Change Name of ESXi Hosts in Hyperflex Cluster

[IC2317]

Hi,

We have existing running Hyperflex cluster with HX version 4.0.2c and vCenter/ESXi hosts 6.7 U3. Hyperflex cluster has DNS  suffix that is domain XXXX.com and ESXi hosts name is esx1.XXXX.com, esx2.XXXX.com and so on.

Can we change the name of the ESXi hosts to esx1.YYYY.com(Basically change the DNS suffix) and also DNS suffix of Hyperflex cluster to different domain YYYY.com.

If yes, then can someone please provide the steps to do so.

[RedNectar]

Hi @IC2317 

Although this is a task I have not had to perform, I remember hearing that it is not as strightforward as just renaming the hosts and updating DNS - there are local host files to be considered as well.

I don't have an environment where I can test it, but this article might help https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/1010821

[IC2317]

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, VMware ESXi hosts renaming is straightforward. However, I am looking for information about the impact on hyperflex cluster or recommended approach from Cisco if we want to rename the esxi hosts that are part of Hyperflex cluster.

I don't know what would be the impact on HX cluster if remove the host from cluster and then rename and add it back. Will cisco HX cluster detect that change or will it cause issues.

[Avirn]

@IC2317 Did you performed this activity?.I am also facing the same issue .Please let me know if you got any help on this

[Steven Tardy]

Doing the "IP to FQDN" steps should do what you want:

  https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/hyperconverged_systems/HyperFlex_HX_DataPlatformSoftware/AdminGuide/4_0/b_HyperFlexSystems_AdministrationGuide_4_0/b_HyperFlexSystems_AdministrationGuide_4_0_chapter_01001.html#task_znr_cby_cz

[SulemanKhalil]

I have this problem too, any luck guys ?

[WUR]

I found an article which may be helpful 

https://www.techtarget.com/searchvmware/answer/How-do-you-change-ESXi-65-host-names-and-DNS-configuration

[SulemanKhalil]

The easiest way Cisco proposed are the following.

1. Login to each ESXi host over ssh using the root user, you can check the current hostname with the command esxcli system hostname get, you'll see something like this:

   [root@Server-1:~] esxcli system hostname get

   Domain Name: hxlab.com

   Fully Qualified Domain Name: Server-1.hxlab.com

   Host Name: Server-1

1. Then change the hostname to the desired one, in my case I changed it to Server-1-Test, then restart the hostd service:

      [root@Server-1:~] esxcli system hostname set --host=Server-1-Test

    [root@Server-1-Test:~] /etc/init.d/hostd restart

1. You can check the hostname once more with the command in step 1:

    [root@San-Jose-Server-1:~] esxcli system hostname get

      Domain Name: hxlab.com

      Fully Qualified Domain Name: Server-1-Test.hxlab.com

      Host Name: Server-1-Test

Repeat the same process in all of the ESXi servers where you need to change the node name.

Once you finish, then connect to each HyperFlex node (172.18.54.221 to 172.18.54.224) over ssh using your admin credentials and run the following commands in one controller VM at a time:

hxshell:~$ priv service stMgr stop

stMgr stop/waiting

hxshell:~$ priv service stMgr start

stMgr start/running, process 15426

After you have done it, logout and log back in to the HyperFlex Connect GUI, you'll see that the Node name has been changed.