Creating a host alias

Host aliases allow any service that binds to a particular IP address to bind to a local host alias instead of a specific address.

About this task

When you can configure a DataPower® service to the local IP address, such as 10.10.1.1, it becomes assigned to one of the configured Ethernet interfaces. With local host aliases, you can bind the service to an alias, such as proxy1. The host alias then binds to a valid local IP address, such as 10.10.1.1.

Host aliases are useful for the migration of configuration data, but requires the following steps:
  1. Create host aliases.
  2. Configure services to use the host aliases.

Host aliases are useful when you export configurations to another DataPower Gateway; for example, a staging DataPower Gateway on subnet 10 to a production DataPower Gateway on subnet 135. The exported configuration uses a host alias that can be defined on the DataPower Gateway where the configuration is being imported. However, the host alias on the DataPower Gateway where the configuration is being imported can bind to a different local IP address. No IP address change is required during migration.

Notes:
  • Changing the IP address for an alias causes all services that use the alias to rebind to the new address.
  • Deleting an alias brings down the operational state of all services that use the alias.
  • Although log targets support aliases, an alias resolves to local IP address 0. Do not use an alias but specify a local IP address.

Procedure

  1. In the search field, enter Alias.
  2. From the results, click Host Alias.
  3. Click Add or New.
  4. In the Name field, enter the alias.
    The alias cannot start with the reserved strings eth or mgt.
  5. Set the administrative state of the configuration.
  6. Optional: In the Comments field, enter a descriptive summary.
  7. In the IP address field, enter a local IP address.
  8. Click Apply to save the changes to the running configuration.
  9. Click Save Configuration or Save changes to save the changes to the persisted configuration.

Results

Verify new aliases with the DNS static hosts status provider.
  1. In the search field, enter DNS Static.
  2. From the search results, click DNS Static Hosts.