A deployment checklist (available as an Excel spreadsheet attachment on the source article) should be completed for every new client. Working through the checklist confirms that you have the static IPs, VPN accounts, and other configuration details you need to either pre-stage the gateway in advance or finish the configuration quickly once you’re on-site.
Stage the gateway before going on-site
Before heading to the client site, connect the new gateway to any switch port that will hand it a DHCP address and Internet access.
There are two reasons this matters:
- Firmware updates. If the gateway needs a firmware update, pre-staging gives it time to download and apply it before you show up — typically saving 15–20 minutes on-site.
- Certificate state. If the gateway has been off-network long enough that its last certificate update is stale, the cloud needs intervention before the box will come online. Catching this in your office is a few minutes of support time; catching it at the client site is hours.
Get the checklist
The source KB article ships an Excel checklist as an attachment. Download it from the source page, fill it in per client, and keep it with the deployment file for that site.