. These nodes are crucial in maintaining the system’s services, such as RADIUS, TACACS+, and PxGrid, which ensure secure authentication and access control across the network.

Each ISE deployment has a specific topology, and this affects how you approach the upgrade. A two-node ISE deployment typically consists of a Primary Admin Node (PAN) and a Secondary Node (PSN). These two nodes work together to provide authentication services, with the PAN serving as the central management point and the PSN handling the actual network access control.

For a successful upgrade, it’s important to confirm that the virtual machines (VMs) running ISE 2.4 meet the ISE 3.0 requirements. This includes ensuring that the VMs have the required compute and storage resources to support the newer version. Cisco ISE 3.0 introduces new hardware and software specifications that must be met, and failing to meet these specifications can lead to issues during the upgrade process.

It’s also essential to ensure that your virtual environment has enough capacity for the upgrade. If the current compute/storage specifications are incompatible with ISE 3.0, you may need to modify your virtual machine’s resources, which could potentially lead to downtime and the need for additional configuration.

Choosing the Upgrade Method

Cisco ISE provides several methods for upgrading from an earlier version, and the method you choose will depend on factors such as your current hardware, available downtime, and the complexity of your network environment. In general, there are three main methods for upgrading ISE to version 3.0:

1. Backup, Reimage, Restore: This method involves taking a backup of your existing deployment, reimaging the virtual machines with ISE 3.0, and then restoring the backup to the newly installed system. While this method is more time-consuming, it is highly flexible and allows you to make necessary changes to compute and storage specifications. Additionally, it offers a robust rollback option if anything goes wrong during the process.

2. In-place Upgrade (GUI): This method involves upgrading the ISE deployment directly within the existing system via the graphical user interface (GUI). It is quicker and easier compared to the backup and reimage approach but may be less flexible, especially if your existing hardware doesn’t meet the ISE 3.0 requirements. This method may also result in longer downtime.

3. In-place Upgrade (CLI): Similar to the GUI-based upgrade, this method involves upgrading through the command-line interface (CLI). This approach offers more control over the upgrade process and can be faster than the GUI method, but it requires advanced knowledge of ISE commands and CLI-based troubleshooting.

For our specific scenario, we will choose the Backup, Reimage, Restore method. This approach gives us the flexibility to modify compute and storage resources for ISE 3.0 and provides a quick and simple rollback plan if anything goes wrong. Although this method involves reimaging the existing virtual machines and restoring the data backup, it ensures a clean upgrade environment that meets all the new system requirements for ISE 3.0.

Backing Up Data

Before starting the upgrade, backing up your ISE deployment is a critical step. This ensures that you have a secure copy of your configuration and data that can be restored in case something goes wrong during the upgrade process. There are three types of data that you should back up from your ISE 2.4 deployment:

1. Configuration Data Backup: This is a comprehensive backup of your ISE deployment’s configuration. It includes all the settings that define how your ISE deployment operates, such as policies, authentication settings, device groups, and network access configurations. The configuration backup is critical because it allows you to restore your ISE deployment to its exact state after the upgrade.

2. Operational Data Backup: This backup contains logs and monitoring data from the ISE deployment, such as authentication logs, reports, and statistics. Although it’s not always necessary to back up operational data, it is essential if you need to retain historical authentication data or perform auditing tasks after the upgrade.

3. System Certificates Backup: System certificates are used to secure communications between the ISE nodes and other network devices. These certificates are not included in the configuration data backup, so it is important to manually export them before proceeding with the upgrade. Additionally, if you are using ISE’s internal Certificate Authority (CA), those certificates must be exported as well.

When performing the backups, it is best to store them on an external file server that is secure and accessible. Cisco ISE supports a variety of backup protocols, including secure file transfer (SFTP), and it is advisable to use a secure connection when performing the backup. 

Once the backup repository is in place, you can proceed with creating backups of the configuration data, operational data, and system certificates. These backups will form the foundation for restoring your system after the upgrade is complete.

