Configuring Your Server With A Static IP Address

Overview

This KB article shows you how to configure your Nagios server with a static IP address.

This KB article applies to RHEL, CentOS and Oracle Linux; there are separate sections for v 7 and v 6.

This applies to Nagios Fusion, Nagios Log Server, Nagios Network Analyzer and Nagios XI. There is also a dedicated section for each individual product that explains any specific changes that are required.

You will need to perform these changes while logged in as the root user.

RHEL 7 | CentOS 7 | Oracle Linux 7

These steps are for RHEL 7 | CentOS 7 | Oracle Linux 7. If you are unsure what version of RHEL / CentOS your VM is running on you can execute the following command:

cat /etc/centos-release

Version 7 will output something like:

CentOS Linux release 7.4.1708 (Core)

If you have version 6 please go to the RHEL 6 | CentOS 6 | Oracle Linux 6 section.

Using nmtui

There's an easy way to perform these changes using nmtui (a text based GUI).

In your console session execute the command:

nmtui

If you receive the following error:

-bash: nmtui: command not found

Then you have two options:

Option 1)

Install the package using yum (which assumes your server has internet access via it's DHCP address):

yum install -y net-tools

Once installed execute the command again and proceed with the next step.

Option 2)

Manually configure address in config file. Please follow the steps in the "Manual IP Configuration" section that explains how to do this.

When you execute nmtui you will be prompted with a text based GUI:

Press Enter on Edit a connection

You will presented with a list of devices:

In this example eno16777728 is the default interface selected, press Enter

You will now be presented with the "Edit Connection" screen.

Press Tab on your keyboard until you are on <Automatic> selector next to IPv4 CONFIGURATION

Press Enter, select Manual from the list and press Enter

Press Tab until you are on <Show> (for IPv4) and press Enter

More fields will be shown on the screen

Press Tab until you are on <Add> selector next to Addresses

Type a valid address with using CIDR notation, for example 10.25.40.70/16

Repeat these steps for the Gateway IP and DNS Servers fields

If you want to define a static IPv6 address, follow the same steps above for the IPv6 CONFIGURATION section.

The following screenshot is an example configuration:

Press Tab until the OK button is selected press Enter to save the changes

You will be returned to the "Select A Device" screen.

Press Tab until the Quit button is highlighted and then press Enter

Now you will need to take the interface "down" and then back "up" again using the following commands:

ifdown eno16777728
ifup eno16777728

Execute these commands to check your changes have been applied and that they are working:

ip addr
ping -c 4 www.nagios.com

The output will be something like:

The important items in the output should be that the interface is in an UP state AND the inet address is correct (and inet6 if defined).

Manual IP Configuration

If you are unable to use nmuti (a text based GUI) to configure your IP address then you will need to configure the interface in the text based configuration file for that interface.

First you will need to identify the name of the network interface, type the following command:

ip addr

The output will be something like:

Here you can see the name of the interface is eno16777728

The config file for this interface will be in the file /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eno16777728

Open the vi editor using this command:

vi /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eno16777728

The default configuration will appear something like:

TYPE=Ethernet
BOOTPROTO=dhcp
DEFROUTE=yes
IPV4_FAILURE_FATAL=no
IPV6INIT=yes
IPV6_AUTOCONF=yes
IPV6_DEFROUTE=yes
IPV6_FAILURE_FATAL=no
NAME=eno16777728
UUID=3de92714-441c-48cd-96bb-6a5a9c8aa91e
DEVICE=eno16777728
ONBOOT=yes
PEERDNS=yes
PEERROUTES=yes
IPV6_PEERDNS=yes
IPV6_PEERROUTES=yes
IPV6_PRIVACY=no

The following lines need changing in the file:

IPv4

BOOTPROTO=dhcp

To:

BOOTPROTO=none

IPv6

IPV6_AUTOCONF=yes

To:

IPV6_AUTOCONF=no

The following lines need removing from the file:

IPv4

PEERDNS=yes
PEERROUTES=yes

IPv6

IPV6_PEERDNS=yes
IPV6_PEERROUTES=yes

The following lines need to be added to the file (you will need to adjust them to your requirements):

IPv4

IPADDR=10.25.40.70
PREFIX=16
GATEWAY=10.25.1.254
DNS1=10.25.2.1
DNS2=10.25.2.2

IPv6

IPV6ADDR=2001:44b8:3132:25:10:25:40:70/64
IPV6_DEFAULTGW=2001:44b8:3132:25:10:25:1:253
DNS3=2001:44b8:3132:25:10:25:2:1
DNS4=2001:44b8:3132:25:10:25:2:2

The final configuration would look like this:

TYPE=Ethernet
BOOTPROTO=none
DEFROUTE=yes
IPV4_FAILURE_FATAL=no
IPV6INIT=yes
IPV6_AUTOCONF=no
IPV6_DEFROUTE=yes
IPV6_FAILURE_FATAL=no
NAME=eno16777728
UUID=3de92714-441c-48cd-96bb-6a5a9c8aa91e
DEVICE=eno16777728
ONBOOT=yes
IPV6_PRIVACY=no
IPADDR=10.25.40.70
PREFIX=16
GATEWAY=10.25.1.254
DNS1=10.25.2.1
DNS2=10.25.2.2
IPV6ADDR=2001:44b8:3132:25:10:25:40:70/64
IPV6_DEFAULTGW=2001:44b8:3132:25:10:25:1:253
DNS3=2001:44b8:3132:25:10:25:2:1
DNS4=2001:44b8:3132:25:10:25:2:2

Save the changes in vi by typing :wq and pressing Enter.

