Topic: Make SME in server-only mode get its network setup via dhcp?

[simnux]

I looked but didn't find this, and I fully expect the answer to be "no, not possible", nonetheless...

Has anyone managed to coax SME to use DCHP to get its own network info when running in server-only mode?

This is, I realize, an oddball sounding request, but I thought I'd ask before incurring a $500 (!!!) charge from the corporate network team to get a static IP on our VLAN. SME is the perfect server for my needs in this case, but for this issue.

I'm not asking anyone to solve from scratch, just wondering if anyone has already done this and wouldn't mind sharing.

TIA

[Franco]

Totally possible without a problem, and the system can get it's IP by providing it's network address or ID.

[gordonr]

Has anyone managed to coax SME to use DCHP to get its own network info when running in server-only mode?

It's not currently supported, but something I've wanted to do for some time. I don't think it needs to be restricted to server-only mode, just an additional option for configuring the local network interface which looks just like the DHCP option for the external interface.

It should be a very simple change to the logic in the ifcfg-ethX template expansion to check whether the local interface should be configured with DHCP. There would also need to be something to change the LocalIP value in the config db and regenerate/restart some services. However, in most cases the same IP will be handed out each time, so that can come a little later (read ugly hack first time around).

If you have time to have a look at the fixes, I'd be very interested in pulling them into the core.

[simnux]

If you have time to have a look at the fixes, I'd be very interested in pulling them into the core.

Gordon

I've not looked at SME much since 6.0, and I'll be doing this with 7b5, but I'll give it a go. If I get something halfway working sussed out, I'll push it up to you so the core devs can have a look-see. After six years of this stuff, I ought to be able to work up something!

Thanks,

Scott

[gordonr]

I've not looked at SME much since 6.0, and I'll be doing this with 7b5, but I'll give it a go. If I get something halfway working sussed out, I'll push it up to you so the core devs can have a look-see. After six years of this stuff, I ought to be able to work up something!

You'll probably need these:

- Changes to ifcfg-ethX template to keep eth0 down when doing DHCP.
- Copy and hack of /var/service/dhcpcd to dhcpcd-local
- Configdb entry for dhcpcd-local (as a start, to be cleaned later)

[Franco]

Totally possible without a problem, and the system can get it's IP by providing it's network address or ID.

Sorry guys, I totally mis-undertood the question! Now I get the real meaning!

[simnux]

You'll probably need these

Thanks for the starting points. I'll be doing this over the next several days. Time is in short supply lately. I'm managing a few 128 node cluster systems now, which is definitely a full-time-and-then-some task.

However, I need number of stable, reliable, hands-off servers to host hobbit (for monitoring) and a few other tools to help manage the clusters. SME Server is perfect for the task, except for this one issue.

I'll keep you posted.

Thanks again,

Scott

[simnux]

Gordon

I took a look at this, and my conclusion is that it is a lot more involved than it seems at first blush. At the moment I'm too pressed for time to tough out the development period, so we sprung for the static IP (far less expensive than my time.)

As time permits I'll continue to examine this option, though, as it would make a nice addition.

Scott