Storage system configuration backup and cloning

About storage system configuration backup and cloning

Storage system configuration backup and cloning is performed using the config command. The configuration backup operation stores the system's configuration information in a single file with a name you specify. The configuration backup file enables you to restore the storage system configuration in case of disasters or emergencies. Configuration cloning enables you to clone the configuration of an existing storage system to a new system.

Backing up a storage system configuration

When you use the config command to back up a storage system configuration, the system configuration is saved in a single file with a file name that you specify. By default, backup configuration files are created in the /etc/configs directory.

To back up a storage system configuration, complete the following step.

Step	Action
1	Enter the following command: config dump [-f] [-v] config_file `-f` forces the new file to override an existing backup. `-v` causes Data ONTAP to also back up a volume-specific configuration. config_file is the name or the path and name of the backup file you are creating. Example 1 The following is an example of the `config dump` command using the default directory to back up a storage system-specific configuration to the file /etc/configs/08_02_2004. config dump 08_02_2004 Example 2 The following is an example of the `config dump` command with a directory that you specify. config dump /home/users/08_02_2004

Step

Action

Enter the following command:

config dump [-f] [-v] config_file

-f forces the new file to override an existing backup.

-v causes Data ONTAP to also back up a volume-specific configuration.

config_file is the name or the path and name of the backup file you are creating.

Example 1

The following is an example of the config dump command using the default directory to back up a storage system-specific configuration to the file /etc/configs/08_02_2004.

config dump 08_02_2004

Example 2

The following is an example of the config dump command with a directory that you specify.

config dump /home/users/08_02_2004

Cloning a storage system configuration

To clone the configuration of one storage system to another, complete the following step.

Step	Action
1	Enter the following command: config clone filer username:password filer is the name of the remote storage system from which you want to clone the configuration. username is the login name of an administrative user on the remote storage system. password is the remote user password. Example The following is an example of the `config clone` command cloning the tpubs-dot configuration to the storage system toaster. toaster> config clone tpubs-dot root:hello

Step

Action

Enter the following command:

config clone filer username:password

filer is the name of the remote storage system from which you want to clone the configuration.

username is the login name of an administrative user on the remote storage system.

password is the remote user password.

Example

The following is an example of the config clone command cloning the tpubs-dot configuration to the storage system toaster.

toaster> config clone tpubs-dot root:hello

About restoring a storage system configuration

You can restore a storage system configuration using the backup configuration files you created with the config dump command.

Restoring a storage system configuration

To restore storage system configuration information from a backup configuration file, complete the following steps.

Step	Action
1	Enter the following command: config restore [-v] config_file `-v` enables you to restore volume-specific configuration files, as well as storage system-specific configuration files. Example The following is an example of the `config restore` command restoring the backup configuration file from the default /etc/configs directory. config restore 08_02_2004
2	Reboot the system to run commands in the /etc/rc file.

Step

Action

Enter the following command:

config restore [-v] config_file

-v enables you to restore volume-specific configuration files, as well as storage system-specific configuration files.

Example

The following is an example of the config restore command restoring the backup configuration file from the default /etc/configs directory.

config restore 08_02_2004

Reboot the system to run commands in the /etc/rc file.

Comparing storage system configurations and backup configuration files

To compare a storage system's current configuration with a backup configuration file, or to compare differences between two backup configuration files, complete the following step.

Step	Action
1	Enter the following command: *config diff [-o output_file] config_file1* [config_file2]** output_file is the name of the file to contain the differences. If you omit this parameter, the output of the command is printed to the console. config_file1 is the name of the first configuration file you want to compare. config_file2 is the name of the second configuration file you want to compare. Example 1 The following example compares the storage system's current configuration with the configuration information in the backup file. config diff 11_15_2004 Example 2 The following example compares the configuration information in two backup files. config diff -o diff.txt 11_05_2004 11_15_2004

Step

Action

Enter the following command:

config diff [-o output_file] config_file1 [config_file2]

output_file is the name of the file to contain the differences. If you omit this parameter, the output of the command is printed to the console.

config_file1 is the name of the first configuration file you want to compare.

config_file2 is the name of the second configuration file you want to compare.

Example 1

The following example compares the storage system's current configuration with the configuration information in the backup file.

config diff 11_15_2004

Example 2

The following example compares the configuration information in two backup files.

config diff -o diff.txt 11_05_2004 11_15_2004