Now you will need to take the interface "down" and then back "up" again using the following commands:

ifdown eno16777728
ifup eno16777728

Execute these commands to check your changes have been applied and that they are working:

ip addr
ping -c 4 www.nagios.com
ping6 -c 4 www.nagios.com

The output will be something like:

Nagios Fusion Specific Settings

After changing the IP address on your server you should check that the Program URL is correct.

Admin > System Config > Manage System Config

General Program Settings

Make sure the Program URL is correct.

If a DNS entry is used make sure that this resolves to your new IP address.

Nagios Log Server Specific Settings

After changing the IP address on your server you should check that the Interface URL is correct.

Administration > General > Global Settings

Make sure the Interface URL is correct.

If a DNS entry is used make sure that this resolves to your new IP address.

In addition to this, on ALL nodes you need to check the following file has the correct IP addresses:

/usr/local/nagioslogserver/var/cluster_hosts

Nagios Network Analyzer Specific Settings

There are no additional changes required.

Nagios XI Specific Settings

After changing the IP address on your server you should check that the Program URL is correct.

Admin > System Config > System Settings

General tab

Make sure the Program URL is correct.

If a DNS entry is used make sure that this resolves to your new IP address.

localhost Entry In /etc/hosts

It has been observed that sometimes the system-config-network or nmtui tool removes the localhost entries from the /etc/hosts file.

Edit your /etc/hosts file and make sure there are localhost entries. For example:

127.0.0.1    localhost.localdomain    localhost.localdomain    localhost4    localhost4.localdomain4    localhost    xi-c6x-x64
::1    localhost.localdomain    localhost.localdomain    localhost6    localhost6.localdomain6    localhost    xi-c6x-x64

Troubleshooting

After you change the IP address and reboot the server you find that the interface is in the DOWN state.

The following line needs changing in the config file:

ONBOOT=no

To:

ONBOOT=yes

RHEL 6 | CentOS 6 | Oracle Linux 6

These steps are for RHEL / CentOS 6. If you are unsure what version of RHEL / CentOS your VM is running on you can execute the following command:

cat /etc/centos-release

Version 6 will output something like:

CentOS release 6.9 (Final)

If you have version 7 please go to the RHEL 7 | CentOS 7 | Oracle Linux 7 section.

Using system-config-network

There's an easy way to perform these changes using system-config-network (a text based GUI).

In your console session execute the command:

system-config-network

If you receive the following error:

-bash: system-config-network: command not found

Then you have two options:

Option 1)

Install the package using yum (which assumes your server has internet access via it's DHCP address):

yum install -y system-config-network-tui

Once installed execute the command again and proceed with the next step.

Option 2)

Manually configure address in config file. Please follow the steps in the "Manual IP Configuration" section that explains how to do this.

When you execute system-config-network you will be prompted with a text based GUI:

Press Enter on Device configuration

You will presented with the "Select A Device" screen:

eth0 should be the default interface selected, press Enter

You will now be presented with the "Network Configuration" screen.

Press the Down Arrow on your keyboard until you are in the Use DHCP field

Press the Spacebar and the * will disappear

Press the Down Arrow on your keyboard until you are in the Static IP field

Type in your IP Address

Repeat these steps on the Netmask, Default gateway IP, Primary DNS Server, Secondary DNS Server fields

The following screenshot is an example:

When the OK button is selected press Enter to save the changes

You will be returned to the "Select A Device" screen.

Press Tab until the Save button is highlighted and then press Enter

You will be returned to the "Select Action" screen.

Press Tab until the Save&Quit button is highlighted and then press Enter

Now you will need to take the interface "down" and then back "up" again using the following commands:

ifdown eth0
ifup eth0

Execute these commands to check your changes have been applied and that they are working:

ip addr
ping -c 4 www.nagios.com

The output will be something like:

The important items in the output should be that the interface is in an UP state AND the inet address is correct.

If you wish to define an IPv6 address then you will need to follow the steps in the "Manually Configuring An IPv6 Address" section.

Manual IP Configuration

If you are unable to use system-config-network (a text based GUI) to configure your IP address then you will need to configure the interface in the text based configuration file for that interface.

