Changing ESXi host DNS configuration

[gdf1903]

Hello,

I need to update the DNS servers on our ESXi hosts wih new servers; replace the current two entries with two new IP addresses. I plan to do this via vCenter at Host Configuration-->DNS and Routing. Do I need to restart the management network or the ESXi host after making this change to ensure it takes effect? The documentation seems to indicate that it does not require either:

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-4-esxi-installable-vcenter/topic/com.vmware.vsphere.esxi_server_config.doc_41/esx_server_config/advanced_networking/t_change_the_dns_and_routing_configuration.html

Does anyone have any experience of making this change? Would you recommended placing the host into Maintenance Mode first and moving the VMs off it?

Thanks.

[arturka]

Hi

Welcome on a forum

1. Disable host monitoring (if you have cluster or if your old DNS server is no longer available)
2. change DNS
3. do it for every host in a cluster
4. enable host monitoring

Cheers
Artur

Please, don't forget the awarding points for "helpful" and/or "correct" answers.

[gdf1903]

Hi Artur,

Thanks for the reply. Once I have made the change is there a way of confirming that the ESXi host is in fact using the correct new DNS server? A log file to check perhaps? Is it ok to make the change with live VMs on the host?

Thanks.

[arturka]

Hi

Thanks for the reply. Once I have made the change is there a way of confirming that the ESXi host is in fact using the correct new DNS server?

nslookup should help you identify which DNS server is used

type nslookup ip or hostname

[root@esx-server-1 /]# nslookup 192.168.0.5
Server: 192.168.0.7
Address: 192.168.0.7#53

5.0.168.192.in-addr.arpa name = esx-server-2.domain.com.

Is it ok to make the change with live VMs on the host?

Yes

Cheers
Artur

Please, don't forget the awarding points for "helpful" and/or "correct" answers.

[gdf1903]

Thanks a lot for you help.