Installing Acunetix Multi-Engine

The Acunetix Multi-Engine setup is suitable for Enterprise customers who need to scan more than 10 websites or web applications simultaneously. This can be achieved by installing one Main Installation and multiple Scanning Engines, all managed from a central console (Acunetix On-Premises).

Configuring a multi-engine setup is a three-step process:

1. Install a new scanning engine
2. Register the new scanning engine 
3. Authorize the new scanning engine

Step 1: Install a new Scanning Engine

1. Copy the Acunetix installation to the machine. The installation file for the Main Installation is the same file you need to use to install the stand-alone Scanning Engine on a different machine.

2. From the command prompt, run the installation with the /engineonly switch.

1. If installing the engine on Linux, use --engineonly

3. This will start the installation of the Acunetix Scanning Engine. Follow the Acunetix Setup Wizard to proceed with the installation.

4.  Enable Allow remote access to Acunetix, and specify a Server Name that is accessible from the Acunetix Main Installation.

5. Proceed and finish the installation.

Step 2: Register the new Scanning Engine

After the installation, you need to register the new Scanning Engine with the Main Installation. This process is initiated from the Scanning Engine.

1. Browse to the Acunetix Engine Registration page.

2. Click Configure Now.
3. Provide a unique name for this Scanning Engine instance, so as to differentiate it from the other Scanning Engines.

4. Confirm that the Scanning engine address (this instance) reflects the address of this Scanning Engine Instance. Usually this can be kept as default.
5. Configure the address of the Main Installation. Ensure you include the port number.
6. If needed, select the checkbox next to Ignore SSL Errors.
7. Click Register.

Step 3: Authorize the new Scanning Engine

All Scanning Engine registration requests need to be authorized from your Main Installation. This ensures that the Main Installation administrator remains in control of all the Scan Engine registrations.

1. From your Main Installation of Acunetix On-Premises, select Engines from the left-side menu.
2. Click Authorize next to your new Scan Engine.

3. The Status of the Scan Engine will change to Online and the version of the Scan Engine updates.

4. Back on the Scan Engine machine, the Scan Engine is now shown as Registered

Once this is done, any scans configured on the Main Installation will be distributed between the configured Scanning Engines.

Further information

• The License on the Main Installation will be propagated to the Scanning Engine installations when the Scanning Engines are Authorized.
• The Scanning Engine on the Main Installation cannot be disabled.
• You can configure a Target to always be scanned using the same Scanning Engine. This can be done from Target Settings > Advanced > Scanning Engine. For detailed instructions, refer to Scanning Engine.
• The Acunetix Main Installation and the Acunetix Engines communicate over port 3443. Firewalls should be configured to allow these connections both ways.