Replacing Hardware HA Units

When replacing hardware HA units, it is important to follow the correct steps in sequence to ensure that there is little or no downtime for end users. The below example has two old units which are to be replaced with two new units.

The steps below are written assuming that the new units are powered on and available to be provisioned and that all cabling is in place.

1. On the WUI of the individual unit being replaced, in the main menu, go to Local Administration > Backup/Restore.

   

2. Click Create Backup File.
3. Save the backup file.
4. In the main menu, go to Certificates & Security > Backup/Restore Certs.

   

5. Enter the same passphrase in the Passphrase and Retype Passphrase text boxes.
   Note: Retain this passphrase because you need it to restore the certificates.
6. Click Create Backup File.
7. Remove old unit 2 (B) from production.
   Note: As old unit 1 (A) is active, this should not affect production.
8. In the WUI of new unit 2 (D), in the main menu, go to System Configuration > System Administration > Backup/Restore.
   Note: It is not possible to restore a configuration containing ESP-enabled Virtual Services onto a machine which is not enabled for ESP.
   Note: You cannot restore the LoadMaster Base Configuration of a standalone unit to a HA pair or restore a HA configuration onto a single machine. A unit must be put into HA mode before a backup from a HA machine can be used to restore the LoadMaster Base Configuration.

   

9. Click Choose File.
10. Browse to and select the backup file.
11. Select the configuration(s) to be restored.
    Note: This is the backup from old unit 2 (B).
12. Click Restore Configuration.
13. Click Reboot Now.
14. Click Continue.
15. In the main menu, go to Certificates & Security > Backup/Restore Certs.
16. Click Choose File.

    

17. Browse to and select the certificate backup file.
18. Select All VS and Intermediate Certs..
19. Enter the Passphrase which was entered when taking the certificate backup.
20. Click Restore Certificates.
21. In the main menu, go to Local Administration > Interfaces.
22. Select the relevant interface.

    

23. Check that the Interface Address (address[/prefix]), the HA Shared IP address and HA Partner IP address are correct before adding it to the production unit.
24. In the main menu, go to Local Administration > HA Parameters.

    

25. Ensure that the HA Virtual ID is correct and unique.
26. When the new unit 2 (D) is connected, open the WUI of the shared IP address and in the main menu, go to System Configuration > HA Parameters.

    

27. Click Force Update.

    Old unit 1 (A) (Standby) Preferred active: unit 2	New unit 2 (D) (Active)
    New unit 1 (C)	Old unit 2 (B)

    Note: This copies the configuration from the old unit 1 (A) (Master) to the new unit 2 (D) (standby). This takes approximately 15 seconds.
28. Now, old unit 1 (A) can be removed from production.
    Note: As new unit 2 (D) is active, this should not affect production.
29. On the WUI of the new unit 1 (C), in the main menu, go to System Configuration > System Administration > Backup/Restore.

    

30. Click Choose File.
31. Browse to and select the backup file.
32. Select the configuration(s) to be restored.
    Note: This is the backup configuration from old unit 1 (A).
33. Click Restore Configuration.
34. Click Reboot Now.
35. Click Continue.
36. In the main menu, go to Local Administration > Interfaces.
37. Select the relevant interface.

    

38. Check that the Interface Address (address[/prefix]), the HA Shared IP address and HA Partner IP address are correct before adding it to the production unit.
39. In the main menu, go to Local Administration > HA Parameters.

    

40. Ensure that the HA Virtual ID is correct and unique.
41. When new unit 1 (C) is connected, open the WUI of the shared IP address and in the main menu, go to System Configuration > HA Parameters.

    

42. Click Force Update.
43. This takes approximately 15 seconds.