> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.futurex.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Before you start

> Checklist of environment requirements and prerequisites before beginning the BIND integration.

Verify your environment meets these requirements.

## Supported hardware

* Vectera Plus, `7.2.x.x` or later.

## Supported operating systems

* Linux

## Required access

* An account on the Vectera Plus with administrator permissions to create application partitions, identities, TLS PKI, and update system settings.
* Local administrator/root privileges on the computer where BIND is installed.

## Network and firewall

* Allow outbound TCP port **9100**(default Excrypt port) from the computer running BIND to the Vectera Plus, specified by FQDN (for example, `hsm.example.com`) or CIDR (for example, `10.0.0.0/24`).

<Warning>
  TLS inspection or SSL proxies can break mutual TLS handshakes. Exempt the Vectera Plus FQDN(s) from inspection. Configure the Vectera Plus with a FQDN so the exemption applies.
</Warning>

## Other

* OpenSSL (v3.0.0 or newer)
* BIND (v9.20 or newer)

<Warning>
  You must compile BIND from source to work with Futurex HSMs. Using package managers to install BIND might cause linking issues between `bind9-utils` and OpenSSL providers.
</Warning>