How to Install or Update the Qualys Cloud Agent on Red Hat Linux

Qualys Cloud Agent is a powerful tool for continuous monitoring and vulnerability management of your systems. This guide will walk you through the steps to install and update the Qualys Cloud Agent on a Red Hat Linux server.

Installation Steps

1. Download the Qualys Cloud Agent Package

First, download the Qualys Cloud Agent package for Linux from the official Qualys website.

2. Unzip the Downloaded Package

Unzip the downloaded package using the following command:

command: unzip QualysCloudAgent-Linux.zip

3. Install the Unzipped Package

Install the Qualys Cloud Agent package using the rpm command:

command: sudo rpm -ivh QualysCloudAgent.rpm

4. Activate the Agent

Activate the Qualys Cloud Agent with your specific Activation ID and Customer ID:

command: sudo /usr/local/qualys/cloud-agent/bin/qualys-cloud-agent.sh ActivationId=<ACTIVATION_ID> CustomerId=<CUSTOMER_ID>

5. Start the Agent Service

Start and enable the Qualys Cloud Agent service to run at boot:

commands:
sudo systemctl start qualys-cloud-agent
sudo systemctl enable qualys-cloud-agent

6. Check Logs (Optional)

Monitor the agent logs to ensure it is functioning correctly:

command: tail -f /var/log/qualys/qualys-cloud-agent.log

7. Check the Installed Version (Optional)

Verify the installed version of the Qualys Cloud Agent:

commands:

rpm -q qualys-cloud-agent 

or
sudo yum info qualys-cloud-agent

Updating the Qualys Cloud Agent

If an older version of the Qualys Cloud Agent is already installed, follow these steps to update to the latest version.

1. Remove Old version

Remove the existing Qualys Cloud Agent (optional, but recommended to ensure a clean installation)

commands:
sudo systemctl stop qualys-cloud-agent
sudo yum remove qualys-cloud-agent

2.Unzip the Updated Package

Unzip the updated package:

command: unzip QualysCloudAgent-Linux.zip

3. Update the Package

Update the Qualys Cloud Agent using the rpm or yum command:

commands:
 sudo rpm -Uvh QualysCloudAgent.rpm

or 
sudo yum update QualysCloudAgent.rpm

4. Restart the Agent Service

Restart the Qualys Cloud Agent service to apply the update

command: sudo systemctl restart qualys-cloud-agent

5. Verify the Updated Version

Check the updated version of the Qualys Cloud Agent:

commands

rpm -q qualys-cloud-agent
or
yum info qualys-cloud-agent

By following these steps, you can easily install and keep your Qualys Cloud Agent up to date on a Red Hat Linux server. This ensures continuous security monitoring and compliance for your systems.

Conclusion

Maintaining up-to-date security tools is crucial for protecting your systems. The Qualys Cloud Agent provides robust capabilities for vulnerability management and continuous monitoring. Follow the steps outlined in this guide to ensure your agent is properly installed and updated.

Ensure to replace <ACTIVATION_ID> and <CUSTOMER_ID> with your specific credentials. For more detailed information, refer to the official Qualys documentation.