Infoblox provides the ability for you to schedule or defer configuration updates, apply object-specific tags to hosts, as well as apply the updates immediately for selected hosts. Scheduled or deferred configuration updates will take place only at the time and date specified and will only occur within the time window specified. When scheduling configuration updates for hosts, the configuration update applies to all hosts residing within the account for a customer-specified duration. 

You can schedule or defer multiple configuration updates for different days and times. You can configure up to a total of 50 scheduled and deferred configuration updates, which means you have the flexibility to create up to 50 update groups across different hosts when you create applicable tags.

Scheduling Configuration Changes

To manually schedule configuration changes, complete the following: 

1. From the Cloud Services Portal, click Manage > Infrastructure > Hosts.
2. Choose the hosts on which you want to perform configuration updates
3. Click ... on the top menu > Schedule Configuration Updates.
4. On the Schedule Configuration Updates page, perform the following:
5. Schedule Updates: 
   • Select Scheduled Updates to override the automatic update process and defer configuration management updates. By default, Immediate Updates is selected.  
   • Day & Time: Select a day of the week and a time to perform the scheduled updates. Note that the time specified is per the host’s time zone. If a time zone has not been designated for the host, then the time defaults to UTC. All updates will occur on the day and time specified.
   • Duration: Select the duration period for performing configuration management updates. The duration period can range from four hours to 10 hours. This is the time window when updates will be applied. If updates fall outside the duration period, they will not be applied.
   • Tags: You can use tags to associate the scheduled updates with specific hosts. For example, you can create a tag called "scheduled config group" and enter a value of "DNS" to remind yourself that this tag can be used to schedule configuration updates for hosts running DNS service. When you assign this tag to applicable hosts, you have created a configuration update group with hosts that will get the scheduled configuration updates. Note that the scheduled updates apply only to hosts that have the matching tag you created for the scheduled updates. For more information about tags, see Managing Tags.   
6. Optionally, to schedule multiple configuration updates, click Add Schedule to configure another scheduled configuration update. You can configure up to 50 scheduled and deferred updates, which means you have the flexibility to create up to 50 update groups across different hosts when you create applicable tags.
   You can also perform the following before saving your configuration:
   • Remove a scheduled update that is no longer applicable by clicking Delete for the selected scheduled update.
   • View details of a scheduled update by clicking the down arrow key of the selected scheduled update.
7. Click Save & Close to save your scheduled configuration updates configuration.

You can add or delete any scheduled updates that are not applicable any more. 

Deferring Configuration Updates

Configuration management updates can be deferred for up to four weeks. Using this feature, the configuration updates for all hosts residing in the account will be deferred for the period specified. The configuration updates will not be applied during the period specified. The deferral window can be disabled at any time. Deferred updating per individual host is unavailable except when the host or hosts are associated with a tag. Deferral supersedes the Automatic and Scheduled Updates settings. 

To defer configuration management updates, complete the following:

1. From the Cloud Services Portal, click Manage > Infrastructure > Hosts.
2. Choose the hosts on which you want to perform configuration updates
3. Click ... on the top menu > Schedule Configuration Updates.
4. On the Schedule Configuration Updates page, perform the following:

1. Defer Updates:
   
   • Disabled/enabled switch: Toggle the Disabled/Enabled switch to the enabled position to enable update deferrals. Update deferments can be delayed for up to four weeks. Once this deferment period has expired, the latest update will be applied. 
   • Start/End calendar object: Select a start date and an end date for the update deferral. The deferral time is based on your account and takes place in the host’s time zone. When updates have been successfully deferred, you will see a small icon appear to the right of the calendar object indicating the update deferral status.
   • Tags: You can use tags to associate the deferred updates with specific hosts. For example, you can create a tag called "deferred config group" and enter a value of "DFP" to remind yourself that this tag can be used to defer configuration updates for hosts running the DNS forwarding proxy (DFP) service. When you assign this tag to applicable hosts, you have created a configuration update group with hosts that will get the deferred configuration updates. Note that deferred updates apply only to  hosts that have the matching tag you created in the deferred updates. For more information about tags, see Managing Tags.
2. Optionally, to defer multiple configuration updates, click Add Schedule to configure another deferred configuration update. You can configure up to 50 scheduled and deferred updates, which means you have the flexibility to create up to 50 update groups across different hosts when you create applicable tags.
   You can also perform the following before saving your configuration:
   • Remove a deferred update that is no longer applicable by clicking Delete for the selected update.
   • View details of a deferred update by clicking the down arrow key of the selected update.
3. Click Save & Close to save your scheduled configuration updates configuration.
4. Click Confirm on the prompt screen to complete the configuration update deferral process. 

When visiting the Schedule Configuration Updates page after initially saving and closing the deferral configuration, the UI will display one of the following deferral statuses:

• Scheduled: The deferral date has been set up and the start date has not yet begun. 
• In Progress: The deferral start date has begun and the deferral period is active.
• Expired: The deferral start and end date has expired and the updates are implemented according to the users preference of Automatic or Scheduled.

Applying Configuration Updates Immediately

In addition to scheduling configuration updates, you can apply the latest configuration updates of any applications that are enabled on an host.

To apply configuration updates immediately, complete the following:

1. From the Cloud Services Portal, click Manage > Infrastructure > Hosts.
2. Choose the hosts on which you want to perform configuration updates
3. Click ... next to the host > Apply config updates now. The configuration updates are applied to the host immediately.