[Freeipa-users] Moving the master server

[Rob Crittenden]

Nick Gresham wrote:
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> Hi,
> 
> I have a couple of machines in a running freeipa-1.2.1 in a
> master/replica set up. However the the master server in this scenario is
> now out of warranty and needs to be retired.
> 
> I have another machine readied to assume its role (with a different
> hostname and ip number, however), or preferably, I could promote the
> existing replica to master.
> 
> There doesn't seem to be an easy way to accomplish this, short of
> starting again (which is not a practical option for me).
> 
> Cany anyone give some advice? Thanks in advance,
> 

The only difference between a replica and the initial IPA install (the 
"master") is that the first server owns the self-signed CA.

You should be able to do this to make your "replica" the master:

- copy /var/lib/ipa/ca_serialno from master to replica
- import the CA into the replica DS NSS database with:
# cd /etc/dirsrv/slapd-REALM
# pk12util -i /path/to/cacert.p12 -d .

The password on the PKCS#12 file is on the original server in 
/etc/dirsrv/slapd-REALM/pwdfile.txt as is the file cacert.p12 (which you 
backed up elsewhere too, right?)

- Delete the existing replication agreements:
# ipa-replica-manage del master.example.com

Now you should have 2 identical IPA servers, neither of which know about 
each other. Shut down the old master and stand up the new box. Create a 
replica file on the newly promoted master and install that on the new 
box. You should be back in business.

Note: I haven't actually tried this but it should do the trick. Backups 
are always a good idea.

rob