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Note: This feature is not supported on vNIOS Grid members for Riverbed.

The MGMT (Management) port is a 10/100/1000Base-T Ethernet connector on the front panel of the TE-810, TE-820, TE-1410, TE-1420, TE-2210, TE-2220, and IB-4010 appliances. It allows you to isolate the following types of traffic from other types of traffic on the LAN and HA ports:

For information about what types of traffic qualify as appliance management, Grid communications, and DNS services, see Table 8.5.

Note: The MGMT port currently does not support DHCP, NAT, or TFTP. IPv6 addressing may be applied to the MGMT port.

Some NIOS appliance deployment scenarios support more than one concurrent use of the MGMT port. The following table depicts MGMT port uses for various appliance configurations.

Table 8.6 Supported MGMT Port Uses for Various appliance Configurations

Appliance ConfigurationAppliance ManagementGrid CommunicationsDNS Services
Single Independent Appliance

Not Applicable

Independent HA Pair

Not Applicable

Grid Master

Grid Master Candidate

HA Grid Member

Single Grid Member

* Although you manage all Grid members through the Grid Master, if you enable the MGMT port on common Grid members, they can send syslog events, SNMP traps, and e-mail notifications, and receive SSH connections on that port.
Infoblox does not support MGMT port usage for some appliance configurations (indicated by the symbol  in Table 8.6 ) because it cannot provide redundancy through the use of a VIP. A Grid Master that is an HA pair needs the redundancy that a VIP interface on the HA port provides for Grid communications. Similarly, DNS servers in an HA pair need that redundancy to answer DNS queries. Because the MGMT port does not support a VIP and thus cannot provide redundancy, Grid Masters (and potential Grid Masters) do not support Grid communications on the MGMT port.
In addition, NIOS appliances in an HA pair support DNS services on the active node only (indicated by the symbol   in Table 8.6 ). Only the active node can respond to queries that it receives. If a DNS client sends a query to the MGMT port of the node that happens to be the passive node, the query can eventually time out and fail.
The MGMT port is not enabled by default. By default, a NIOS appliance uses the LAN port (and HA port when deployed in an HA pair). You must log in using a superuser account to enable and configure the MGMT port. You can configure both IPv4 address and IPv6 address for the MGMT port of a Grid member. You can enable the MGMT port through the Infoblox GUI, as explained in the following sections.

Appliance Management
You can restrict administrative access to a NIOS appliance by connecting the MGMT port to a subnet containing only management systems. This approach ensures that only appliances on that subnet can access the Infoblox GUI and receive appliance management communications such as syslog events, SNMP traps, and e-mail notifications from the appliance.
If you are the only administrator, you can connect your management system directly to the MGMT port. If there are several administrators, you can define a small subnet—such as 10.1.1.0/29, which provides six host IP addresses (10.1.1.1–10.1.1.6) plus the network address 10.1.1.0 and the broadcast address 10.1.1.7—and connect to the NIOS appliance through a dedicated switch (which is not connected to the rest of the network). Figure 8.7 shows how an independent appliance separates appliance management traffic from network protocol services. Note that the LAN port is on a different subnet from the MGMT port.

Figure 8.7 Appliance Management from One or More Management Systems


Similarly, you can restrict management access to a Grid Master to only those appliances connected to the MGMT ports of the active and passive nodes of the Grid Master.
To enable the MGMT port on an independent appliance or Grid Master for appliance management and then cable the MGMT port directly to your management system or to a network forwarding appliance such as a switch or router:

  1. From the Grid tab, select the Grid Manager tab -> Members tab -> Grid_member check box, and then click the Edit icon.
  2. In the Network -> Basic tab of the Grid Member Properties editor, add the MGMT port to the Additional Ports and Addresses table as follows:
  3. Click the Add icon and select MGMT (IPv4) to configure an IPv4 address or select MGMT (IPv6) to configure an IPv6 address for the MGMT port. You can configure both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses for the MGMT port.
    Grid Manager adds a row for the MGMT port. For an HA pair, it adds two rows, one for each node.
  4. Enter the following in the row of the MGMT port for a single Grid Master or independent appliance, and in the rows of the two nodes for an HA Grid Master or independent HA pair:
    • Interface: Displays the name of the interface. You cannot modify this.
    • Address: Type the IP address for the MGMT port, which must be in a different subnet from that of the LAN and HA ports.
    • Subnet Mask (IPv4) or Prefix Length (IPv6): For IPv4 address, specify an appropriate subnet mask for the number of management systems that you want to access the appliance through the MGMT port. For IPv6 address, specify the prefix length.
    • Gateway: Type the default gateway for the MGMT port. If you need to define any static routes for traffic originating from the MGMT port—such as SNMP traps, syslog events, and email notifications—destined for remote subnets beyond the immediate subnet, specify the IP address of this gateway in the route.
    • Port Settings: Choose the connection speed that you want the port to use. You can also choose the duplex setting. Choose Full for concurrent bidirectional data transmission or Half for data transmission in one direction at a time. Select Automatic to instruct the NIOS appliance to negotiate the optimum port connection type (full or half duplex) and speed with the connecting switch automatically. This is the default setting. You cannot configure port settings for vNIOS appliances.
    • DSCP Value: Displays the Grid DSCP value. To modify, click Override and then enter the DSCP value. You can enter a value from 0 to 63. For information about DSCP, see Implementing Quality of Service Using DSCP.
  5. In the Network -> Advanced tab, make sure that the Enable VPN on MGMT Port check box is not selected.
  6. Save the configuration and click Restart if it appears at the top of the screen.
  7. Log out of Grid Manager.
  8. Cable the MGMT port to your management system or to a switch or router to which your management system can also connect.
  9. If your management system is in a subnet from which it cannot reach the MGMT port, move it to a subnet from which it can.
    The Infoblox Grid Manager GUI is now accessible through the MGMT port on the NIOS appliance from your management system.
  10. Open an Internet browser window and enter the IP address of the MGMT port as follows: https://<IP address of MGMT port>.
  11. Log in to Grid Manager.
  12. Check the Detailed Status panel of the Grid member to make sure the status icons are green.