First you will need to identify the name of the network interface, type the following command:

ip addr

The output will be something like:

Here you can see the name of the interface is eth0

The config file for this interface will be in the file /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0

Open the vi editor using this command:

vi /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0

The default configuration will appear something like:

DEVICE=eth0
TYPE=Ethernet
UUID=18b83e30-a004-4104-8b2e-99abc0c5decf
ONBOOT=yes
NM_CONTROLLED=yes
BOOTPROTO=dhcp
HWADDR=00:0C:29:86:BB:B3
DEFROUTE=yes
PEERDNS=yes
PEERROUTES=yes
IPV4_FAILURE_FATAL=yes
IPV6INIT=no
NAME="System eth0"

The following lines need changing in the file:

BOOTPROTO=dhcp

To:

BOOTPROTO=none

The following lines need to be added to the file (you will need to adjust them to your requirements):

IPADDR=10.25.40.60
NETMASK=255.255.0.0
GATEWAY=10.25.1.254
DNS1=10.25.2.1
DNS2=10.25.2.2
USERCTL=no

The final configuration would look like this:

DEVICE=eth0
TYPE=Ethernet
UUID=18b83e30-a004-4104-8b2e-99abc0c5decf
ONBOOT=yes
NM_CONTROLLED=yes
BOOTPROTO=none
HWADDR=00:0C:29:86:BB:B3
DEFROUTE=yes
PEERDNS=yes
PEERROUTES=yes
IPV4_FAILURE_FATAL=yes
IPV6INIT=no
NAME="System eth0"
IPADDR=10.25.40.60
NETMASK=255.255.0.0
GATEWAY=10.25.1.254
DNS1=10.25.2.1
DNS2=10.25.2.2
USERCTL=no

Save the changes in vi by typing :wq and pressing Enter.

Now you will need to take the interface "down" and then back "up" again using the following commands:

ifdown eth0
ifup eth0

Execute these commands to check your changes have been applied and that they are working:

ip addr
ping -c 4 www.nagios.com

The output will be something like:

If you wish to define an IPv6 address then you will need to follow the steps in the "Manually Configuring An IPv6 Address" section.

Manually Configuring An IPv6 Address

If you need to use an IPv6 address then you will need to configure the interface in the text based configuration file for that interface

First you will need to identify the name of the network interface, type the following command:

ip addr

The output will be something like:

Here you can see the name of the interface is eth0

The config file for this interface will be in the file /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0

Open the vi editor using this command:

vi /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0

Assuming you already have defined a static IPv4 address, your configuration will appear something like:

DEVICE=eth0
TYPE=Ethernet
UUID=18b83e30-a004-4104-8b2e-99abc0c5decf
ONBOOT=yes
NM_CONTROLLED=yes
BOOTPROTO=none
HWADDR=00:0C:29:86:BB:B3
DEFROUTE=yes
PEERDNS=yes
PEERROUTES=yes
IPV4_FAILURE_FATAL=yes
IPV6INIT=no
NAME="System eth0"
IPADDR=10.25.40.60
NETMASK=255.255.0.0
GATEWAY=10.25.1.254
DNS1=10.25.2.1
DNS2=10.25.2.2
USERCTL=no

The following lines need changing in the file:

IPV6INIT=no

To:

IPV6INIT=yes

The following lines need to be added to the file (you will need to adjust them to your requirements):

IPV6ADDR=2001:44b8:3132:25:10:25:40:60/64
IPV6_DEFAULTGW=2001:44b8:3132:25:10:25:1:253
DNS3=2001:44b8:3132:25:10:25:2:1
DNS4=2001:44b8:3132:25:10:25:2:2

The final configuration would look like this:

DEVICE=eth0
TYPE=Ethernet
UUID=18b83e30-a004-4104-8b2e-99abc0c5decf
ONBOOT=yes
NM_CONTROLLED=yes
BOOTPROTO=none
HWADDR=00:0C:29:86:BB:B3
DEFROUTE=yes
PEERDNS=yes
PEERROUTES=yes
IPV4_FAILURE_FATAL=yes
IPV6INIT=yes
NAME="System eth0"
IPADDR=10.25.40.60
NETMASK=255.255.0.0
GATEWAY=10.25.1.254
DNS1=10.25.2.1
DNS2=10.25.2.2
USERCTL=no
IPV6ADDR=2001:44b8:3132:25:10:25:40:60/64
IPV6_DEFAULTGW=2001:44b8:3132:25:10:25:1:253
DNS3=2001:44b8:3132:25:10:25:2:1
DNS4=2001:44b8:3132:25:10:25:2:2

Save the changes in vi by typing :wq and pressing Enter.

Now you will need to take the interface "down" and then back "up" again using the following commands:

ifdown eth0
ifup eth0

Execute these commands to check your changes have been applied and that they are working:

ip addr
ping6 -c 4 www.nagios.com

The output will be something like:

Final Thoughts

For any support related questions please visit the Nagios Support Forums at:

http://support.nagios.com/forum/