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NCD – VM IP Address Management

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This article provides a general overview of and recommended best practices for managing Internet Protocol (IP) addresses for virtual machines (VMs) within Navisite Cloud Director® (NCD), and details available IP assignment methods and the specific steps involved in managing IP addresses within NCD.

Is My Guest Operating System Compatible with VMware® Tools?
NCD uses VMware® to manage the virtual machines in your environment. VMware Tools is a set of device drivers and services for virtual machines, used to ensure network connectivity and communication and enhance performance. IP address management within NCD relies on the use of VMware Tools. To determine whether the guest operating system (OS) on your on-premise virtual device is compatible with VMware Tools, visit the VMware Compatibility Guide search module.

NCD IP Management Overview

NCD offers three options for assigning VM IP addresses, including:
  • allocating IPs from a pool of available static IPs

  • manually assigning static IPs

  • assigning IPs dynamically using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
NCD allows you to set any combination of the available IP allocation options when configuring VMs within your NCD environment.

When VMs are initially created in NCD, they are assigned a static IP from a user-defined pool of IPs by default. After creation, a VM can then be edited to change the way it obtains an IP address using any of the available IP assignment techniques. If left unchanged, the VM retains the static IP allocated to it during its initial creation.

Static IP Pool Assignments

Static IP pool address assignments are useful when a VM requires an IP that will not change, but the specific IP address assigned to that VM is not important.

When VMs are created, NCD initially assigns VM IPs using addresses selected from the user-defined pool of available IPs. Once a static IP is assigned to a VM, it retains the IP until it is manually changed.

The assignment of IPs from the static IP pool relies on having available IP addresses in the static IP pool. If no IPs are available in the static IP pool at the time of a VM’s creation, the new VM is created without a network connection.

For details on setting your available pool of static IPs, see Static IP Assignment.

Manual Static IP Assignments

Manually setting a static IP is useful when a VM requires an IP that will not change, and where a specific IP address is required.

After creation, a VM’s network settings can be edited to manually assign a static IP, rather than using the IP that was assigned during the VM’s creation. Once a static IP is assigned to a VM, it retains that IP until it is manually changed.

NCD allows a user to manually assign any available IP address, regardless of whether it is part of an allocated static or dynamic IP pool. Users should avoid using IP pool addresses intended for other purposes.

For details on manually setting static IPs, see Static IP Assignment.

Dynamic (DHCP) IP Allocations

Using DHCP IP assignment is useful when the specific IP address of a VM is unimportant, as long as the VM has an IP and is on the network.

After creation, a VM’s network settings can be edited to assign the VM IP address dynamically using an IP from a predefined pool of IPs. Dynamically assigned IPs are not persistent, and can be changed at any time by DHCP.

When it is powered on, a VM configured to use DHCP is assigned an IP from a pool of IPs reserved specifically for DHCP. An unassigned IP address must be available in the DHCP IP pool in order for a VM to obtain an IP when it is powered on. If no IPs are available in the dynamic IP pool when the VM is powered on, it will not have an IP or network connection.

For details on configuring DHCP in NCD, see Managing NCD IPs Using DHCP.

Static IP Assignment

When VMs are created, NCD initially assigns VM IPs using addresses selected from the user-defined pool of available IPs. Once a static IP is assigned to a VM, it retains the IP until it is manually changed, even if the VM is powered off or on.

Static IP assignment can be used to manage all IP address within your environment, or in combination with DHCP assignment. Consult with your network engineering staff to determine the best approach for your specific needs.


Defining a Range of Available Static IP Addresses

By default, NCD pre-allocates a range of 97 IPs that are reserved for static IP allocation. You can also define your own range of static IPs for a network in NCD as follows:
  1. Log into Navisite Cloud Director.

  2. At the Navisite Cloud Director Dashboard, click vDataCenters in the navigation bar on the left side of the page to display the vDataCenters page.

  3. In the "vDataCenters" list, click the name of the vDataCenter containing the network to which the static IP range is to be added. The vDataCenter detail page appears.

  4. At the vDataCenter detail page, scroll down to the "Children" section and click vApps.

  5. In the "vApps" list, click the name of the vApp containing the network to which the static IP range is to be added. The vApp detail page appears.

  6. At the vApp detail page, scroll down to the "Children" section and click Networks.

  7. In the "Networks" list, click the name of the network to which the static IP range is to be added. The Network detail page appears.

  8. At the Network detail page, scroll down to the "IP Allocation" section and click IP Addressing.

  9. In the "IP Addressing" section, click + Add Static IP Range. An editable static IP range entry is added to the IP Addressing Table.

