Replace a Packeteer Unit in Shared Mode

Network administrators managing multiple Packeteer units in shared mode may, from time to time, need to upgrade a unit to a new model, or replace a non-functional unit. The following steps describe how to remove a Packeteer unit in shared mode from your network, install a new unit, and then restore an existing configuration to the new unit.

Note: The best way to protect your units and PolicyCenter configurations against accidentally deleted or corrupted files is to create backups of all your configurations. Configuration backups can be performed once, or scheduled for regular, automated backups. See also Manage the PolicyCenter Directory Server for detailed information on how to backup and restore your configurations.

Remove the Old Unit

When a Packeeter unit is in shared mode, PolicyCenter continually and efficiently synchronizes the unit's configuration on the PolicyCenter server with the configuration files on that unit's flash disk. Therefore, if a Packeteer unit stops responding or gets disconnected the unit from the network, the unit's sharable configuration of classes, policies and partitions is retained in PolicyCenter.

To remove a Packeteer unit from your network:

1. Disconnect the unit from any telecommunication links, networks, or modems.
   
   
2. Turn off the unit power source.
   
   
3. Be aware that simply removing a unit from the network does not remove it completely from PolicyCenter—you must also delete the unit entry from PolicyCenter. The unit's shared mode configuration will remain, even though references to the physical unit have been removed.

Install a New Unit

Now, you must install the replacement Packeteer unit into your network. Installation is simple--no network reconfiguration is required.

Note: For complete details on installing a Packeteer unit, refer to the PacketShaper and PacketSeeker Getting Started Guide.

To connect a Packeteer unit to a router:

1. On the router, disconnect the straight-through cable that goes to the switch or hub.
   
   
2. Reconnect this cable to the Packeteer unit's front panel port labeled INSIDE.
   
   
3. Connect the OUTSIDE port to the router, using the orange crossover cable.

To connect a Packeteer unit to a server:

1. On the server, disconnect the straight-through cable that goes to the switch or hub.
   
   
2. Connect this cable to the Packeteer unit's front panel port labeled OUTSIDE.
   
   
3. Connect the orange crossover cable to the unit's port labeled INSIDE.
   
   
4. Connect the other end of this cable to the server.
   

Turning On the Packeteer Unit

1. Your Packeteer unit may have a dual power supply. If it does, connect both power connectors, using two separate AC outlets.
   
   
2. Connect the power cord(s) to the Packeteer unit's outlet(s) and plug the other end into AC power. If the unit has redundant power supplies, connect the power cords to outlets on separate circuit breakers.
   
   
3. If there is a power switch on the back, turn the power on.

Configure the New Unit for Shared Mode

There are two different ways to configure a Packeteer unit for shared mode.

• If the unit is to be deployed at a site where no network administrator is available, the unit can be configured remotely via the PolicyCenter auto-deployment feature.
  
  
• If a network administrator is available at the site where the unit is to be deployed, the unit can be configured and then set to shared mode via guided setup.

Assign the Unit to its Correct Configuration

Once the unit appears in the PolicyCenter configurations tab, you can assign it to the PolicyCenter configuration of the old unit you are replacing. The new unit will then continue to work with the same traffic classes, policies and partitions as the old unit.