Considerations for Re-IPing HCX Manager

Products

• VMware HCX

Issue/Introduction

Changing the management IP address of an HCX Manager is a supported operation and it requires specific prerequisites and post-configuration steps to ensure service continuity.

Failure to address these considerations can result in the following:

• Loss of management access.
• Disconnected site pairs.
• Failures in NSX and vCenter Server registrations.

Note: The information provided here does not constitute a full, extensive validation of a specific deployment environment.
For comprehensive validation and planning assistance, it is recommended to consult Broadcom Professional Services or your Account Team.

Environment

VMware HCX

Resolution

Pre-Change Validations:

1. Before proceeding with any network configuration changes, please ensure you have valid backups in place. For more information, refer to the following documentation Backing Up VCF Operations HCX.
2. Ensure there are no active migrations ongoing.
3. Schedule a maintenance window outside of business hours.

Considerations:

1. Site Pairing and FQDN Usage:
   Connectivity: Any existing site pairs where the modified HCX Manager acts as the target will disconnect if the site pairing was configured using the IP address rather than the Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN).
   Always use the Target HCX FQDN in the Remote HCX URL field during site pairing to avoid disruption during IP changes.
2. Certificates:
   If a site pairing uses an IP address but the HCX Manager certificate uses an FQDN as its Common Name (CN), a certificate mismatch error will occur.
   If a Subject Alternative Name (SAN) field is required for the IP, a new certificate must be generated and applied to the HCX Manager that includes the updated IP address
3. vCenter and NSX Registration:
   If the vCenter or NSX Manager IP addresses are also changing, they must be re-registered within the HCX Manager if FQDNs are not being used.
   Ensure DNS resolution is functional for all registered FQDNs.
4. Connectivity to the HCX Data Path Appliances:
   Ensure the HCX Manager's new network has connectivity to the HCX Data Path Appliances (IX/NE/SGR/SGW).

Procedure:

1. Change the IP address via the HCX Manager Appliance Management interface <https://<hcx-fqdn>:9443> at Administration > Network Settings > General Network.
   
   Note: Once the IP address is changed, you may need to update the distributed port group for the new network.