Manual Chapter : 3-DNS Reference Guide version 4.2: 3-DNS Maintenance Menu

Applies To:

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3-DNS Controller versions 1.x - 4.x

  • 4.2 PTF-10, 4.2 PTF-09, 4.2 PTF-08, 4.2 PTF-07, 4.2 PTF-06, 4.2 PTF-05, 4.2 PTF-04, 4.2 PTF-03, 4.2 PTF-02, 4.2 PTF-01, 4.2.0
Manual Chapter


2

3-DNS Maintenance Menu



Working with the 3-DNS Maintenance menu

The 3-DNS Maintenance menu is a utility that you can use to configure and monitor the 3-DNS from the command line. You can perform the following tasks:

  • Edit the wideip.conf configuration file
  • Edit the BIND configuration files
  • View statistics
  • Work with the big3d agent
  • Manage synchronized files
  • Work with security issues
  • Configure the 3-DNS web server
  • Work with syncd
  • Configure NTP
  • Configure NameSurfer

Warning: If you use the browser-based NameSurfer application, you cannot use the Edit BIND Configuration command on the 3-DNS Maintenance menu to configure your DNS zone files.

Figure 2.1 shows the main screen of the 3-DNS Maintenance menu.

Figure 2.1 The 3-DNS Maintenance menu main screen

  3 D N S(®)  Maintenance Menu     

Configure SSH communication with remote devices
Generate and Copy iQuery Encryption Key
Check remote versions of big3d
Edit big3d matrix
Install and Start big3d
Edit BIND Configuration
Edit 3-DNS Configuration
Backup the 3-DNS
Restore a 3-DNS from a backup
Synchronize Metrics Data
Restart big3d
Reconfigure 3-DNS Configuration Utility
Restart 3-DNS Configuration Utility
Change/Add Users for 3-DNS Configuration Utility
Dump 3dnsd Statistics
Stop syncd
Restart syncd
Configure connection to NTP time server
Configure NameSurfer(TM)
Enter 'q' to Quit

To use the 3-DNS Maintenance menu from the command line

  1. On the command line, type the following command to open the menu:

    3dnsmaint

  2. From the menu, choose the command to you wish to run, and press the Enter key.

    Each command is described in the following sections.

Configuring zone files and wide IPs

We recommend that you use NameSurfer to configure BIND zone files, and that you use the Configuration utility to configure wide IPs. However, if you choose to edit the BIND zone files and the 3-DNS configuration files from the command line, use the following commands.

Edit BIND Configuration

The Edit BIND Configuration command opens the named.conf file for editing.

Warning: Use this command only if you are performing all configuration tasks from the command line. It is important that you do not use this command if you are using NameSurfer.

Edit 3-DNS Configuration

The Edit 3-DNS Configuration command runs the edit_wideip script, which performs the following tasks:

  • Opens the wideip.conf file for editing
  • Copies the wideip.conf file to all other 3-DNS systems in the local system's sync group
  • Restarts 3dnsd

Viewing statistics

From the Maintenance menu, use the Dump 3dnsd Statistics command to view various 3-DNS statistics. The Dump 3dnsd Statistics command corresponds to the 3dprint script, which lets you view the following statistics screens at the command line:

  • 3-DNS
    This object displays statistics about each 3-DNS in your network. The statistics include such things as whether the 3-DNS is enabled or disabled, the number of packets per second traveling in and out of the 3-DNS during the last sample period, the name of the sync group to which each 3-DNS belongs, and so on.
  • BIG-IP
    This object displays statistics about all BIG-IP systems known to the 3-DNS. The statistics include such things as the number of virtual servers each BIG-IP manages, the number of times the 3-DNS resolves requests to those virtual servers, and more.
  • EDGE-FX
    This object displays statistics about all EDGE-FX Caches known to the 3-DNS. The statistics include such things as the number of virtual servers each EDGE-FX Cache manages, the number of times the 3-DNS resolves requests to those virtual servers, and more.
  • Hosts
    This object displays statistics about all hosts known to the 3-DNS, such as the number of times the 3-DNS resolves requests to the host, and the number of virtual servers that the hosts manage.
  • Virtual Servers
    This object displays statistics about BIG-IP, EDGE-FX Cache, and host virtual servers; the statistics include such things as the server state, and the number of times it has received resolution requests.
  • Paths
    This object displays path statistics such as round trip time, packet completion rate, the remaining time to live (TTL) before a path's metric data needs to be refreshed, and so on.
  • Local DNS
    This object displays statistics collected for LDNS servers: the number of resolution requests received from a given server, the current protocol used to probe the server, and more.
  • Wide IPs
    This object displays statistics about each wide IP defined on the 3-DNS. The statistics include such things as load balancing information, the remaining time to live (TTL) before the wide IP's metrics data needs to be refreshed, and so on.
  • Globals
    This object displays statistics about the globals sub-statements. The statistics include such things as the current and default values for each of the globals sub-statements, and whether you have to restart 3dnsd when you make changes to the parameters.
  • Summary
    This object displays summary statistics such as the 3-DNS version, the total number of resolved requests, and the load balancing methods used to resolve requests.
  • Data Centers
    This object displays statistics about the data centers and their servers in your network. The statistics include such things as the names of the data centers, the name or IP address of the servers in the data center, and whether the data center is enabled or disabled.
  • Sync Groups
    This object displays statistics about each sync group in your network. The statistics include such things as the name of the sync group, whether 3dnsd is running on each 3-DNS, whether the big3d agent is running on each 3-DNS, the name and IP address of the 3-DNS, and whether the 3-DNS is a principal or receiver.