It is important to note that you should also verify that your backup repositories are properly configured and have sufficient storage space. Regular backups are essential in ensuring the integrity of your data, and using automated backup solutions can help reduce the risk of data loss during critical upgrades like this.

The preparation phase of upgrading to Cisco ISE 3.0 is vital to ensure a smooth transition and minimize the potential for errors. Understanding your ISE topology and ensuring that your environment meets the hardware and software requirements for ISE 3.0 is critical. Additionally, choosing the right upgrade method and performing thorough backups are necessary to safeguard your configuration and data.

With the groundwork laid, you can now move on to the next phase of the upgrade process, which involves reimaging the ISE nodes and performing the installation of ISE 3.0. This process will allow you to leverage the enhanced capabilities of ISE 3.0 while maintaining the integrity of your current configuration and minimizing disruptions to your network access control services.

Reimaging and Installing Cisco ISE 3.0

Now that we have completed the initial preparations for upgrading to Cisco ISE 3.0, such as ensuring our topology is in order, selecting the right upgrade method, and performing necessary backups, it’s time to begin the actual upgrade process. The next step in this journey is to reimage our existing Cisco ISE virtual machines (VMs) and install ISE 3.0.

Reimaging involves wiping the existing ISE 2.4 installations and installing a fresh copy of ISE 3.0. For this deployment, we are using the Backup, Reimage, Restore method. This approach allows us to install new virtual machines (VMs) with ISE 3.0 and then restore the configuration, operational data, and system certificates from our backups. The key benefits of this method are the flexibility to modify compute and storage resources and the clean slate it provides for the ISE 3.0 deployment.

Installing New Cisco ISE 3.0 Virtual Machines

The first step in the reimage process is to install new virtual machines that will run ISE 3.0. This is especially important if the existing virtual machines do not meet the hardware requirements for ISE 3.0. By using new virtual machines, we ensure that we have enough resources to run ISE 3.0 efficiently and meet the minimum compute and storage requirements.

To do this, we will deploy ISE 3.0 using the OVA (Open Virtual Appliance) template, which is provided by Cisco. The OVA template contains the necessary configurations and system requirements for installing ISE 3.0 on virtual machines. In our case, we will deploy the small OVA template, but this may vary depending on the scale of your deployment and the resources available.

1. Deploy the OVF Template: Begin by deploying the ISE 3.0 OVF template to your virtual environment. This will configure the virtual machine with the necessary settings for Cisco ISE 3.0.

2. Initial Virtual Machine Configuration: After the OVF template is deployed, power on the virtual machines. At this point, the virtual machine is in a clean state and ready to undergo the setup process. However, we will not proceed with the setup immediately, as there are additional steps we need to perform to ensure proper deployment.

3. Confirm Resources: Ensure that the virtual machines have sufficient resources to meet the ISE 3.0 requirements. This includes confirming that both compute (CPU, RAM) and storage (disk space) specifications are adequate for the new deployment.
   

Deregistering the Secondary Node from the ISE 2.4 Deployment

Once the new ISE 3.0 virtual machines are ready, the next step is to deregister the secondary node from the existing ISE 2.4 deployment. This step is important to avoid any conflicts between the old and new nodes during the upgrade process. Deregistering the secondary node ensures that there is no communication between the ISE 2.4 deployment and the new ISE 3.0 nodes.

1. Access the ISE 2.4 Admin GUI: Log in to the ISE 2.4 Admin GUI and navigate to the Administration > Deployment menu. From here, select the secondary node that you wish to deregister.

2. Deregister the Node: Choose the option to deregister the secondary node. This action ensures that the node will no longer be part of the ISE 2.4 deployment and prepares it for the migration to ISE 3.0.

Once the node has been deregistered, you can proceed to the next step, which is shutting down the ISE 2.4 secondary node’s virtual machine to avoid conflicts with the new ISE 3.0 VM.

