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Manual Installation of a NodeZero® Host

Manually installing a NodeZero® Host gives you complete control over its deployment and configuration, allowing you to tailor the setup to your specific environment. This guide walks you through the process of preparing, installing, and validating a NodeZero Host to ensure it’s ready for internal penetration testing with NodeZero.

When to install a host manually

Manual installation is recommended in the following scenarios:

  • Use of Custom Images or OS

    Organizations, particularly large enterprises, may prefer to install NodeZero on their own pre-approved operating system image or OS of choice rather than using the preconfigured OVA.

  • Reusing an Existing Virtual Machine

    If you need to install NodeZero on an existing virtual machine rather than provisioning a new one, manual installation allows you to configure it while following Horizon3.ai’s requirements.

For faster deployment, consider using NodeZero’s Preconfigured Open Virtual Appliance (OVA), which automates much of this process. Manual installation requires familiarity with Linux system administration, networking, and Docker. If you’re new to these, the OVA method may be more suitable.

Deployment Steps

Follow these steps to set up your NodeZero Host manually:

looks_one Host Requirements chevron_right
Verify minimum hardware and software needs (e.g., CPU, memory, Ubuntu 20.04+).
looks_two Docker Installation chevron_right
Install Docker with proper user permissions.
looks_3 NodeZero CLI chevron_right
Install NodeZero CLI utility
looks_4 Validate Host chevron_right
Test connectivity and Docker to confirm readiness.

Having trouble?

Check out Common Setup Issues for troubleshooting tips.