How to Properly Change The VMware Cloud Director Database IP

Believe it or not I ran into this problem recently.  Suffice to say I realized if you deploy the VMware Cloud Director appliance with the primary and database IP on the same VLAN, some things go a little wonky.  A few people mentioned outside the official docs that you should not do this, but it was too late I didn’t want to re-deploy again.  That being said there a few ways to mange this, but one ends up being the “right” way.


First, Change the appliance IP

This is also not too hard to do.  It is just a matter of changing the IP on the ethernet adapter that is interface one which is /etc/systemd/network/10-eth1.network and you just need to make the real time changes and restart the networking.  This will get the IP changed but since the appliance is based on an OVA this WILL be re-written on a reboot

Second, Change the Database Table

This is very well documented by VMware so there is not much to really discuss on it.  Basically it’s a few steps to ensure that the new IP is listed in the database.  However, if you don’t perform the last step listed below this can be re-wrtten on a reboot.

Third, Change OVA attributes

This is the most important step and one that took myself and Jon Hildebrand a little bit of digging.  The fact is the appliance on reboots re-checks the original settings in the OVA files.  Below are the commands to help you make the final change so you will not have issue on reboot

root@vcloud [ ~ ]# ovfenv
[vami.DNS.VMware_vCloud_Director]=10.25.10.101,10.25.10.102
[vami.domain.VMware_vCloud_Director]=VCD01
[vami.gateway.VMware_vCloud_Director]=10.25.0.1
[vami.ip0.VMware_vCloud_Director]=10.25.10.130
[vami.ip1.VMware_vCloud_Director]=10.25.10.131
[vami.netmask0.VMware_vCloud_Director]=255.255.240.0
[vami.netmask1.VMware_vCloud_Director]=255.255.240.0
[vami.searchpath.VMware_vCloud_Director]=corp.cohesity.rocks
[vcloudapp.db_ha_type.VMware_vCloud_Director]=primary
[vcloudapp.enable_ssh.VMware_vCloud_Director]=True
[vcloudapp.expire_root_password.VMware_vCloud_Director]=False
[vcloudapp.nfs_mount.VMware_vCloud_Director]=prd-coh01.corp.cohesity.rocks:/VCDTransfer
[vcloudapp.ntp-server.VMware_vCloud_Director]=time.nist.gov
[vcloudapp.varoot-password.VMware_vCloud_Director]=#vf6l7&&9YQn!H&pH
[vcloudconf.admin_email.VMware_vCloud_Director][email protected]
[vcloudconf.admin_fname.VMware_vCloud_Director]=vCD Admin
[vcloudconf.admin_pwd.VMware_vCloud_Director]=Mdu2eaK9w00c@EmlO
[vcloudconf.admin_uname.VMware_vCloud_Director]=administrator
[vcloudconf.ceip_enabled.VMware_vCloud_Director]=False
[vcloudconf.db_pwd.VMware_vCloud_Director]=#5e0#4$s0Mb76Gzgo
[vcloudconf.inst_id.VMware_vCloud_Director]=1
[vcloudconf.sys_name.VMware_vCloud_Director]=vcd
[vcloudnet.routes0.VMware_vCloud_Director]=
[vcloudnet.routes1.VMware_vCloud_Director]=
[vm.vmname]=VMware_vCloud_Director

#Determine the values to change which the key ones for me were:
[vami.ip1.VMware_vCloud_Director]=10.25.10.131
[vami.netmask1.VMware_vCloud_Director]=255.255.240.0

#Update the Variables as needed
root@vcloud [ ~ ]# ovfenv --key vami.ip1.VMware_vCloud_Director --value "10.10.10.130"
root@vcloud [ ~ ]# ovfenv --key vami.netmask1.VMware_vCloud_Director --value "255.255.255.0"

Once all this is completed you can reboot the machine multiple times and you should be getting the new database IP consistently.

About Chris Colotti

Chris is active on the VMUG and event speaking circuit and is available for many events if you want to reach out and ask. Previously to this he spent close to a decade working for VMware as a Principal Architect. Previous to his nine plus years at VMware, Chris was a System Administrator that evolved his career into a data center architect. Chris spends a lot of time mentoring co-workers and friends on the benefits of personal growth and professional development. Chris is also amongst the first VMware Certified Design Experts (VCDX#37), and author of multiple white papers. In his spare time he helps his wife Julie run her promotional products as the accountant, book keeper, and IT Support. Chris also believes in both a healthy body and healthy mind, and has become heavily involved with fitness as a Diamond Team Beachbody Coach using P90X and other Beachbody Programs. Although Technology is his day job, Chris is passionate about fitness after losing 60 pounds himself in the last few years.

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