The Correction Layer 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 is 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 Security Gateway - Check Point Software1

•Solved: Maestro queries - Check Point CheckMates

A Security Group can be compared to a Load Sharing Active / Active cluster because it consists of multiple Security Group Members that share the traffic load and provide high availability and scalability. Each Security Group Member is an active firewall that processes traffic according to the Security Group policy and synchronizes its state with other members. The Maestro Orchestrator acts as a load balancer that distributes the traffic among the Security Group Members based on their capacity and availability.

References

•Check Point Certified Maestro Expert (CCME) R81.X Courseware, Module 2: Maestro Security Groups, Lesson 2.1: Introduction to Security Groups, page 2-4

•Check Point R81 Maestro Administration Guide, Chapter 2: Maestro Security Groups, Section: Security Group Overview, page 2-3

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 asg perf -v command is used to find bottlenecks in the system that are affecting performance, even functionality in some cases. The asg perf -v command displays the performance statistics of the Security Group Modules (SGMs) in the Security Group, such as throughput, packet rate, CPU utilization, memory usage, and more. The asg perf -v command also shows the distribution mode and the correction rate of each SGM, which can indicate potential issues with asymmetric routing or load balancing. The asg perf -v command can help identify which SGMs are overloaded, underutilized, or misconfigured, and provide insights for troubleshooting and optimization.

References =

•Check Point Maestro R81.X Administration Guide, page 67, section “asg perf” 1

•Check Point Maestro R81.X Getting Started Guide, page 29, section “asg perf” 2

•Check Point Maestro Under the Hood presentation by Lari Luoma, slide 26

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 : https://community.checkpoint.com/fyrhh23835/attachments/fyrhh23835/maestro/1191/1/Check%20Mates%20Maestro%20under%20the%20hood%202022.pptx

The MHO (Maestro Hyperscale Orchestrator) does not require a license by itself, but each SGM (Security Group Module) that is attached to the MHO needs a license. The license type depends on the features and blades that are enabled on the SGM. For example, if the SGM is running VSX, it needs a VSX license.

References:

•Maestro Expert (CCME) Course - Check Point Software, page 71

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

Orchestrators in many network environments do not require separate licenses, as they primarily function to manage and distribute network traffic.

References

•Check Point Certified Maestro Expert (CCME) R81.X Courseware, Module 1: Introduction to Check Point Maestro, Lesson 1.2: Maestro Licensing, page 1-8

•Check Point R81 Maestro Administration Guide, Chapter 1: Introduction to Check Point Maestro, Section: Maestro Licensing, page 1-6

•Activation of a Quantum Maestro Orchestrator - Check Point Software

The lldpctl command is a tool to display information about the devices discovered by the Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) on all ports of the Maestro Orchestrator and the Security Group Members. LLDP is a protocol that enables devices to exchange information about their identity, capabilities, and configuration. LLDP can help to discover the topology and connectivity of the Maestro environment.

References

•Check Point Certified Maestro Expert (CCME) R81.X Courseware, Module 4: Using the Command Line Interface and WebUI, Lesson 4.2: LLDP, page 4-9

•Check Point R81 Maestro Administration Guide, Chapter 3: Working with Security Group Modules, Section: LLDP, page 3-9

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

•The Quantum Maestro Orchestrator uses the Distribution Mode to assign incoming traffic to Security Group Members.

•Reference: Working with the Distribution Mode

Page 313 from the training manual:

- Restart the service:

orchd restart

- Restart the service without confirmation

service orchd restart

The Orchestrator is a Maestro component that manages the compute and network resources of the Security Group Modules (SGMs) in a Security Group. It also acts as a load balancer and a network switch, distributing traffic among the SGMs and connecting them to the customer’s network infrastructure.

References:

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

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

A Dual Site setup can have either two or four orchestrators, depending on the scenario. However, the maximum number of orchestrators per Security Group is four, regardless of the number of sites. This is because each Security Group can have up to two orchestrators on each site, and each site can have up to two orchestrators. Therefore, the maximum number of orchestrators in a Dual Site setup is four per Security Group.

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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