Managing_the_Management_Node

• Overview
  • Adding the Management Node
  • xdsh/xdcp
  • Restrictions and limitations

Overview

As of the xCAT 2.8 release, you can add the Management Node to the xCAT database and manage it with xCAT. Note: as of 2.8.1 it will also add the Management Node to the servicenode table and setup default services. Below is a 2.8.1 example, with servicenode setup on Linux.

Adding the Management Node

To add the Management Node, use the xcatconfig -m interface. This will add it to the xCAT database such that xCAT code can recognize it as the Management Node.

xcatconfig -m


lsdef __mgmtnode
Object name: xcat20rrmn
   groups=__mgmtnode
   postbootscripts=otherpkgs
   postscripts=syslog,remoteshell
   setuptftp=yes

xdsh/xdcp

You can use xdsh/xdcp on the Management Node without setting up ssh keys. The commands will recognize that they are running local and use sh,cp, and local rsync.

Restrictions and limitations

• You can add additional groups to the Management Node definition in the database, but do not remove the __mgmtnode group.
• It is highly recommended not to assign the management node with the compute nodes in a group, or put the Management Node in the "all" group. This is to avoid accidentally running commands you would not want to on the Management Node.
• The xdsh -K, updatenode -k and remoteshell postscript will not run on the Management Node; so as to not change the ssh setup.