Grid Communications

You can isolate all Grid communications to a dedicated subnet as follows:

  • For Grid communications from the Grid Master, which can be an HA pair or a single appliance, the master uses either the VIP interface on the HA port of its active node (HA master) or its LAN port (single master). Neither a single nor HA Grid Master can use its MGMT port for Grid communications. (This restriction applies equally to Master Candidates.)
  • Common Grid members connect to the Grid Master through their MGMT port.

This ensures that all database synchronization and Grid maintenance operations are inaccessible from other network elements while the common Grid members provide network protocol services on their LAN ports.
Figure 8.8 shows how Grid members communicate to the master over a dedicated subnet.

Figure 8.8 Grid Communications

Enabling Grid Communications over the MGMT Port for Existing Grid Members


To enable the MGMT port for Grid communications on an existing single or HA Grid member:

  1. Log in to the Grid Master with a superuser account.
  2. From the Grid tab, select the Grid Manager tab -> Members tab -> Grid_member check box, and then click the Edit icon.
    Note: You must enable the MGMT port before modifying its port settings. See Using the MGMT Port.
  3. In the Network -> Basic tab of the Grid Member Properties editor, add the MGMT port to the Additional Ports and Addresses table as follows:
  4. Click the Add icon and select MGMT (IPv4) to configure an IPv4 address or select MGMT (IPv6) to configure an IPv6 address for the MGMT port. You can configure both IPv4 address and IPv6 address for the MGMT port.
    Grid Manager adds a row for the MGMT port. For an HA pair, it adds two rows, one for each node.
  5. Enter the following in the row of the MGMT port for a single Grid Master or independent appliance, and in the rows of the two nodes for an HA Grid Master or independent HA pair:
    • Interface: Displays the name of the interface. You cannot modify this.
    • Address: Type the IP address for the MGMT port, which must be in a different subnet from that of the LAN and HA ports.
    • Subnet Mask (IPv4) or Prefix Length (IPv6): For IPv4 address, specify an appropriate subnet mask for the number of management systems that you want to access the appliance through the MGMT port. For IPv6 address, specify the prefix length.
    • Gateway: Type the default gateway for the MGMT port. If you need to define any static routes for traffic originating from the MGMT port—such as SNMP traps, syslog events, and email notifications—destined for remote subnets beyond the immediate subnet, specify the IP address of this gateway in the route.
    • Port Settings: Choose the connection speed that you want the port to use. You can also choose the duplex setting. Choose Full for concurrent bidirectional data transmission or Half for data transmission in one direction at a time. Select Automatic to instruct the NIOS appliance to negotiate the optimum port connection type (full or half duplex) and speed with the connecting switch automatically. This is the default setting. You cannot configure port settings for vNIOS appliances.
    • DSCP Value: Displays the Grid DSCP value. To modify, click Override and enter the DSCP value. You can enter a value from 0 to 63. For information about DSCP, see Implementing Quality of Service Using DSCP.
  6. In the Network -> Advanced tab, select the Enable VPN on MGMT Port check box.
  7. In the Security tab, do the following:
    • Restrict Remote Console and Support Access to MGMT Port: Select this check box to restrict SSH (Secure Shell) v2 access to the MGMT port only. This restricts Infoblox Technical Support and remote console connections—both of which use SSH v2—to just the MGMT port. For an HA pair, you can make an SSH v2 connection to the MGMT port on both the active and passive nodes.
      Clear the check box to allow SSH v2 access to both the MGMT and LAN ports. For an HA pair, you can make an SSH v2 connection to the MGMT and LAN ports on both the active and passive nodes.
  8. Save the configuration and click Restart if it appears at the top of the screen.
    The master communicates the new port settings to the member, which immediately begins using them. The member stops using its LAN port for Grid communications and begins using the MGMT port.
  9. To confirm that the member still has Grid connectivity, check that the status icons for that member are green on the Detailed Status and Grid panels.

