Changing the zCenter Service Domain Name/IP Configuration – Zentera Systems

The Service Domain Name or Service Domain IP specify the address that zLink agents and other service components use to connect to the zCenter orchestrator. The Service Domain Name is automatically included in zLink's configuration file, zasa.cfg.

The Service Domain Name or Service Domain IP are flexible and easy to change when needed. For example, moving the service from a proof-of-concept (POC) stage to production may involve a name or IP change.

This article focuses on how to change the zCenter Service Domain Name in zCenter, highlighting important points to keep in mind when planning and executing a change.

As best practice, Zentera recommends to use FQDN with DNS entry so that the service can be moved easily later. Use of an FQDN may be required for certain high availability deployment models (e.g. DNS failover). It is often necessary to also install a valid SSL certificate for the traffic to successfully pass through L7 firewalls.

How to Access zCenter Service Domain Name

To access the Service Domain Name, follow the steps below:

Login to zCenter Admin Portal using an account with Service Administrator privileges.
Click on Advanced Management at the bottom of the left navigation bar.
Go to Service Management > Service Domain Name.

As a Service Administrator, you may edit the preferred service domain name / IP and/or alternative service domain names / IPs on that page.

Changing the zCenter IP address without changing the Service Domain Name

In the case that the zCenter Service Domain Name is programmed using an FQDN, the zCenter service IP address can be changed assuming DNS records are updated accordingly. When using a FQDN Service Domain Name, no change to zLink or user CoIP Launcher URLs are necessary to change the IP address.

Changing the Service Domain IP to a new IP address

Assuming that the actual service IP address of the zCenter has been changed, follow the steps below:

Access zCenter Service Domain Name.
Modify the "Preferred service domain name / IP" field with the new IP address and then click Save.
Re-deploy zLink package to existing registered servers accordingly by following zLink Agent Installation. Alternately, you may edit the zasa.cfg file to change the IP address by editing the line
```
# The hostname or IP of master control gateway (MCG)
mcg="ZCENTER_IP_ADDRESS"
```
and then restart the service of zasa.
Notify end users about the change to the CoIP Launcher URL.

Changing the Service Domain Name from an IP address to FQDN

To change from a Service Domain IP to a Service Domain Name, follow the following steps:

Follow your enterprise practices to get DNS records updated and request/receive the related key and certificate for the desired FQDN.
Follow the Key and Certificate Deployment to deploy key and cert via zCLI. Note that service restart is needed for the key and cert to engage on Internet.
Access zCenter to change the Service Domain Name.
Re-deploy zLink package to existing registered servers accordingly by following zLink Agent Installation. Alternately, you may manually edit zasa.cfg configuration files as described above.
Notify end users about the change to the new CoIP Launcher URL.

Changing the Service Domain Name from one FQDN to another

When the FQDN changes, the recommended steps are

Follow the enterprise practice to get DNS records updated and request/receive the new key and certificate for the desired FQDN.
Follow the Key and Certificate Deployment to deploy key and cert via zCLI. Note that service restart is needed for the key and cert to engage on Internet.
Access zCenter to change the Service Domain Name.
Re-deploy zLink package to existing registered servers accordingly by following zLink Agent Installation. Alternately, you may manually edit zasa.cfg configuration files as described above.
Notify end users about the change to the new CoIP Launcher URL.

Reconfigure ZNS Node

If zCenter has the ZNS cluster defined and enabled, each ZNS node may need to be removed and added back by following the Generic Configuration and Provisioning Procedure in Installing ZNS Nodes accordingly to reflect the Service Domain Name changes.