PRTG Manual: Capturing Device Configurations
Understanding Device Configuration Capture
Many network devices such as Routers, Switches, Wireless Controllers, etc... have a configuration file where the device configuration settings are stored. When the device starts for the first time, it loads the factory default configuration settings. Administrators can change the default settings using the Command Line Terminal, SNMP set commands, or a web interface. As the changes are made they can be stored back out to the configuration file so that they are available to be used the next time the devices starts.
Most devices allow a device to run with the new configuration changes without saving those changes to the startup configuration file. This introduces the idea of a running configuration and a startup configuration. Some devices store any changes to the configuration file immediately, for these devices the startup and running configurations will always be the same.
As a network administrator it is helpful to keep backups of the device configuration once it has been properly configured so that it can be restored should the device fail. It is also helpful to compare the current startup or running configuration with a known good configuration to ensure that unexpected changes have not been made. This can be an effective way to troubleshoot and correct problems created when changes to the configuration have been made.
Capturing Device Configurations
Selecting Configuration Capture Credentials
Viewing Configuration Captures
Understanding Configuration Capture Scripts
