This section describes how to replace a unit in an syslog-ng Store Box (SSB) cluster with a new appliance.

To replace a unit in an SSB cluster with a new appliance

  1. Verify the HA status on the working node. Select Basic Settings > High Availability. If one of the nodes has broken down or is missing, the Status field displays DEGRADED.

  2. Take note of the IP addresses of the Heartbeat and the Next hop monitoring interfaces.

  3. Perform a full system backup. Before replacing the node, create a complete system backup of the working node. For details, see Data and configuration backups.

  4. Check which firmware version is running on the working node. Select Basic Settings > System > Version details and write down the exact version numbers.

  5. Log in to your support portal account and download the ISO installation media for the same SSB version that is running on your working node.

  6. Without connecting the replacement unit to the network, install the replacement unit from the ISO file. Use the IPMI interface if needed.

  7. When the installation is finished, connect the two SSB units with an Ethernet cable via the Ethernet connectors labeled as 4 (or HA).

  8. Reboot the replacement unit and wait until it finishes booting.

  9. Log in to the working node and verify the HA state. Select Basic Settings > High Availability. The Status field should display HALF.

  10. Reconfigure the IP addresses of the Heartbeat and the Next hop monitoring interfaces. Click .

  11. Click Other node > Join HA.

  12. Click Other node > Reboot.

  13. The replacement unit will reboot and start synchronizing data from the working node. The Basic Settings > High Availability > Status field will display DEGRADED SYNC until the synchronization finishes. Depending on the size of the hard disks and the amount of data stored, this can take several hours.

  14. After the synchronization is finished, connect the other Ethernet cables to their respective interfaces (external to 1 or EXT, management to 2 or MGMT) as needed for your environment.

    Expected result:

    A node of the SSB cluster is replaced with a new appliance.