  10. In the new entry's "Range" field, enter the range of network IP addresses (in x.x.x.x - x.x.x.x format) to be set aside for static IP address assignment.

    Notes: Set the static IP range based upon the expected number of VMs requiring a static IP address.

    The minimum pool size is one IP address, and the maximum is 252 IPs.

  11. Click the "Range" field's green check mark button to save the range.
You can change an existing static IP range at any time by repeating Steps 1 – 7 above, clicking the "gear" icon next to the range you wish to edit, and updating the IP range.

Note: NCD does not allow you to change the range of a static IP pool if the change results in an already-allocated IP address being "orphaned" (i.e., outside of your intended new IP range).

Manually Assigning a Static IP Address to a VM

To manually assign a specific IP address to a VM in NCD, you must edit the VM's IP information after it is created by the system. The IP address is manually assigned by editing the VM's Network Interface Controller (NIC) connecting it to the network.

The assigned address can be within or outside a defined static IP pool range.

Note: You must avoid assigning an IP address that is already in use. If a DHCP IP range is enabled, you must also avoid assigning IP addresses in the DHCP pool range.

To view currently assigned IP addresses on a network, see Viewing Assigned IPs, below.

To manually assign a static IP address to a VM in NCD:
  1. Log into Navisite Cloud Director.

  2. At the Navisite Cloud Director Dashboard, click vDataCenters in the navigation bar on the left side of the page to display the vDataCenters page.

  3. In the "vDataCenters" list, click the name of the vDataCenter containing the VM to which the static IP address is to be assigned. The vDataCenter detail page appears.

  4. At the vDataCenter detail page, scroll down to the "Children" section and click vApps.

  5. In the "vApps" list, click the name of the vApp containing the VM to which the static IP address is to be assigned. The vApp detail page appears.

  6. Scroll down to the "Children" section of the vApp detail page, and click VMs to display a list of VMs for the vApp.

  7. In the "Name" column, click the name of the VM to be configured. The VM detail page appears.

  8. If necessary, shut down the VM by selecting Shutdown from the Power Off (Stop) drop-down menu at the top of the VM detail page.

  9. If necessary, power off the VM by selecting Power Off from the Power Off (Stop) drop-down menu at the top of the VM detail page.

  10. Scroll down to the "Hardware" section of the VM detail page, and select Network Interfaces. The "Network Interfaces" list displays a list of the VM's NICs.

  11. Click the "gear" icon for the NIC connecting the VM to the network. The Edit Network Interface page appears.

  12. Select Static – Manual from the "IP Allocation" drop-down list. The "IP Address" field appears.

  13. In the "IP Address" field, enter the IP address (in x.x.x.x format) to be assigned to the VM.

  14. Click Edit Network Interface to save your changes and return to the VM detail page.

  15. Select Power on and recustomize from the Power On (Play) drop-down menu at the top of the VM detail page.

Viewing Assigned IPs

To view assigned IP addresses on a network in NCD:
  1. Log into Navisite Cloud Director.

  2. At the Navisite Cloud Director Dashboard, click vDataCenters in the navigation bar on the left side of the page to display the vDataCenters page.

  3. In the "vDataCenters" list, click the name of the vDataCenter containing the desired network. The vDataCenter detail page appears.

  4. At the vDataCenter detail page, scroll down to the "Children" section and click vApps.

  5. In the "vApps" list, click the name of the vApp containing the desired network. The vApp detail page appears.

  6. At the vApp detail page, scroll down to the "Children" section and click Networks.

  7. In the "Networks" list, click the name of the desired network. The Network detail page appears.

  8. At the Network detail page, scroll down to the "IP Allocation" section and click Allocated IPs. Details for any assigned IPs on the network are displayed in the "Allocated IPs" list.

If Your Static IP Pool is Full

If all available IPs in your static IP pool range have been assigned to VMs, NCD allows you to create a VM, but will not assign it an IP address or connect it to a network. To correct this, you must either increase your IP pool range (see Defining a Range of Available Static IP Addresses, above), or manually assign a static IP address to the VM (see Manually Assigning a Static IP Address to a VM, above).

Changing IP Addresses Outside of NCD

It is possible, but not recommended, to directly change a VM's IP address via its host operating system. Any VM IP changes made directly through a host operating system are not automatically reflected in NCD, and could result in NCD reassigning IP addresses that are already in use.

Handling VMs That Are Not Compatible with VMware Tools

If your VM's operating system is not compatible with VMware Tools, changes to its IP address must be performed via its guest OS. To determine whether the guest operating system (OS) on your on-premise virtual device is compatible with VMware Tools, visit the VMware Compatibility Guide search module.

