for two+ years, i have been asking cisco for a simple text-based tool that can take two configs and generate the command set to get from the first to the second. i.e. a semantic differ.
We have such tool (I estimate it as _ALPHA_), our neighbour RELARN have another example of this tool (simple but faster). I think there is a lot of such tools written everywhere _for internal usage_ and withouth documentation.
as syntax (and occasionally semantics) changes release to release, a version of the code would have to come with each image set.
It's the dream... -:) If all Cisco's managers stop to be managers and remember their young years when they was (if was) small ISP's systadmins and so on, then... -:).
note that this would go a way to compete with the really nice behavior of gated-like systems, e.g. juniper, which, when given a new configuration, does not thrash all your bgp sessions etc., but slides smoothly to the new state.
Don't remind me GATED, please -:(... strict language, well defined syntax... I does use it to learn students... But how can I explain such command (for example): async default routing or something more terrible...? On the other hand, it's a lot of pleasant in IOS's behaviour... Happy New Year, btw.
randy
Aleksei Roudnev, Network Operations Center, Relcom, Moscow (+7 095) 194-19-95 (Network Operations Center Hot Line),(+7 095) 239-10-10, N 13729 (pager) (+7 095) 196-72-12 (Support), (+7 095) 194-33-28 (Fax)