How to change Host ID

[Hirotada Sasaki]

Hello,

Does anyone know how to change Host ID ?
Since I'm planning to replace our license server. And there are a lot of licenses in current license server. So I want to change the Host ID of new license server to same as old one, so that I don't need to re-install all our licenses.

I saw an HP engineer overwrote a burned MAC address (not /etc/rc.config.d/hpetherconf). So I think Host ID could be overwritten, too.

Best Regards,
Hirotada

[Dietmar Konermann]

Hi, Hirotada!

I'm afraid it's not possible that easy. However, the software id could be changed in stable storage using the HP only tool ss_config.

Regards...
Dietmar.

[Hirotada Sasaki]

Hi Dietmar,

Thank you for important information.

Yes!! I supposed there could be special command which only HP knows.

Do you know if HP can provide the tool ? Or can we ask HP to come to change the Host ID of our system ? Or Can we order new system which has the same Host ID as old one ?

Best Regards,
Hirotada

[Yogeeraj_1]

Hi,

It seems like HP uses the MAC address to generate the hostid.

The following document states this!
http://dsportal.eservices.hp.com/dspp/tech/tech_TechSingleTipDetailPage_IDX/1,2366,1171,00.html

They cut chars 12-23 from the address.

Hope this helps!

Best Regards
Yogeeraj

[Dietmar Konermann]

Hi!

You _may_ get an HP CE to change that number on your new system for you. But I don't know if HP is really allowed to do this, since it would break licensing policies of many (not only 3rd party) products. You should check with your local response center.

BTW, the hostid seen with "uname -i" has nothing to do with the MAC address of any interface.

Regards...
Dietmar.

[Bill Hassell · Accepted solution]

The purpose of the MAC address, model number, uname -i (host ID?) and so on is for licensing controls. All you need to do is contact your vendor(s) and tell them that you need to transfer the license. While you can change the MAC address in the /etc/rc.config directories, this is designed ONLY for use with Service Guard and will lead to big problems in the future should another machine with the same MAC be connected to the network.

HP will not rewrite the CPU ID number (from uname -i) except when replacing the CPU board--then it will match the old board, assuming it is the same model and not an upgrade. If this is an upgrade to a faster processor, many vendors require that HP identify the processor class (speed) in the ID number as some software is priced based on the speed of the machine.

[Hirotada Sasaki]

Hi Bill,
I can understand your explanation. Certainly it could break licensing policy, as Dietmar mentioned, too.
Anyway I will consult with local HP about this issue, since now I understand "technically" this could be done.

BTW, I don't think "uname -a" (=gethostid(2)) is made from MAC address, although the link said so. Maybe this information provides another way to get host specific ID.