Disabling VM Guest Customization

Disabling guest customization for a VM prevents NCD from attempting to manage the VM's IP settings. To do so:
  1. Log into Navisite Cloud Director.

  2. At the Navisite Cloud Director Dashboard, click vDataCenters in the navigation bar on the left side of the page to display the vDataCenters page.

  3. In the "vDataCenters" list, click the name of the vDataCenter containing the VM to be configured. The vDataCenter detail page appears.

  4. At the vDataCenter detail page, scroll down to the "Children" section and click vApps.

  5. In the "vApps" list, click the name of the vApp containing the VM to be configured. The vApp detail page appears.

  6. Scroll down to the "Children" section of the vApp detail page, and click VMs to display a list of VMs for the vApp.

  7. In the "Name" column, click the name of the VM to be configured. The VM detail page appears.

  8. If necessary, shut down the VM via its guest OS.

  9. If necessary, power off the VM by selecting Power Off from the Power Off (Stop) drop-down menu at the top of the VM detail page in Navisite Cloud Director.

  10. Click View in vCloud to launch the vCloud Director Virtual Machines web client.

  11. In the Virtual Machines view, click the VM to be configured. The Virtual Machine Properties view appears.

  12. Select the "Guest OS Customization" tab.

  13. Deselect the "Enable guest customization" checkbox.

  14. Click OK to save the change and return to the Virtual Machines view.

  15. Click to highlight the VM to be configured, and select Power On from the "gear" icon menu. The VM powers on with guest customization disabled.

Reflecting Direct IP Address Changes in NCD

After disabling guest customization for a VM and directly configuring its IP settings via its guest OS, you can then set the VM's IP address in NCD, as follows:
  1. Log into Navisite Cloud Director.

  2. At the Navisite Cloud Director Dashboard, click vDataCenters in the navigation bar on the left side of the page to display the vDataCenters page.

  3. In the "vDataCenters" list, click the name of the vDataCenter containing the VM to be configured. The vDataCenter detail page appears.

  4. At the vDataCenter detail page, scroll down to the "Children" section and click vApps.

  5. In the "vApps" list, click the name of the vApp containing the VM to be configured. The vApp detail page appears.

  6. Scroll down to the "Children" section of the vApp detail page, and click VMs to display a list of VMs for the vApp.

  7. In the "Name" column, click the name of the VM to be configured. The VM detail page appears.

  8. If necessary, shut down the VM via its guest OS.

  9. If necessary, power off the VM by selecting Power Off from the Power Off (Stop) drop-down menu at the top of the VM detail page in Navisite Cloud Director.

  10. Scroll down to the "Hardware" section of the VM detail page, and select Network Interfaces. The "Network Interfaces" list displays a list of the VM's NICs.

  11. Click the "gear" icon for the NIC connecting the VM to the network. The Edit Network Interface page appears.

  12. Select Static – Manual from the "IP Allocation" drop-down list. The "IP Address" field appears.

  13. In the "IP Address" field, enter the VM's new IP address (in x.x.x.x format) as it was directly set via the VM's OS.

  14. Click Edit Network Interface to save your changes and return to the VM detail page.

  15. Select Power On from the Power On (Play) drop-down menu at the top of the VM detail page.

Managing NCD IPs Using DHCP

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) can be used to dynamically allocate IP addresses to your NCD VMs as they are powered on in your environment.

DHCP can be used to manage all IP address within your environment, or in combination with static IP assignment. Consult with your network engineering staff to determine the best approach for your specific needs.


Configuring DHCP in Your NCD Environment

To configure DHCP in your NCD environment, allocate a range of DHCP IP addresses and enable DHCP services as follows:
  1. Log into Navisite Cloud Director.

  2. At the Navisite Cloud Director Dashboard, click vDataCenters in the navigation bar on the left side of the page to display the vDataCenters page.

  3. In the "vDataCenters" list, click the name of the vDataCenter containing the network to which DHCP services are being added. The vDataCenter detail page appears.

  4. At the vDataCenter detail page, scroll down to the "Children" section and click vApps.

  5. In the "vApps" list, click the name of the vApp containing the network to which DHCP services are being added. The vApp detail page appears.

  6. At the vApp detail page, scroll down to the "Children" section and click Networks.

  7. In the "Networks" list, click the name of the network to which DHCP services are being added. The Network detail page appears.

  8. At the Network detail page, scroll down to the "IP Allocation" section and click IP Addressing.

  9. In the "IP Addressing" section, click + Add DHCP Range. An editable DHCP IP range entry is added to the IP Addressing Table.

  10. In the new entry's "Range" field, enter the range of network IP addresses to be available for DHCP.

    Note: Set the DHCP IP range based upon the expected number of VMs requiring a DHCP address.

