HT201339: OS X Server: Steps to take before upgrading or migrating the Open Directory database

Learn about OS X Server: Steps to take before upgrading or migrating the Open Directory database
Tom Henderson

Q: So how do I upgrade a single server network?

My sole server is both the DNS server and Open Directory Master. Can I get round this with a suitable entry in the /etc/hosts file whilst the DNS is down?

 

Thanks,

 

Tom

Mac Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.1), My first mac was an SE/30...

Posted on Nov 23, 2014 6:09 AM

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Q: So how do I upgrade a single server network?

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  • by KiltedTim,

    KiltedTim KiltedTim Nov 23, 2014 6:14 AM in response to Tom Henderson
    Level 9 (55,470 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 23, 2014 6:14 AM in response to Tom Henderson

    If you're using DHCP on the network, you can configure the DHCP server to specify a different DNS server... assuming that the server you want to upgrade is not also the DHCP server, that is.

  • by Tom Henderson,

    Tom Henderson Tom Henderson Nov 23, 2014 10:42 AM in response to KiltedTim
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 23, 2014 10:42 AM in response to KiltedTim

    Thanks, but that doesn't quite do it: there is no other DNS server that will serve that server with the correct reverse lookup. The server is the far side of a DMZ and it's address wouldn't be resolvable using a public internet DNS. I don't really want to have to build and configure a temporary DNS server just to enable the upgrade of the server.

     

    Tom

  • by KiltedTim,

    KiltedTim KiltedTim Nov 23, 2014 10:54 AM in response to Tom Henderson
    Level 9 (55,470 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 23, 2014 10:54 AM in response to Tom Henderson

    Then I'd say you're going to have to plan for downtime while you're doing the update.

  • by Michael Newbery,Solvedanswer

    Michael Newbery Michael Newbery Nov 23, 2014 4:48 PM in response to Tom Henderson
    Level 4 (2,424 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Nov 23, 2014 4:48 PM in response to Tom Henderson

    But creating a temporary DNS server may not be that bad. Assuming 'your' Mac isn't also the Server.

     

    1. Copy Server.app to your client Mac
    2. Start it up and create a server. Don't create any services though, apart from DNS
    3. Make the DNS a secondary to the primary on the main server.
    4. Change the main server to have your new secondary DNS in the DHCP.
    5. Upgrade the main server (note, make sure you have a full backup so you can revert if necessary)
    6. After the upgrade, remove the secondary DNS from the DHCP on the main server
    7. Throw Server.app in the Trash on your client machine.