Diff Server ?

Node Man

Hi Everybody,
Novice question - has anyone ever heard of a "Diff Server". For example, a server that records configuration changes made to any router or switch in a network?

If so can you name a brand or software?

Thanks so much.

crrussell3

Most of your TFTP applications will do this. Just look into them. I know Solarwinds has a free one that does it.

networker050184

I've seen several in house coded applications to do this. Never really used any commerical products though.

ChooseLife

Node Man wrote: »

has anyone ever heard of a "Diff Server". For example, a server that records configuration changes made to any router or switch in a network?

Haven't heard of that term specifically, the description brings words like "Versioning control", "change management database (CMDB)", and "audit server" to mind.

Node Man wrote: »

If so can you name a brand or software?

I used CatTools in a small environment for this purpose. It logs into routers/switches/firewalls/what-have-you on a periodic basis, grabs the running config, saves it locally, compares with previous version, and emails you the diff.

it_consultant

I use a program called Brocade Network Advisor which maintains copies of all of my configs. I can compare different versions of configs in a viewer which points out differences. This was wicked helpful when my coworker deleted a VLAN off of a switch one Saturday, I was able to quickly copy off the lines in the config related to that VLAN and reinsert them.

DevilWAH

restore point is a product that can do this, backes up the configs and then alerts you to changes. it can also alert you to devices that fail to meet criteria like having enable password set rather than secret. But it does cost.

Notepad++ can compare differences between text files if you just need to manage a few.

and you can do what i did which is write a script to back up your devices, and with in the script compare and alert.

But there are lots of applications out there that do this, cattools, solarwinds, restorepoint, spiceworks, any of the big names. Some like restore point you can set up the switches to send a trap alert to the server on any config change. the server will then go grab the latest config and compare to tell you what the changes where.

So yes loads of these appliance out there, from cheap freeware to massive corporate solutions costing £10,000s

f0rgiv3n

I'll just leave this here....

Shrubbery Networks, Inc. - RANCID

FYI RANCID = Really Awesome New Cisco confIg Differ

Trifidw

Solarwinds NCM. Can get it to email you the difference between running configs, startup configs and the difference between the 2 with a little bit of tweaking.

santaowns

We use CiscoWorks Network Compliance Manager