Shutting Down the ISE 2.4 Virtual Machine

Since we are reusing the same IP address and hostname for the new ISE 3.0 virtual machine, we need to shutdown the ISE 2.4 secondary node virtual machine to prevent IP conflicts. This step is crucial to ensure that the new ISE 3.0 node can be set up with the same network configuration as the old node without causing any issues.

1. Shutdown the VM: In your virtualization platform (e.g., VMware, Hyper-V), power off the ISE 2.4 secondary node’s virtual machine.

2. Verify IP Address and Hostname: Double-check that the IP address and hostname are correctly aligned with the settings used in the ISE 2.4 deployment. This will make the migration process seamless and avoid additional configuration steps later.
   

Completing the First ISE 3.0 Node Setup

Now that the ISE 2.4 secondary node is powered off and deregistered, we can move on to completing the initial setup of the ISE 3.0 node. This step involves configuring the newly deployed ISE 3.0 virtual machine to match the IP address, hostname, and domain settings from the ISE 2.4 deployment. By using the same network configuration, we ensure that the transition to ISE 3.0 is smooth and that the system will integrate seamlessly into the existing infrastructure.

1. Start the ISE 3.0 Virtual Machine: Power on the new ISE 3.0 virtual machine that you have set up with the OVA template. You will be prompted to go through the initial setup process.
   

Run the Setup Wizard: At the virtual machine console, type the following command to initiate the setup wizard:

1.  The setup wizard will guide you through the process of configuring basic network settings, including IP address, hostname, domain name, and other system parameters. Ensure that you use the same values as the ISE 2.4 secondary node to ensure consistency.

2. Configure System Settings: Complete the configuration by specifying the administrator username and password, as well as the timezone and NTP server settings. These are important for proper system functioning.

3. Wait for Initial Setup to Complete: The initial setup process will take about 30 minutes, and during this time, the ISE 3.0 node will be configured with the necessary settings. Once the setup is complete, the system will restart.

At this point, you will have a fully functional ISE 3.0 node, but you still need to patch the system and restore certificates before proceeding to the next steps.

Patching the ISE 3.0 Primary Node

After completing the initial setup, the next task is to patch the ISE 3.0 system. Patching is crucial to ensure that the system is up to date and secure before it starts processing authentication requests. Cisco frequently releases patches for ISE to address vulnerabilities, bugs, and new features. Therefore, it’s essential to apply the latest patch as part of the upgrade process.

1. Clear Browser Cache: Before applying the patch, clear your browser cache to avoid potential issues with viewing the new GUI after the update.

2. Login to the ISE 3.0 Primary Node: Once the system is rebooted, log in to the ISE 3.0 admin GUI using the credentials you set during the initial setup.

3. Apply the Latest Patch: Browse to the system settings in the GUI and upload the latest patch. After the patch is uploaded, the system will log you out and apply the update. This process will take at least 30 minutes, and the system will restart once the patch is successfully installed.

4. Verify Patch Installation: After the system reboots, log back into the GUI and verify that the patch has been successfully applied. You can check the version details under the system information section to confirm that you are running the latest version of ISE 3.0.

Restoring System Certificates to ISE 3.0

Restoring system certificates is an essential step to ensure that the ISE 3.0 node can properly authenticate and secure communication. These certificates are used for RADIUS, TACACS+, and other services within the ISE deployment. You should have already backed up these certificates from the ISE 2.4 deployment before starting the upgrade.

1. Import the System Certificates: From the ISE 3.0 GUI, navigate to Administration > System > Certificates and import the previously exported system certificates. This includes the RADIUS, Portal, and EAP certificates necessary for secure communications.

2. Import the CA Chain: If you are using a certificate authority (CA) chain, make sure to import it into the Trusted Certificates section first before proceeding with the import of individual certificates.

3. Ensure Certificate Integrity: Double-check that both the PEM and PVK files, along with their associated private keys, are imported correctly. Failure to do this may result in authentication issues later on.

