You can archive (save) device configuration data and/or capacity planning data using the Archive Wizard. Archiving device configuration data lets you create archives (backup copies) of your network devices' configurations that can be restored to the devices at a later date, if needed. Archiving capacity planning data lets you store port and FRU information for use by the Capacity Planning tool to generate reports. You can create an archive that saves both configuration data and capacity planning data, or you can create an archive that targets one type of data or the other.
You can perform archives on a single device, multiple devices, or on an entire device group. Because it is useful to archive data on a regular basis, Inventory Manager lets you schedule archives to be performed at a future time, and/or on a routine basis. Once you have configured an archive's parameters, you can use that archive on a repeated basis to save new versions of the desired data. For example, you may want to create an archive that saves your device configurations on a weekly basis, and also create an archive that saves only capacity planning information on a daily basis to monitor what is changing on the network.
Once an archive operation has been created, it is listed by name in the
left-panel Archive Mgmt tab under the
Archives folder. Below the archive name are the archive versions, displayed by the date
and time the version was performed. Under the versions are the individual
configurations, listed by
IP address of the device whose data was saved. Each configuration displays an
icon that identifies the type of data being saved:
device configuration data, 
capacity planning
data, 
both device configuration and capacity planning
data.
| NOTE: | If the device is an X-Pedition router, be aware that when archiving
device configuration data, the router's Startup configuration
file is saved. |
|---|
Instructions on:
- Using the Archive Wizard
- Saving a New Archive Version
- Editing an Archive
- Renaming an Archive
- Deleting an Archive
Using the Archive Wizard
Use the Archive Wizard to archive network configuration data and/or capacity planning data. You can perform archives on a single device, multiple devices, or on an entire device group. You must have a TFTP or FTP server running to save a configuration. For more information, see TFTP Server Setup or FTP Server Setup.
- Select Tools > Wizards > Archive Wizard from the menu bar or click
on the toolbar. The Archive Wizard opens.
- Enter a name and (optional) description of the archive operation.
- Configure the archive setup:
- Select the appropriate checkbox for the type of data you wish to
archive:
- Archive Configuration Data - Create archives (backup copies) of your devices' configurations that can be restored to the devices at a later date, if needed.
- Archive Capacity Planning data - Create archives of port and FRU information to be used by the Capacity Planning tool to generate reports.
- Specify the maximum number of versions you would like saved for this archive. This allows you to limit the number of versions saved for each archive. Once the maximum number is reached, older versions are automatically deleted.
- Click Next.
- Select the appropriate checkbox for the type of data you wish to
archive:
- Select the Archive Members:
- Expand the folders under Select Devices
and select the single device, multiple devices (using the Control or Shift keys) or a single device group. Click Add.
NOTE: If you select multiple tree nodes representing the same device but with varying SNMP contexts, an archive save will be performed for each context. However, the context must provide access to the MIBs required for the archive save operation or the archive for that context will fail. It is recommended that you perform the archive operation on the device with the default context (switch mode.) - The devices will be listed under Archive Members. If you want to remove a member from the list, select the member and click Remove.
- Click Next.
TIP: If you open the Archive Wizard from a selected device or device group in the left-panel Network Elements tab, the selected item will be automatically displayed under Archive Members. - Expand the folders under Select Devices
and select the single device, multiple devices (using the Control or Shift keys) or a single device group. Click Add.
- Select devices to be archived. Use the checkboxes in the Devices table to select or deselect devices to be archived. For example, if you selected a device group in the previous window, you can use these checkboxes to deselect individual devices in that group.
- Configure scheduling information for the archive:
- Use the drop-down list to select the frequency with which you want the archive performed: Never, Now, Once, Daily, Weekly, or On Server Startup. The Never option lets you create an archive operation without actually performing it. The Now option lets you perform an immediate archive.
- Use the drop-down list to select the month you want the archive to start. A calendar corresponding to the selected month is displayed. Select the desired starting day by clicking on the calendar. You can use the arrows on either side of the drop-down list to change the month, and change the year by entering a new year in the text field. (This field is grayed out if you have selected the Never or Now frequency.)
- Set the starting time for the operation and select AM or PM. (This field is grayed out if you have selected the Never or Now frequency.)
- Configure Process settings for the archive:
- The archive will be performed in parallel (simultaneously) on the number of devices specified in the Groups of field. Set the value to 1 to have the operation performed serially, one device after another.
- Select the Abort on Failure checkbox to stop the archive operation after a failure. This is useful if you are performing an archive operation on multiple devices and you want the operation to stop after a failure on a single device.
- Click Finish to create the archive. The archive will be listed by name in the left-panel Archive Mgmt tab under the Archives folder, and performed according to its scheduled parameters. You can change the archive's parameters; see Editing an Archive for instructions.
| TIP: | You can set up an e-mail notification based on the event log message that is
generated when a configuration change is detected. When the
current archive differs from the previously saved archive, Inventory Manager
generates an event log message. Using the NetSight Console Alarms Manager you
can create an alarm that monitors the Inventory Log for the text "Configurations
Are Different" and define an e-mail to be executed as the specific alarm action. |
|---|
Saving a New Archive Version
Once you have created an archive, you can use that archive on a repeated basis to save (stamp) new versions of the desired configurations.
- With an archive folder selected in the left-panel Archive Mgmt tab, right-click and select Stamp New Version from the menu.
- A new archive version, displayed by the date and time the version was performed, will be listed under the archive folder. Under the version are the individual configurations, listed by IP address of the device whose data was saved.
Editing an Archive
Once you have created an archive, you can edit the archive parameters, including changing the devices the archive is performed on.
- With an archive folder selected in the left-panel Archive Mgmt tab, select the right-panel General tab.
- Edit the archive description and number of versions to save, if desired.
- Click the Edit Devices button and change the devices to be archived. Use the Add and Remove buttons to select your Archive Members. Expand the folders under Select Devices and select the single device, multiple devices (using the Control or Shift keys) or a single device group. Click OK.
- Use the checkboxes in the Devices table to select or deselect devices to be archived.
- Edit the schedule information for the archive using the instructions in step 6 above.
- Edit the Process settings for the archive using the instructions in step 7 above.
- Click Save. The next time the archive is performed, these new parameters will be used.
Renaming an Archive
You can rename an archive.
- With an archive folder selected in the left-panel Archive Mgmt tab, right-click and select Rename from the menu. The Rename Archive window opens.
- Enter the new name, and click OK.
- The name of the archive will change in the left-panel tree. All previous versions saved under the old name will be available under the new name. The next time the archive is performed, the new name will be used.
Deleting an Archive
You can delete an archive, an archive version, or a saved configuration from the Archive Mgmt tree.
- With an archive, archive version, or configuration selected in the left-panel Archive Mgmt tab, right-click and select Delete from the menu.
- A Delete confirmation window opens. Click Yes to perform the delete.
For information on related tasks:
