...

Sounds like rancid & par to me. :-)

Par?

I am looking for a bit of advice around configuration backup / inventory. We currently have a large multi-vendor network which is currently managed through two separate tools (rancid - http://www.shrubbery.net/rancid and ns4 - http://www.noodles.org.uk/ns4.html). Both tools do the job very well, but management have asked that we look for commercial alternatives that have a proper support organisation looking after

Checkout Alterpoint Network Authority Inventory. The Inventory tool is free asn was developed as the Ziptie opensource project. Inventory is the basis for how Alterpoint does the paid offerings for configurtion audit and compliance and the higher level analytics based on the configuration and inventory repository that NA Inventory provides. The Inventory component is free but be prepared for sticker shock for the whole Alterpoint suite of tools. There is also ManageEngine DeviceExpert (not free, but inexpensive) and Solarwinds Orion NCM (fromerly Cirrus configuration management, also inexpensive) Sam Crooks GTS Network Architecture 701 Experian Pkwy B5302 Allen, TX 75013 972-390-3186 sam.crooks@experian.com -----Original Message----- From: Joe Provo [mailto:nanog-post@rsuc.gweep.net] Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 8:11 AM To: nanog@nanog.org Subject: Re: Config Backup / Inventory On Fri, Apr 24, 2009 at 09:25:05AM +0100, Joshua Eyres wrote: [snip] them. Since rtrmon waned and rancid waxed (97ish?), I've been a proponent and seen no support issues. Lots of commercial offerings (mostly vendor- specific) have changed or were from companies which folded between then and now. A non-trivial track record speaks volumes. [snip]

things about it. We are looking for a tool which is flexible that allows configuration backup to textual form for easy restoration as well as the ability to deploy scripted changes to the network quickly.

Sounds like rancid & par to me. :-) Cheers, Joe -- RSUC / GweepNet / Spunk / FnB / Usenix / SAGE

We use Orion NCM here from Solarwinds - not only does it do backups etc. but also allows us to script changes, updates and IOS upgrades as well (after extensive testing of course). For example, we still have 50-60 Cisco 806 routers deployed at customer sites - takes about 20 minutes to do an IOS upgrade on ALL of them at once.... Paul -----Original Message----- From: Tim Sanderson [mailto:tims@donet.com] Sent: April 25, 2009 1:15 AM To: nanog@nanog.org Subject: RE: Config Backup / Inventory Kiwi CatTools works well for us-and it's inexpensive. I've been very happy with it. -- Tim -----Original Message----- From: Joshua Eyres [mailto:joshua.eyres@gmail.com] Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 4:25 AM To: nanog@nanog.org Subject: Config Backup / Inventory Hi, I am looking for a bit of advice around configuration backup / inventory. We currently have a large multi-vendor network which is currently managed through two separate tools (rancid - http://www.shrubbery.net/rancid and ns4 - http://www.noodles.org.uk/ns4.html). Both tools do the job very well, but management have asked that we look for commercial alternatives that have a proper support organisation looking after them. IP Service Activator has been mentioned as something which can fit this role, but I haven't had any experience and I haven't heard a lot of good things about it. We are looking for a tool which is flexible that allows configuration backup to textual form for easy restoration as well as the ability to deploy scripted changes to the network quickly. Do people generally use free tools for network management or are there viable commercial alternatives? Thanks, Josh THIS MESSAGE IS INTENDED ONLY FOR PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL USE OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR ENTITY TO WHOM IT IS ADDRESSED AND MAY CONTAIN INFORMATION THAT IS PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL, AND EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this message in error and that any review, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by e-mail or telephone, and delete the original message immediately. Thank you. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and contains confidential and/or privileged material. If you received this in error, please contact the sender immediately and then destroy this transmission, including all attachments, without copying, distributing or disclosing same. Thank you."