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Using the SAS Deployment Manager to Update Host Name References

Process for Updating Host Name References


Summary of the Update Host Name References Process

Follow these steps to use the Update Host Name References tool:

  1. Document your host name changes.

  2. Create a new account for the unrestricted user if no internal account exists and the metadata server host name is changing (Windows only).

  3. Change existing names at the operating system level, or set up new machines to be identical to the current machines.

  4. Back up your current deployment and each new machine.

  5. Identify the machines on which to run the tool, and determine the execution order.

  6. Run the Update Host Name References tool on each identified machine.

  7. Complete the required manual steps.

  8. Start your servers and perform validation tasks.

  9. Perform another backup of each machine on which the Update Host Name References tool was executed.

If you plan to run any of the other SAS Deployment Manager functions on a new machine in addition to running the Update Host Name References tool, be sure to run the Update Host Name References tool first. For example, if you want to run both the Update Host Name References tool and the Update Passwords tool, you must run the Update Host Name References tool first.


Step 1: Document Your Host Name Changes

For each machine whose machine name is to change (or for each machine that you are cloning), write down the current name and the new name. List all forms of each name, including the following:


Step 2: Create a New Account for the Unrestricted User If No Internal Account Exists and the Metadata Server's Host Name Is Changing (Windows Only)

When you run the Update Host Name References tool, you will be prompted for a user ID and password to connect to the SAS Metadata Server. Before assigning a new name to the metadata server's host machine (or before cloning the metadata server to a new machine) on Windows, you need to make sure that you have an unrestricted user account that can successfully connect to the server.

If the unrestricted user has an internal account (for example, sasadm@saspw) or a network account, then you will be able to use that account to connect to the metadata server even if its machine name has changed.

If the unrestricted user has only an external account that is qualified by a local machine name that is changing, then take one of the following actions:

CAUTION:
You must take one of these actions before you change the metadata server machine name at the operating system level. If you are cloning the metadata server or the entire deployment, you must take these actions before you perform the cloning process.   [cautionend]

Note:   If you rename the metadata server at the operating system level (or clone the metadata server to a new machine) before you have created the new account, it is still possible to connect to the server as an unrestricted user. You can do so by specifying the appropriate local account in the adminUsers.txt file, and then using that account to connect.  [cautionend]


Step 3: Change Existing Names at the Operating System Level, or Set Up New Machines to Be Identical to the Current Machines

If you are renaming one or more existing server or middle-tier machines (or renaming a network domain), then you must change the names at the operating system level before you run the Update Host Name References tool.

If you are creating a clone of one or more SAS servers or middle-tier machines (or of an entire SAS deployment), you must use cloning, ghosting, or virtualization software to transfer full-system images. On Windows, use a utility such as Norton Ghost from Symantec. On UNIX, use the cloning tool that is appropriate for your flavor of UNIX. After the clone is created, check to make sure that the cloned machine is identical to the source machine (except for the machine name). For example, the SAS configuration directory and its contents, the SAS installation directory and its contents, user accounts, and third-party software must be identical.

CAUTION:
If you use a method other than ghosting, cloning, or virtualization software to set up a new machine, then the use of the Update Host Name References tool is not supported for that machine.

For example, use of the Update Host Name References tool is not supported if you set up a new machine by running the SAS Deployment Wizard and then copying SAS configuration files from an existing machine.  [cautionend]

After you have finished the cloning process, do not change anything on the machine before you run the Update Host Name References tool. For example, do not change any directory names or user accounts.


Step 4: Back Up Your Current Deployment and Each New Machine

Make a complete backup of the deployment, including the current machines and any new machines. The backup should include the metadata repositories, as well as the file systems on each machine. To ensure that you make a correct backup of the metadata server, see Best Practices for Backing Up and Restoring Your System.


Step 5: Identify the Machines on Which to Run the Tool and Determine the Execution Order

Next, identify the machines on which you need to run the Update Host Name References tool, and then determine the order in which you need to execute the tools on those machines. The requirements are as follows:

For example: For further guidance in identifying the machines and determining the required order, see Example Scenarios for Updating Host Name References.

Step 6: Run the Update Host Name References Tool on Each Identified Machine

Before running the Update Host Name References tool, make sure you have completed all of the preceding steps. You should have planned your host name changes,renamed the machines or network domain at the operating-system level (or correctly set up any new machines), and then backed up your current deployment and any new machines. In addition, make sure that you have identified the machines on which to run the tool and determined the correct execution order. It might have also been necessary to add a new account for the unrestricted user .