Once the certificates are restored, your ISE 3.0 node will be ready to begin processing RADIUS client authentications, ensuring that network access policies are applied securely.

At this stage, you have successfully reimaged your ISE 2.4 nodes with new ISE 3.0 virtual machines and completed the initial setup and patching process. The system certificates have been restored, and the node is now prepared for further configuration and integration into your network.

The next steps involve restoring your backup data, verifying that the system is processing authentication requests correctly, and joining the second ISE node to complete the full deployment. By following these steps carefully, you ensure that your upgrade to Cisco ISE 3.0 is smooth and that your deployment is fully functional with minimal downtime.

Restoring Data and Configurations to ISE 3.0

Now that the initial setup of the ISE 3.0 node is complete and the system has been patched, the next step is to restore the configuration, operational data, and system certificates from the backups you took earlier. This is a critical step in ensuring that your new ISE 3.0 node is configured to match your previous deployment in ISE 2.4. By restoring the backup data, we can ensure that the new node can resume its function as part of your network’s authentication system with minimal disruption.

Restoring the data and configuration settings is done in several stages: first, you’ll restore the system certificates, followed by restoring the configuration data and operational logs. Let’s go through the process step by step.

Restoring System Certificates to ISE 3.0

One of the first actions you need to take after completing the basic setup of the ISE 3.0 node is to restore the system certificates. These certificates are essential for secure communication between your ISE nodes and external clients, such as network access devices (NADs), RADIUS clients, and TACACS+ devices. Without these certificates, authentication requests cannot be processed securely.

To restore the system certificates, follow these steps:

1. Access the ISE 3.0 GUI: Log in to the ISE 3.0 administrative GUI using the credentials you created during the setup process.

2. Navigate to the Certificates Section: Go to Administration > System > Certificates in the ISE GUI. This is where you can manage the system certificates used by ISE.

3. Import the Certificates: You should have exported the system certificates before the upgrade. These certificates include the RADIUS, EAP, and Portal certificates. Import the certificates back into ISE 3.0 by selecting Import Certificate and providing the required files.
   • Import the PEM and PVK files: These are the private and public key files associated with your certificates. Be sure to include both the private key (PVK) and public key (PEM) files, as they are necessary for authentication services.

   • Ensure Correct CA Chain: If you’re using a certificate authority (CA) chain, make sure to import the Certificate Authority (CA) chain into the Trusted Certificates section first before proceeding with the import of individual certificates.

4. Verify Certificate Integrity: Once the certificates are imported, check that they are valid and have not been corrupted during the backup/restore process. Invalid certificates can cause authentication failures, so ensure that everything is in order.

After restoring the system certificates, the ISE 3.0 node will be ready to handle secure RADIUS and TACACS+ authentication requests.

Restoring Configuration Data to ISE 3.0

Now that the system certificates are restored, the next step is to restore the configuration data from the backup taken earlier. The configuration backup contains the essential settings, such as policies, network device configurations, and authentication settings, which are needed to bring your ISE 3.0 node back to a fully functional state.

1. Navigate to the Backup/Restore Section: In the ISE 3.0 GUI, go to Administration > System > Backup/Restore. This is where you can restore the configuration and operational data backups.

2. Choose the Configuration Backup: Select the configuration backup you created from the ISE 2.4 deployment. This backup contains all the configuration data needed for your deployment, including policies, device groups, authentication sources, and other system settings.

3. Restore the Configuration Backup: Click the restore button to begin the process. The restoration will typically take about 30 minutes, depending on the size of the configuration data.
   • Monitor the Process: During the restoration, the ISE GUI will log you out temporarily. It’s important to monitor the restoration process through the command-line interface (CLI) to ensure that it is proceeding without issues. You can check the status of the restoration from the CLI to make sure everything is proceeding as expected.

