Deployment Solution

Our 7.1 server is no longer running, and we wouldn't be able to bring it back without doing a re-install.  What I'd like to do is forgo that and move directly to a clean 7.5 installation.  However I'm concerned about the clients connecting to a new server.

Can I install 7.5 and use the same IP and name as my old server and expect the clients to connect?
Should I use a new name and IP and use AD to point the current clients to the new server?

What's the best way to deploy 7.5 to 7.1 clients when the 7.1 server is gone?

Thank you all for your suggestions and help!

If you install a 7.5 server with the same name and IP address as the old 7.1 server the agents should check in to it and upgrade. But they will all do it in a "big bang" approach unless you edit the targets of the agent/plug-in upgrade policies.

Be careful with SSL settings.

I was hoping that they'd register to the database with the 7.1 client, and then I could enable and stagger the actual client upgrade process yes.

Not sure what you mean about SSL; I didn't do any specific for that when I installed 7.1

That is what should happen.

I haven't installed 7.5 yet but you need to use SSL if you want Cloud Enabled Management. But then your 7.1 agents might not be able to communicate with the NS using http.

Oh, yah.  We weren't using CEM yet, so that's why I didn't have anything setup.  Since nothing SEM is migrating I should be good to go if I want it in 7.5