To view more statistics information, expand the Statistics item on the navigation pane in the Configuration utility.

Working with the big3d agent

You can use the following commands to work with the big3d agent, which collects information about paths between a data center and a specific local DNS server.

Check big3d versions

The Check remote versions of big3d command runs the big3d_version script. This script checks that the correct version of big3d is running on all BIG-IP, EDGE-FX Cache, and GLOBAL-SITE systems known to the 3-DNS.

Edit big3d matrix

The Edit big3d matrix command opens an editable file that lists version numbers, and the appropriate big3d agent, for all BIG-IP, EDGE-FX Cache, and GLOBAL-SITE systems known to the 3-DNS.

You do not need to edit this file unless a new version of BIG-IP, EDGE-FX Cache, or GLOBAL-SITE creates a conflict. If this happens, you need to place a new version of the big3d agent on all affected servers.

The Install and Start big3d command uses the matrix file to determine which version of the big3d agent to transfer to the BIG-IP, EDGE-FX Cache, and GLOBAL-SITE systems.

Install and Start big3d

The Install and Start big3d command runs the big3d_install script, which installs and starts the appropriate version of the big3d agent on each BIG-IP, EDGE-FX Cache, and GLOBAL-SITE in the network.

Restart big3d

The Restart big3d command runs the big3d_restart script, which stops and restarts the big3d agent on each BIG-IP, EDGE-FX Cache, and GLOBAL-SITE.

Managing synchronized files

You can use the following commands to copy metrics data to a new 3-DNS, to archive synchronized files, or to retrieve an archive.

Working with security issues

You can use the following commands to address security issues for your network setup.

Configure SSH communication with remote devices

The Configure SSH communication with remote devices command runs the config_ssh script, which configures secure shell access to any new 3-DNS, BIG-IP, EDGE-FX Cache, or GLOBAL-SITE that is added to a network.

For more information, see Chapter 11, Scripts .

Generate and Copy iQuery Encryption key

The Generate and Copy iQuery Encryption key command runs the install_key script, which then runs the F5makekey program. The F5makekey program generates a seed key for encrypting communications between the 3-DNS and BIG-IP, EDGE-FX Cache, and GLOBAL-SITE systems.

For more information, see Chapter 11, Scripts .

Note: This command is not available on the non-crypto version of the 3-DNS.

Configuring the 3-DNS Configuration utility

You can use the following commands to configure the 3-DNS Configuration utility, which is hosted by the 3-DNS web server.

Reconfigure 3-DNS Configuration Utility

The Reconfigure 3-DNS Configuration Utility command runs the config_httpd script, which lets you make configuration changes to the 3-DNS web server.

Restart 3-DNS Configuration Utility

The Restart 3-DNS Configuration Utility command runs the 3dns_admin_start script, which restarts the 3-DNS web server.

Change/Add Users for 3-DNS Configuration Utility

The Change/Add Users for 3-DNS Configuration Utility command runs the 3dns_web_passwd script, which lets you provide one of three levels of access to the 3-DNS Configuration utility for selected users only, and assign passwords for those users. The three levels of user access are:

  • Read-only
    Users with this level of access can only view the configuration and statistics information in the Configuration utility.
  • Partial read/write
    Users with this level of access can view configuration and statistics information in the Configuration utility. They can also enable and disable objects in the configuration.
  • Full read/write
    Users with this level of access have full administrative access to all components of the Configuration utility.

    You can also add, remove, and modify users and their administrative access levels using the Configuration utility. For more information, see the 3-DNS Administrator Guide, Chapter 12, Administration and Monitoring.

Working with syncd

You can use the following commands to work with syncd, the synchronization daemon that runs on all 3-DNS systems. The function of syncd is to update and synchronize all 3-DNS configuration files.

Stop syncd

The Stop syncd command runs the syncd_stop script, which stops the syncd daemon, if it is running.

Restart syncd

The Restart syncd command runs the syncd_start script, which restarts the syncd daemon if it is already running, or starts it if it is not.

Configuring NTP

The 3-DNS systems in a network must have their time synchronized to within a few seconds of each other. If you do not synchronize the systems, it is done by default through iQuery messages exchanged between 3-DNS systems. However, the following command allows much more precise time synchronization between the 3-DNS systems.

The Configure Connection to NTP Time Server command allows the 3-DNS to synchronize its time to a public NTP (Network Time Protocol) server on the Internet. To simplify the task of choosing the best time server, this command has a list of regional time servers built into it. A 3-DNS is not required to have NTP configured; depending on the network configuration, it may not be possible to configure NTP (for example, if the 3-DNS is behind a firewall and the firewall does not pass NTP packets).

Configuring NameSurfer

The Configure NameSurfer command makes NameSurfer the primary name server on the 3-DNS. NameSurfer then handles zone file management, and processes all changes and updates to the zone files. Note that configuring NameSurfer as the primary name server for your domains is an optional setting. You access the NameSurfer application in the Configuration utility by clicking NameSurfer in the navigation pane. Note that you only use NameSurfer if you configure the 3-DNS in node mode.

Note: If you do not set NameSurfer to be the primary name server for your wide IP zones, (when you run the 3-DNS in node mode only) you must maintain all of your zone file information manually.