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This article describes how to deploy Defender for Endpoint on Linux using Ansible. A successful deployment requires the completion of all of the following tasks:

Prerequisites and system requirements

Before you get started, see the main Defender for Endpoint on Linux page for a description of prerequisites and system requirements for the current software version.

In addition, for Ansible deployment, you need to be familiar with Ansible administration tasks, have Ansible configured, and know how to deploy playbooks and tasks. Ansible has many ways to complete the same task. These instructions assume availability of supported Ansible modules, such as apt and unarchive to help deploy the package. Your organization might use a different workflow. Refer to the Ansible documentation for details.

  • Ansible needs to be installed on at least one computer (Ansible calls this the control node).
  • SSH must be configured for an administrator account between the control node and all managed nodes (devices that will have Defender for Endpoint installed on them), and it is recommended to be configured with public key authentication.
  • The following software must be installed on all managed nodes:
    • curl
    • python-apt
  • All managed nodes must be listed in the following format in the /etc/ansible/hosts or relevant file:
    Bash

    [servers]
    host1 ansible_ssh_host=10.171.134.39
    host2 ansible_ssh_host=51.143.50.51
    
  • Ping test:
    Bash

    ansible -m ping all
    

Download the onboarding package

Download the onboarding package from Microsoft 365 Defender portal:

  1. In Microsoft 365 Defender portal, go to Settings > Endpoints > Device management > Onboarding.
  2. In the first drop-down menu, select Linux Server as the operating system. In the second drop-down menu, select Your preferred Linux configuration management tool as the deployment method.
  3. Select Download onboarding package. Save the file as WindowsDefenderATPOnboardingPackage.zip.

    Microsoft 365 Defender portal screenshot.

  4. From a command prompt, verify that you have the file. Extract the contents of the archive:
    Bash

    ls -l
    
    Output

    total 8
    -rw-r--r-- 1 test  staff  4984 Feb 18 11:22 WindowsDefenderATPOnboardingPackage.zip
    
    Bash

    unzip WindowsDefenderATPOnboardingPackage.zip
    
    Output

    Archive:  WindowsDefenderATPOnboardingPackage.zip
    inflating: mdatp_onboard.json
    

Create Ansible YAML files

Create a subtask or role files that contribute to a playbook or task.

  • Create the onboarding task, onboarding_setup.yml:
    Bash

    - name: Create MDATP directories
      file:
        path: /etc/opt/microsoft/mdatp/
        recurse: true
        state: directory
        mode: 0755
        owner: root
        group: root
    
    - name: wp-signup.php mdatp_onboard.json
      stat:
        path: /etc/opt/microsoft/mdatp/mdatp_onboard.json
      wp-signup.php: mdatp_onboard
    
    - name: Extract WindowsDefenderATPOnboardingPackage.zip into /etc/opt/microsoft/mdatp
      unarchive:
        src: WindowsDefenderATPOnboardingPackage.zip
        dest: /etc/opt/microsoft/mdatp
        mode: 0600
        owner: root
        group: root
      when: not mdatp_onboard.stat.exists
    
  • Add the Defender for Endpoint repository and key, add_apt_repo.yml:

    Defender for Endpoint on Linux can be deployed from one of the following channels (denoted below as [channel]): insiders-fastinsiders-slow, or prod. Each of these channels corresponds to a Linux software repository.

    The choice of the channel determines the type and frequency of updates that are offered to your device. Devices in insiders-fast are the first ones to receive updates and new features, followed later by insiders-slow and lastly by prod.

    In order to preview new features and provide early feedback, it is recommended that you configure some devices in your enterprise to use either insiders-fast or insiders-slow.

     Warning

    Switching the channel after the initial installation requires the product to be reinstalled. To switch the product channel: uninstall the existing package, re-configure your device to use the new channel, and follow the steps in this document to install the package from the new location.

    Note your distribution and version and identify the closest entry for it under https://packages.microsoft.com/config/[distro]/.

    In the following commands, replace [distro] and [version] with the information you’ve identified.

     Note

    In case of Oracle Linux and Amazon Linux 2, replace [distro] with “rhel”.

    Bash

    - name: Add Microsoft APT key
      apt_key:
        url: https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc
        state: present
      when: ansible_os_family == "Debian"
    
    - name: Add Microsoft apt repository for MDATP
      apt_repository:
        repo: deb [arch=arm64,armhf,amd64] https://packages.microsoft.com/[distro]/[version]/prod [codename] main
        update_cache: yes
        state: present
        filename: microsoft-[channel]
      when: ansible_os_family == "Debian"
    
    - name: Add Microsoft DNF/YUM key
      rpm_key:
        state: present
        key: https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc
      when: ansible_os_family == "RedHat"
    
    - name: Add  Microsoft yum repository for MDATP
      yum_repository:
        name: packages-microsoft-[channel]
        description: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
        file: microsoft-[channel]
        baseurl: https://packages.microsoft.com/[distro]/[version]/[channel]/ 
        gpgcheck: yes
        enabled: Yes
      when: ansible_os_family == "RedHat"
    
  • Create the Ansible install and uninstall YAML files.
    • For apt-based distributions use the following YAML file:
      Bash

      cat install_mdatp.yml
      
      Output

      - hosts: servers
        tasks:
          - include: ../roles/onboarding_setup.yml
          - include: ../roles/add_apt_repo.yml
          - name: Install MDATP
            apt:
              name: mdatp
              state: latest
              update_cache: yes
      
      Bash

      cat uninstall_mdatp.yml
      
      Output

      - hosts: servers
        tasks:
          - name: Uninstall MDATP
            apt:
              name: mdatp
              state: absent
      
    • For dnf-based distributions use the following YAML file:
      Bash

      cat install_mdatp_dnf.yml
      
      Output

      - hosts: servers
        tasks:
          - include: ../roles/onboarding_setup.yml
          - include: ../roles/add_yum_repo.yml
          - name: Install MDATP
            dnf:
              name: mdatp
              state: latest
              enablerepo: packages-microsoft-com-prod-[channel]
      
      Bash

      cat uninstall_mdatp_dnf.yml
      
      Output

      - hosts: servers
        tasks:
          - name: Uninstall MDATP
            dnf:
              name: mdatp
              state: absent
      

Deployment

Now run the tasks files under /etc/ansible/playbooks/ or relevant directory.

  • Installation:
    Bash

    ansible-playbook /etc/ansible/playbooks/install_mdatp.yml -i /etc/ansible/hosts
    

 Important

When the product starts for the first time, it downloads the latest antimalware definitions. Depending on your Internet connection, this can take up to a few minutes.

  • Validation/configuration:
    Bash

    ansible -m shell -a 'mdatp connectivity test' all
    
    Bash

    ansible -m shell -a 'mdatp health' all
    
  • Uninstallation:
    Bash

    ansible-playbook /etc/ansible/playbooks/uninstall_mdatp.yml -i /etc/ansible/hosts
    

Log installation issues

See Log installation issues for more information on how to find the automatically generated log that is created by the installer when an error occurs.

Operating system upgrades

When upgrading your operating system to a new major version, you must first uninstall Defender for Endpoint on Linux, install the upgrade, and finally reconfigure Defender for Endpoint on Linux on your device.

Source : Official Microsoft Brand
Editor by : BEST Antivirus KBS Team

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