DNS Services

You can configure a single independent appliance or single Grid member to provide DNS services through the MGMT port in addition to the LAN port. For example, the appliance can provide DNS services through the MGMT port for internal clients on a private network, and DNS services through the LAN port for external clients on a public network.
While providing DNS services on the MGMT port, you can still use that port simultaneously for appliance management. Figure 8.9 shows a management system communicating with a single independent appliance through its MGMT port while the appliance also provides DNS services on that port to a private network. Additionally, the appliance provides DNS services to an external network through its LAN port.

Figure 8.9 DNS Services on the LAN and MGMT Ports, and appliance Management on the MGMT Port



Like a single independent appliance, a single Grid member can also support concurrent DNS traffic on its MGMT and LAN ports. However, because you manage all Grid members through the Grid Master, a Grid member only uses an enabled MGMT port to send SNMP traps, syslog events, and email notifications, and to receive SSH connections.
In addition, the active node of an HA pair can provide DNS services through its MGMT port. To use this feature, you must enable DNS services on the MGMT ports of both nodes in the HA pair and specify the MGMT port IP addresses of both nodes on the DNS client as well, in case there is a failover and the passive node becomes active. Note that only the active node can respond to queries that it receives. If a DNS client sends a query to the MGMT port of the node that happens to be the passive node, the query can eventually time out and fail.
To enable DNS services on the MGMT port of an appliance:

  1. From the Grid tab, select the Grid Manager tab -> Members tab -> Grid_member check box, and then click the Edit icon.
    Note: You must enable the MGMT port before modifying its port settings. See Using the MGMT Port.
  2. In the Network -> Basic tab of the Grid Member Properties editor, add the MGMT port to the Additional Ports and Addresses table as follows:
  3. Click the Add icon and select MGMT (IPv4) to configure an IPv4 address or select MGMT (IPv6) to configure an IPv6 address for the MGMT port. You can configure both IPv4 and IPv6 address for the MGMT port.
    Grid Manager adds a row for the MGMT port. For an HA pair, it adds two rows, one for each node.
  4. Enter the following in the row of the MGMT port for a single Grid Master or independent appliance, and in the rows of the two nodes for an HA Grid Master or independent HA pair:
    • Interface: Displays the name of the interface. You cannot modify this.
    • Address: Type the IP address for the MGMT port, which must be in a different subnet from that of the LAN and HA ports.
    • Subnet Mask (IPv4) or Prefix Length (IPv6): For IPv4 address, specify an appropriate subnet mask for the number of management systems that you want to access the appliance through the MGMT port. For IPv6 address, specify the prefix length.
    • Gateway: Type the default gateway for the MGMT port. If you need to define any static routes for traffic originating from the MGMT port—such as SNMP traps, syslog events, and email notifications—destined for remote subnets beyond the immediate subnet, specify the IP address of this gateway in the route.
    • Port Settings: Choose the connection speed that you want the port to use. You can also choose the duplex setting. Choose Full for concurrent bidirectional data transmission or Half for data transmission in one direction at a time. Select Automatic to instruct the NIOS appliance to negotiate the optimum port connection type (full or half duplex) and speed with the connecting switch automatically. This is the default setting. You cannot configure port settings for vNIOS appliances.
    • DSCP Value: Displays the Grid DSCP value. To modify, click Override and enter the DSCP value. You can enter a value from 0 to 63. For information about DSCP, see Implementing Quality of Service Using DSCP.
  5. Click Save & Close to save your settings for the MGMT port.
  6. From the Data Management tab, select the DNS tab -> -> Members tab -> Grid_member check box, and then click the Edit icon.
  7. In the General -> Basic tab of the Member DNS Properties editor, do the following:
    • If you are running DNS service for IPv4, select the IPv4 check box for MGMT under DNS Interfaces.
    • If you are running DNS service for IPv6, select the IPv6 check box for MGMT under DNS Interfaces.
  8. In the General -> Advanced tab, select one of the following from the Send queries from and the Send notify messages and zone transfer requests from drop-down lists:
    • VIP: The appliance uses the IP address of the HA port as the source for queries, notifies, and zone transfer requests.
    • MGMT: The appliance uses the IP address of the MGMT port as the source for queries, notifies, and zone transfer requests.
    • LAN2: The appliance uses the IP address of the LAN2 port as the source for queries, notifies, and zone transfer requests.
    • Any: The appliance chooses which port to use as the source for queries, notifies, and zone transfer requests.
      The Send queries from drop-down list also includes loopback IP addresses that you configured. You can select a loopback address as the source for queries.
  9. Save the configuration and click Restart if it appears at the top of the screen.

To see that the appliance now also serves DNS on the MGMT port:

  1. From the Data Management tab, select the DNS tab -> -> Members tab -> Grid_member check box.
  2. Expand the Toolbar and click View -> View DNS Configuration.
  3. Check that the IP address of the MGMT port appears in the address match list in the listen-on substatement.
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