4. Verify Configuration: Once the restoration is complete, log back into the ISE GUI and verify that the configuration settings are intact. Check your policies, network devices, and authentication settings to ensure that everything was restored correctly.

5. Reconfigure the Primary/Secondary Nodes: If your deployment consists of multiple nodes, like a primary and secondary node, make sure that the nodes are properly configured to communicate with each other. If necessary, you can register the secondary node to the primary node after restoring the configuration.

At this point, your ISE 3.0 node should be configured with the same settings as your previous ISE 2.4 deployment, making the system ready to process authentication requests.

Restoring Operational Data Backup

Once the configuration data is restored, you should proceed with restoring the operational data. This backup contains logs, monitoring data, and historical authentication events, which are necessary for troubleshooting, auditing, and reporting purposes.

1. Select the Operational Data Backup: In the Backup/Restore section, select the operational data backup you created during the initial preparation phase.

2. Restore Operational Data: Begin the restoration of the operational data. This process may also take some time, depending on the size of the backup. Similar to the configuration restore, ISE will log you out during the process, so you should monitor the process via CLI.

3. Verify Operational Data: Once the restore is complete, check that the operational data, such as logs and monitoring information, has been successfully restored. This data will be critical if you need to audit or troubleshoot any authentication events that occurred before the upgrade.

By restoring the operational data, you ensure that your ISE 3.0 deployment has a complete history of authentication events and monitoring data, providing you with full visibility into network access activity.

Final Configuration Checks

After completing the restoration of configuration and operational data, there are a few final checks you should perform to ensure that everything is functioning correctly:

1. Test Authentication Services: Ensure that RADIUS, TACACS+, and other authentication services are operational. Test with a few network devices to verify that authentication requests are being processed by the newly restored ISE 3.0 node.

2. Check System Logs: Review the system logs for any errors or warnings that might have occurred during the restore process. Any issues should be addressed before moving on to the next phase of the upgrade.

3. Verify Node Synchronization: If you are using multiple nodes, ensure that all nodes in the deployment are synchronized and able to communicate with each other. Check the node status in the ISE GUI and make sure that all nodes show green status indicators.

4. Monitor Performance: After the restore is complete and authentication services are running, monitor the performance of your ISE 3.0 node to ensure that it can handle the expected load. Check CPU, memory, and disk usage to confirm that the system is operating within its performance limits.

By restoring the configuration and operational data to the ISE 3.0 node, you ensure that your upgraded system is fully functional and ready to handle authentication requests. Restoring system certificates, configuration settings, and operational logs ensures that your network access control remains secure and that you have a complete record of authentication events.

With the ISE 3.0 node now fully configured and operational, the next step is to finalize the deployment by joining the second ISE 3.0 node to the system, ensuring that both nodes work in unison as part of your upgraded ISE deployment. This will provide redundancy and load balancing, ensuring optimal performance and high availability for your authentication services.

Finalizing the Cisco ISE 3.0 Deployment

With the first ISE 3.0 node now fully configured and operational, the next step is to finalize the deployment by integrating the second node into the system, applying any necessary configuration, and ensuring that both nodes are fully synchronized. At this point, the ISE 3.0 environment will be ready to provide network access control services with increased redundancy and performance.

This part of the process includes finalizing the roles of the nodes, verifying their synchronization, and ensuring that licensing and high availability are properly set up.

Completing the Setup on the Second ISE 3.0 Node

Once the first ISE 3.0 node is successfully set up, the next task is to complete the setup for the second ISE 3.0 node. This node will eventually join the existing deployment and work in tandem with the first node to provide redundancy and load balancing.

1. Shut Down the ISE 2.4 Primary Node: If you are migrating from an ISE 2.4 deployment with two nodes, shut down the ISE 2.4 primary node to avoid IP conflicts when bringing the new ISE 3.0 node online. Since we are using the same IP address and hostname for the new node, it is important to ensure that the old node is powered off before the new node is brought online.