CAUTION:
You must run the tool on every SAS server host machine and middle-tier machine in the deployment, even if only one machine name has changed. Run the tool on the metadata server first, then on SAS application server machines, then on the middle-tier machine, and then on any required client machines.   [cautionend]

On each machine, follow these steps to run the Update Host Name References tool:

  1. Make sure that the metadata server is running.

    Note:   If you have cloned the metadata server (or the entire deployment) to a new machine, then start the new metadata server, not the old one. You will be able to start it on the new machine even though the server's host name references have not been updated in the deployment.  [cautionend]

  2. Make sure that all other server processes on all machines in the deployment are stopped. These include SAS server processes as well as middle-tier processes, including the Web application server and the SAS Services Application (Remote Services). If you are using an IBM WebSphere Application Server or an IBM WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment, then be sure to stop your deployment manager server and node manager server as well as your application servers.

    CAUTION:
    If you have cloned the middle-tier machine (or the entire deployment) to a new machine, then you must also stop the middle-tier processes on the old middle-tier machine (or in the old deployment).

    If the two middle tiers will be running concurrently, then you might need to modify the multicast parameters before restarting these processes, as described in Step 7: Complete the Required Manual Steps.  [cautionend]

  3. Log on to the machine with the same user account that was used to deploy SAS 9.2, and start the SAS Deployment Manager on the machine. To do so, navigate to SAS-installation-directory/SASDeploymentManager/9.2 and launch config.exe (Windows), config.sh (UNIX) or config.rexx (z/OS). On Windows, you can use the shortcut on the Start menu.

  4. On the first page of the SAS Deployment Manager, select Update Host Name References.

  5. On the Update Host Name References Information page, review the information that is displayed, which is a summary of the information in this documentation.

  6. On the Select Configuration Directory/Level page, select the configuration directory for which you are running the tool.

    If the configuration directory is not listed, select Enter Configuration Directory and Level and use the Browse button to find the directory. Then select the appropriate configuration level from the drop-down box.

  7. On the Specify Connection Information page, enter the following information:

  8. On Specify Host Information page, make the following entries:

    Old Host Name(s)

    Enter a comma-delimited list of the host names for the machines whose names have changed, or for the machines that have been cloned to new machines. Be sure to include all machines in the deployment whose names have changed (or that have been cloned to new machines). Since the tool is not case-sensitive, you can enter the names using either uppercase or lowercase letters.

    New Host Name(s)

    Enter a comma-delimited list of the new host names for the machines whose names have changed (or the machines on which you have created clones of existing machines). Be sure to include the same forms of the machine names and to enter the names in the same order that you entered them in the Old Host Name(s) field.

    Perform DNS lookup

    For a given host machine, different files and metadata in your deployment might contain different forms of the host name, including the fully qualified name, the short name, and the IP address. If you are cloning one or more servers to a new machine, then you can select Perform DNS lookup option, which accesses the Domain Name System to determine all of the forms of each host name.

    If the name of an existing host machine (or network domain name) has changed, then you must deselect Perform DNS lookup. The Domain Name System does not contain information about machine names or network domains that no longer exist.

    CAUTION:
    You must complete the preceding fields in such a way that all applicable forms of the host name are updated correctly throughout your deployment.

    To make sure that all applicable forms of the machine names are updated correctly, refer to the following table.  [cautionend]

    Scenario Format for Entering Old and New Host Names Perform DNS Lookup?
    One or more existing SAS server or middle-tier host machines have changed. Enter both the fully qualified name and the short name for each machine whose name has changed. It is not necessary to enter IP addresses, since the IP address stays the same in this scenario. Deselect Perform DNS lookup.
    The name of a network domain name has changed. Enter fully qualified host names for the machines that contain the network domain name that is changing. It is not necessary to enter short names or IP addresses, since these forms of the name stay the same in this scenario. Deselect Perform DNS lookup.
    One or more servers (or an entire deployment) have been cloned to a new machine or machines. Enter fully qualified host names for the machines that have been cloned to new machines. If you are selecting Perform DNS lookup (which is strongly recommended), then you do not need to enter the machines' IP addresses or short names. As a best practice, select Perform DNS lookup. Otherwise, you must enter all forms of the machine names.

