This section describes how you can configure your syslog-ng Store Box (SSB) unit as the secondary node of a HA cluster in the syslog-ng Store Box (SSB) Welcome Wizard.

Prerequisites

Before configuring your SSB unit as the secondary node of your future HA cluster, you must have a standalone SSB unit configured as the primary node of your HA cluster, and prepare the nodes on your SSB web interface to establish a HA cluster from your SSB units.

For details on how you can configure your SSB unit as a standalone unit, or as the primary node of a HA cluster, see Configuring SSB as a standalone unit, or as the primary node of a HA cluster.

For details on how you can prepare the nodes on your SSB web interface to establish a HA cluster from your SSB units, see Preparing the nodes on the SSB web interface for establishing a HA cluster.

HA IP configuration

If you want to use your SSB unit as the secondary node of a HA cluster, you can use the syslog-ng Store Box Welcome Wizard, but with fewer configuration steps than when you are configuring your primary node.

To configure your SSB unit as the secondary node of a HA cluster

  1. Open the https://<IP-address-of-SSB-external-interface> page in your browser and accept the displayed certificate. The Welcome Wizard of SSB appears.

    TIP: The SSB console displays the IP address the external interface is listening on. SSB either receives an IP address automatically via DHCP, or if a DHCP server is not available, listens on the 192.168.1.1 IP address.

  2. On the initial screen, you must accept the Software Transaction, License and End User License Agreements.

    Read the Software Transaction, License and End User License Agreements and select I have read and agree with the terms and conditions. By clicking on I have read and agree with the terms and conditions you accept the agreement that corresponds to the license you purchased (for details on subscription-based licensing, see License types). After the installation is complete, the Software Transaction, License and End User License Agreements can be read at Basic Settings > System > License.

    Figure 55: The Software Transaction Agreement

  3. Select HA IP configuration.

    Figure 56: Select HA IP configuration

  4. Enter the HA IP Address that you previously set in the Interface IP field on Other node.

    Figure 57: Enter the HA IP address for the secondary node

  5. Click Next.

    The Welcome Wizard displays the confirmation that you have successfully configured your secondary node.

    Figure 58: HA IP configuration successful

  6. (Optional) To modify your configured HA IP Address, click Back.

  7. If you do not want to change anything in your configuration, you can continue to convert your nodes into a HA cluster.
Converting your primary node and secondary node to a HA cluster on the SSB web interface

  1. (Optional) If you have not done it previously, reboot the SSB unit that you previously configured as the primary node for your HA cluster.

  2. Log in to the SSB unit configured as the primary node, and navigate to Basic Settings > High Availability.

    Under High availability, both configured nodes are displayed, both in STANDALONE HA state.

  3. Click Convert to Cluster.

    Your Cluster status will display that you are in CONVERTED HA state.

  4. Continue by either shutting down, and then powering up your HA cluster, or shutting down, and then powering up your nodes one by one:

    • Rebooting the HA cluster: If you do not want to closely monitor shutting down, and then rebooting your nodes separately, click Reboot cluster.

      You will have to log in to the SSB web interface again.

    • Shutting down, then powering up your nodes separately:

      1. Click Shutdown on your secondary node (Other node).

        While the node of your choice is shutting down, your our Cluster status will display that you are in DEGRADED HA state.

      2. Click Reboot on the primary node (This node).

        You will have to log in to the SSB web interface again.

      3. Power up your secondary node (Other node).

  5. Log in to the SSB unit configured as your primary node, and navigate to Basic Settings > High Availability.

    While SSB is synchronizing the newly rebooted nodes, your Cluster status will display that you are in DEGRADED SYNC HA state. Depending on your configuration, synchronization may take a while.

    When SSB successfully finishes synchronizing your nodes, your Cluster status displays that SSB is operating in HA.

  6. (Optional) After your HA cluster is in HA state, you can change the configuration settings on your nodes if you want to.