Users Guide

Domain Name Service

Domain Name Service (DNS) is required to provide both forward and reverse name resolution. The IP addresses of name servers, search

domains, and hostnames of all the Cloud Foundation VMs must be inserted into the cloud builder deployment parameter sheet. Forward

and reverse DNS entries of any hostname that are indicated in the parameter sheet should be tested and retested for both forward and

reverse lookups. Test the DNS entries using their Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) and their short name (hostname).

NOTE: Every DNS hostname and corresponding IP address that is specified in the parameter sheet are tested during the

validation phase.

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol

The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) provides network addresses to the VXLAN tunnel end points (VTEP). A VTEP is a

software-based endpoint of a VXLAN connection that communicates over these IP addresses and are on the same Layer 2 network. An

address pool large enough to provide an address to every host connection on the VXLAN network--one address per NIC per host--is

required.

NOTE: Software-based VTEPs could transition to hardware-based VTEPs with the launch of new features included in

future switch operating systems.

Whenever a new cluster node is added to the Cloud Foundation, a new tunnel endpoint is created which requires DHCP to obtain IP

addressing information. The DHCP service is not only a prerequisite for deployment but an ongoing requirement. Place the DHCP server

(or VM) on a reliable and well-maintained part of your infrastructure.

The validation process checks to ensure that DHCP is available on the VXLAN network that is specified in the parameter sheet. Validation

fails if there is no positive DHCP response on the VXLAN network.

Network Time Protocol

Time synchronization is critical to the Cloud Foundation stack. All hosts and the Cloud Builder VM are synchronized to a reference time

source before attempting to run the validation phase of the Cloud Builder process. Network Time Protocol (NTP) traffic is routed from

client to source or it can travel over the same L2 network.

Pre-deployment requirements