    For example entries, see Example Scenarios for Updating Host Name References.

    If you select Perform DNS lookup, then the lookup is performed when you click Next. The results of the lookup appear on the next page (Update Host Name References Summary).

    If the specified names are not found in the Domain Name System, the following message appears: Unable to resolve the DNS host name for machine-name. Enter a different value for the host name or clear the option to perform a DNS lookup of the name. You can then correct your entry and click Next to repeat the lookup. If you are changing the name of an existing machine or network domain, then you must deselect Perform DNS lookup. The lookup cannot be performed in these scenarios.

  9. On the Update Host Name References Summary Information page, review the list of host name changes that will be made, and make sure that they match the old and new names that you identified in Step 1: Document Your Host Name Changes. The current host names are listed in the first column, and the new host names are listed in the second column.

    If you did not select the Perform DNS lookup option, this page lists all host name changes exactly as you specified them on the previous page.

    If you selected the Perform DNS lookup option, this page lists all forms of the host name that were found during the DNS lookup, along with the values that will replace those names. For example, if you specified P4001.orionstarsports.com, P4002.orionstarsports.com, and P4003.orionstarsports.com as the old host names and T4001.orionstarsports.com, T4002.orionstarsports.com, and T4003.orionstarsports.com as the new host names, this page might display a list similar to the following:

    [Update Host Name References ummary Information page]

    In the preceding example, the DNS lookup option found all other forms of the machine names for the old machine, including the short names and the IP addresses. These names are listed in the left column. The DNS lookup option also found the corresponding names for the new machines and listed them in the right column.

    Review the information carefully to ensure the following:

    • The correct metadata server is specified in the Metadata Server Information.

    • The correct host name changes are listed.

    If the information is correct, click Next to proceed. Otherwise, click Back to make the necessary corrections.
  10. The Summary page lists the main execution steps, including a list of the products on the machine whose configuration information will be changed. If you are sure you are ready for the host names to be changed, click Start on this page.

    CAUTION:
    The Update Host Name References tool does not have an "undo" feature. The results of running the tool can be undone only by restoring the machine from a backup.

    Therefore, you should click Start only if you are sure you have set up the execution correctly.  [cautionend]

  11. The next page displays the status of each step as it is executed.

  12. When execution is finished, the tool creates a document called ChangeHostName_date-and-time.html. This document lists all of the files and metadata properties that were changed and provides instructions for any additional steps to be performed manually. It might also report warnings if issues were encountered during the execution.

    If a browser is installed on your machine, the report is displayed automatically. Otherwise, you can retrieve the report from the Documents directory within your configuration directory.

Repeat this process on each machine that you identified in Step 1: Document Your Host Name Changes, being sure to specify exactly the same old and new host names that you specified in the first execution. If you have multiple SAS configuration directories (for multiple SAS deployments) on the same machine, you must run the Update Host Name References tool separately for each directory.

If any part of the execution fails, see Troubleshooting the Update Host Name References Tool.


Step 7: Complete the Required Manual Steps

In addition to listing the files and metadata profiles that were updated, the ChangeHostName_date-and-time.html report provides instructions for steps to be performed manually. The report is stored in the Documents directory within your configuration directory. The manual steps might include the following:

You might need to perform the following additional steps:


Step 8: Start Servers and Perform Validation Tasks

After you have completed the necessary manual updates, start all of your servers as specified in ChangeHostName_date-and-time.html. Also start any servers that are not specifically mentioned, such as the SAS Services Application (Remote Services) and Web application servers.

CAUTION:
If the unrestricted user or the SAS Trusted User has an external account that is qualified by a host name that has changed (for example, host1\sasadm or host1\sastrust), then you must stop and start the metadata server before you start any of the other servers. Doing so will ensure that the metadata server runs with the correct values for those accounts.   [cautionend]

After the servers have been started, validate your deployment. For details, see:

You can also refer to your Instructions.html document, which is located in the Documents directory within your configuration directory. If you use this document, you will need to substitute new machine names where applicable.

Step 9: Back Up Each Machine on Which the Update Host Name References Tool Was Executed

After you have validated your servers, it is strongly recommended that you make a complete backup of each machine on which the Update Host Name References tool was executed. The backup should include the metadata repositories, as well as the file systems on each machine. To ensure that you make a correct backup of the metadata server, see Best Practices for Backing Up and Restoring Your System.

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