Using config_backup and config_restore to configure a new SMA appliance

The following procedure will show a manual process for quickly bringing up a new appliance using the configuration of a previous appliance.

This article applies to the SMA 1000 series only.

Prerequisites

• These instructions assume that you are comfortable working on the command line of the appliance.
• SSH access to both the original appliance and replacement appliance is required.
• WinSCP or another SCP (Secure Copy) client is required.

Warning  Use the command line at your own risk. SonicWall strongly recommends that users not familiar or comfortable with the command line contact SonicWall product support for assistance.  See KB ID SW2500 for suggestions on enabling SSH access to the appliance and getting to the command line.

Procedure

The procedure below can be divided into three parts:

• Creatiion of a configuration backup archive on the original appliance.
• Initial configuration of the replacement appliance.
• Restoration of the configuration backup archive on the replacement appliance.

Creation of a configuration backup archive on the original appliance

1. Obtain SSH access to the original appliance.
2. Create a new configuration backup with the following command:
   config_backup
3. Using your SCP client, copy /var/backups/cfgback.tgz from the original appliance to a safe location.

Initial configuration of a replacement appliance

1. Configure the replacement appliance with the bare minimum network configuration: IP address, subnet mask, and gateway.  You can either configure it from the command line via serial console, or via the Web setup tool.
2. After you have configured it,  log in to AMC and configure Secure Shell (SSH) access.  For more information, see the Installation and Administration Guide (or AMC help) and KB ID SW2500.

Restoration of the configuration backup archive on the replacement appliance

1. Using your SCP client, copy the cfgback.tgz file you saved earlier to the /var/backups directory on the replacement appliance.
2. Connect to the replacement appliance using SSH and restore the configuration to the appliance using the following command:
   config_restore
3. The configuration will not be active on this appliance until you reboot it using the following command:
   reboot

Because the replacement appliance will come up with the same IP address of the original appliance, you may need to clear the ARP cache in any switches or routers in your network so traffic will reach the replacement appliance without any problem.