2. Complete Setup of the Second ISE 3.0 Virtual Machine: Power on the second ISE 3.0 virtual machine, and run through the same setup process that was used for the first node. This includes configuring the IP address, hostname, domain, and other basic system settings. Ensure that the settings are consistent with the first node to facilitate smooth communication between the two nodes.

3. Apply Latest Patches: Once the second node is set up, make sure to apply the latest patches to this node, just as you did with the first node. This ensures that both nodes are running the same version and have all necessary security updates and bug fixes.

4. Import System Certificates: Similar to the first node, restore the system certificates to the second ISE 3.0 node. This ensures that secure communication can take place between the two nodes as well as between the nodes and other network devices. Import the PEM and PVK files, and ensure the CA chain is included in the trusted certificates.

5. Restore Configuration and Operational Data: After applying the patches and restoring the certificates, proceed with restoring the configuration and operational data backups from the ISE 2.4 deployment to the second node. This will bring the second node’s configuration in line with the first node, ensuring consistency across the entire deployment.

6. Verify Functionality: After restoring the data, verify that the second node is functioning correctly by checking authentication services, logs, and system settings. Test connectivity between the first and second nodes, and ensure that both nodes can handle authentication requests.

Registering the Second ISE 3.0 Node to the Deployment

Once the second node is fully configured, the next step is to register it with the primary node and join it to the deployment. This process enables the nodes to communicate with each other and work together to provide network access control services.

1. Convert the First Node to Primary Node: Initially, the first ISE 3.0 node will be a standalone node. To begin the process of adding the second node, navigate to the Administration > Deployment section in the ISE 3.0 GUI. Select the first node and choose the option to promote it to the Primary Node.

2. Register the Secondary Node: After promoting the first node to the Primary Node, select the second node from the Deployment menu and choose the option to Register Node. Provide the necessary details, such as the IP address, hostname, and configuration settings of the second node.

3. Finalizing Node Synchronization: Once the second node is registered, allow the system to synchronize both nodes. The synchronization process may take some time, as both nodes will exchange configuration data and ensure they are in sync. During this process, the first node will be responsible for managing the deployment, while the second node will receive its configuration settings and begin operating in a secondary capacity.

4. Verify Green Check Marks: After synchronization is complete, check the Deployment menu in the ISE GUI to confirm that both nodes show green check marks, indicating they are fully synchronized and functioning properly.

5. Rejoin Active Directory (If Applicable): If your deployment uses Active Directory (AD) as an identity store, you will need to rejoin the AD domain from both nodes. Ensure that both the primary and secondary nodes are correctly joined to the AD domain to handle authentication requests properly.

6. Test Authentication: To ensure that the nodes are functioning correctly, perform a few authentication tests. Use devices or users connected to the network to test RADIUS and TACACS+ authentication. Verify that both nodes are processing requests and that no authentication failures are occurring.

Optional – Flipping Primary/Secondary Roles

After both nodes are synchronized and functioning properly, you may want to flip the primary and secondary roles to align with your original deployment configuration. This is optional but can help maintain the same roles you had with your ISE 2.4 deployment.

1. Login to the Secondary Node GUI: Log in to the second ISE 3.0 node’s GUI (which is currently the secondary node).

2. Promote the Secondary Node to Primary: Navigate to Administration > Deployment, and select the secondary node. Choose the option to promote it to the Primary Node. This will make the second node the primary node for your deployment.

3. Revert the First Node to Secondary: After the second node is promoted to primary, go back to the first node’s GUI and demote it to the secondary node. This ensures that the nodes now reflect the same roles as in your original deployment.

4. Verify Synchronization: After switching roles, check that both nodes are still properly synchronized. The primary node should now be fully responsible for management, and the secondary node should be able to handle authentication requests.

