Changing hostname and IP address on HP-UX 11i

[Gary Cooper_1]

I'm about to replace a production (24/7) machine (B132L+) with a newer model (B2600). For application reasons, we really need for the new machine to have the same hostname and IP address as the old machine.

I'd like to just take the old machine offline and rebuild the new one online (so there's no IP address conflicts), but the 1 to 2 days is really too much down time for production to live with.

One option is to build the new machine with a different hostname and IP address, then when I want to do the switch, take the old machine offline and change the hostname and IP address on the new machine.

I know with older versions of HP-UX this was very much to be avoided, but has anyone any experience of doing this with 11i?

I guess the implications of doing this on my applications is another matter...

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Gary

[Robert-Jan Goossens_1 · Accepted solution]

Hi Gary,

I would go for the second option, build the new workstation with a different ip and hostname and rename it when you need to go to procuction.

files you need to edit.

/etc/rc.config.d/netconf
/etc/hosts

# reboot

or use the script

# set_parms hostname
# set_parms ip_address
# reboot

I can not give you a comment on what the results will be for your apps.

Hope this helps,
Robert-Jan

[Eric Antunes]

Hi Gary,

I've been already in your situation and I did the following:

- gived a new name for the server;
- copied all applications files;
- searched for config files with the old hostname:

#find / -exec grep -l {} \;

More important, yet: this will let you with 2 environments, 1 for Production and the other for Tests, lowering your apps risks!!

Best Regards,

Eric Antunes

[Peter Godron]

Hi,
can't see any major problem with your approach. This is how we replaced machines in the past.
Easiest way was to use the /sbin/set_parms
to do most of the work of changing address etc. for you.
Regards

[Michael_356]

Hi there,

my knowledge restricted to 11.00 only but switching ipadress and hostname works without problems on my machines.
You can do this with sam or change entries in /etc/rc.config.d/netconf.
After reboot the machine runs with the new parameters without any harm

regards

Michael

[Gary Cooper_1]

Thanks guys. I feel much happier now.

Best regards,

Gary

[Gary Cooper_1]

Thread closed.