  11. Click the "Range" field's green check mark button to save the range.

    You can change an existing static IP range at any time by repeating Steps 1 – 7 above, clicking the "gear" icon next to the range you wish to edit, and updating the IP range.

  12. Click the "gear" icon in the "DHCP Enabled:" field at the top of the "IP Addressing" section.

  13. Select Yes from the "DHCP Enabled:" drop-down menu.

  14. Click the "DHCP Enabled:" field's green check mark button to enable DHCP for the VM.

Configuring VMs to Use DHCP

After configuring your NCD environment for DHCP IP addressing, configure the desired VM(s) to use DHCP as follows:
  1. Log into Navisite Cloud Director.

  2. At the Navisite Cloud Director Dashboard, click vDataCenters in the navigation bar on the left side of the page to display the vDataCenters page.

  3. In the "vDataCenters" list, click the name of the vDataCenter containing the VM to be configured. The vDataCenter detail page appears.

  4. At the vDataCenter detail page, scroll down to the "Children" section and click vApps.

  5. In the "vApps" list, click the name of the vApp containing the VM to be configured. The vApp detail page appears.

  6. Scroll down to the "Children" section of the vApp detail page and click VMs to display a list of VMs for the vApp.

  7. In the "Name" column, click the name of the VM to be configured. The VM detail page appears.

  8. If necessary, shut down the VM by selecting Shutdown from the Power Off (Stop) drop-down menu at the top of the VM detail page.

  9. If necessary, power off the VM by selecting Power Off from the Power Off (Stop) drop-down menu at the top of the VM detail page.

  10. Scroll down to the "Hardware" section of the VM detail page and select Network Interfaces. The "Network Interfaces" list displays a list of the VM's NICs.

  11. Click the "gear" icon for the NIC to be configured to obtain IP addresses using DHCP. The Edit Network Interface page appears.

  12. Select DHCP from the "IP Allocation" drop-down list.

  13. Click Edit Network Interface to save your changes and return to the VM detail page.

  14. Select Power on and recustomize from the Power On (Play) drop-down menu at the top of the VM detail page.

  15. Repeat Steps 7–14 for each VM in your environment to be configured to use DHCP.

Configuring DHCP Outside of NCD

It is possible, but not recommended, to configure a VM to use DHCP via its host operating system. Any VM IP changes made directly through a host operating system are not automatically reflected in NCD, and could result in NCD overusing reserved DHCP IP addresses.

Handling VMs That Are Not Compatible with VMware Tools

If your VM's operating system is not compatible with VMware Tools, you must configure it to use DHCP via its guest OS. To determine whether the guest operating system (OS) on your on-premise virtual device is compatible with VMware Tools, visit the VMware Compatibility Guide search module.
  • Guest Customization should be disabled for the VM before assigning an IP address to it via the VM's OS. See Disabling VM Guest Customization for details.

  • After assigning the IP address via the VM's OS, you should then directly change the VM's IP in NCD to reflect the new address. See Reflecting DHCP Addressing in NCD for details.

Reflecting DHCP Addressing in NCD

After disabling guest customization for a VM and directly configuring its IP settings via its guest OS, you can then set the VM to use DHCP in NCD, as follows:
  1. Log into Navisite Cloud Director.

  2. At the Navisite Cloud Director Dashboard, click vDataCenters in the navigation bar on the left side of the page to display the vDataCenters page.

  3. In the "vDataCenters" list, click the name of the vDataCenter containing the VM to be configured. The vDataCenter detail page appears.

  4. At the vDataCenter detail page, scroll down to the "Children" section and click vApps.

  5. In the "vApps" list, click the name of the vApp containing the VM to be configured. The vApp detail page appears.

  6. Scroll down to the "Children" section of the vApp detail page and click VMs to display a list of VMs for the vApp.

  7. In the "Name" column, click the name of the VM to be configured. The VM detail page appears.

  8. If necessary, shut down the VM via its guest OS.

  9. If necessary, power off the VM by selecting Power Off from the Power Off (Stop) drop-down menu at the top of the VM detail page in Navisite Cloud Director.

  10. Scroll down to the "Hardware" section of the VM detail page and select Network Interfaces. The "Network Interfaces" list displays a list of the VM's NICs.

  11. Click the "gear" icon for the NIC to be configured to obtain IP addresses using DHCP. The Edit Network Interface page appears.

  12. Select DHCP from the "IP Allocation" drop-down list.

  13. Click Edit Network Interface to save your changes and return to the VM detail page.

  14. Select Power On from the Power On (Play) drop-down menu at the top of the VM detail page.



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