Licensing the ISE 3.0 Deployment

With the deployment now up and running, the next task is to address licensing. Cisco has introduced a new licensing model in ISE 3.0, which differs from the previous versions. The new licensing model includes three tiers: Essentials (formerly Base), Advanced (formerly Plus), and Premier (formerly Apex).

1. Open a TAC Case for License Migration: To upgrade your ISE 2.x licenses to the new ISE 3.x model, you’ll need to open a TAC case with Cisco. This process involves migrating your old Base, Plus, and Apex licenses to the new Essentials, Advanced, and Premier licenses. Cisco will guide you through the migration process.

2. Register the ISE 3.0 System to the Smart Account: To use the new licensing model, register your ISE 3.0 system to your Cisco Smart Account. You’ll need to obtain a registration token and input it into the system.

3. Apply New Licenses: After registration, apply the new licenses to the ISE 3.0 deployment. Ensure that you have the correct number of licenses based on the features and functionality required for your deployment.

4. Verify License Status: Once the new licenses are applied, check the Licensing section in the ISE 3.0 GUI to ensure that the system is properly licensed and that all features are enabled.

Final Steps: Post-Upgrade Testing and Validation

1. Test Redundancy and High Availability: After both ISE 3.0 nodes are fully synchronized, perform failover tests to verify that the system functions properly in case one node goes down. This is crucial for ensuring high availability.

2. Monitor System Performance: Continue to monitor the system for performance and stability. Check for any issues related to authentication delays, system load, or unexpected restarts.

3. Review Logs and Reports: Finally, review system logs and reports to ensure that everything is functioning correctly. Make sure there are no errors or warnings in the system logs that could indicate underlying issues.

At this point, your Cisco ISE deployment is fully upgraded to version 3.0, with both nodes configured and functioning together to provide network access control services. By completing the setup of the second node, registering it to the deployment, and finalizing the licensing, you have ensured that the system is ready to handle authentication requests with increased redundancy, high availability, and optimized performance.

The final steps in the process involve testing the system thoroughly to ensure that everything is functioning as expected and that no issues are present. By following these steps, you can confidently rely on your ISE 3.0 deployment to handle network access control efficiently and securely.

Final Thoughts

Upgrading Cisco ISE from version 2.4 to 3.0 is a significant and rewarding process that ensures your network access control solution is up-to-date, secure, and optimized for future growth. This upgrade not only brings new features and performance improvements but also aligns your system with the latest security standards, helping to protect your network from evolving threats.

Throughout the upgrade process, careful planning and attention to detail are critical. From understanding your deployment topology and choosing the right upgrade method to performing thorough backups and ensuring hardware compatibility with ISE 3.0, every step plays an important role in ensuring a smooth transition. By opting for the Backup, Reimage, Restore method, you can achieve a fresh, clean environment that meets the latest system requirements and ensures minimal disruption to your network.

Restoring the backup data, including system certificates, configuration settings, and operational data, is essential to ensure continuity and maintain the integrity of your authentication services. Whether restoring configuration data from ISE 2.4 or applying patches, it’s important to validate that the system is functioning correctly after each step.

Adding the second ISE 3.0 node to the deployment enhances redundancy and performance. By synchronizing the nodes, promoting the primary node, and ensuring both nodes are communicating effectively, you create a robust network access control system capable of handling increased traffic and providing high availability.

Finally, licensing is an important aspect of ensuring that your ISE deployment is fully compliant and properly supported. With Cisco’s new licensing model, migrating to the updated tiers ensures that you have access to the features your organization needs.

The upgrade process may seem complex, but with careful execution and thorough testing, you’ll be able to leverage the power of ISE 3.0 to enhance your network security. Once the deployment is fully configured and validated, you’ll benefit from a highly scalable, secure, and efficient network access control solution. It’s important to continuously monitor the system, especially after major updates, to ensure everything is running as expected and to address any issues that arise.

By following these steps, your ISE 3.0 deployment will be positioned for success, providing a solid foundation for secure authentication, policy enforcement, and overall network management in the years to come.