Version 3.1 SP2 Reference Guide - Extreme Networks

29CHAPTERManaging Network DeviceConfigurations and UpdatesThis chapter describes how to use Ridgeline to manage your Extreme device configurations. Topicsinclude:● Archiving device configuration files● Creating and using Baseline configurations● Monitoring configuration changes with baselines and the Diff function●●Managing Firmware upgradesPer-device change log audit of device configuration eventsIt contains the following sections:● “Archiving Device Configurations” on page 657● “Baseline Configurations” on page 659● “Device Configuration Management Log” on page 660● “Managing Firmware Upgrades” on page 661In a large network, the task of maintaining and backing up the configurations of your network devices,and ensuring that your devices are running the correct versions of the ExtremeWare or ExtremeXOSsoftware images, can be a difficult exercise. Ridgeline’s features for archiving the configuration filesfrom your network devices, for monitoring configuration changes, and for managing the firmwareversions on your devices can help you get this under control and significantly reduce the amount ofadministrator intervention required to keep you configurations backed up or the device firmware up todate. Further, Ridgeline’s ability to identify the changes to the configurations on your devices, and tomaintain an audit trail of configuration updates, can help you troubleshoot when configurationproblems arise.Archiving Device ConfigurationsYou can use Ridgeline to upload and store the configuration files from all your Extreme devices. Youcan do this on an as needed basis, but you can also have Ridgeline perform archival uploads on aregular schedule without requiring administrator intervention. Thus, you can ensure that you alwayshave back ups for your configurations in case problems arise on your devices.To schedule regular archival uploads of the configuration files from your devices, select Configuration> Tasks > Schedule archive from the Tools menu. You can also schedule archiving for an individualRidgeline Reference Guide657