Adding Network Devices

Overview: Network Devices in Backup Manager

Before you can backup configurations, monitor via SNMP, or collect syslog messages, you need to add your network devices to Backup Manager.

What You Can Do With Added Devices:

• Configuration Backup: Automatically backup running configurations via SSH/Telnet
• SNMP Monitoring: Monitor CPU, memory, uptime, and interface status
• Syslog Collection: Receive and analyze log messages from devices
• Network Topology: Automatically discover network connections via LLDP/CDP
• Security Monitoring: Track login attempts and security events

Information You'll Need:

• Device IP Address: Management IP of the network device
• Device Name: A friendly name to identify the device
• SSH/Telnet Credentials: Username and password for CLI access
• Enable Password: If required for privileged mode access
• Device Type: Vendor and platform (Cisco IOS, Aruba, etc.)

Step 1: Navigate to Network Devices

To add a new device, first navigate to the Network Devices management page.

How to Get There:

• In the left sidebar, click on Settings to expand the menu
• Click on Network Devices

What You'll See:

• Statistics Cards: Total Devices, Online, Offline counts
• Device Table: List of all configured devices with status
• Action Buttons: Add Device, Duplicate, Edit, Delete
• Search & Filter: Find devices by IP, name, type, or model

Click the Add Device button to open the device configuration form.

Step 2: Enter Device Details

The Add Device form opens with several sections. Start with the basic device information.

Required Fields:

• Device Name: A descriptive name (e.g., "CORE-SW-01", "BRANCH-RTR-NYC")
• IP Address: The management IP address of the device

Authentication Fields:

• Username: SSH/Telnet login username
• Password: SSH/Telnet login password (click the eye icon to show/hide)
• Enable Password: Privileged mode password (if required by your device)

Connection Settings:

• Port: Default is 22 for SSH, change to 23 for Telnet
• Protocol: Choose SSH (recommended) or Telnet

Tip: Use SSH whenever possible as it provides encrypted communication. Only use Telnet for legacy devices that don't support SSH.

Step 3: Select Device Type

Selecting the correct device type is crucial for proper configuration backup. Backup Manager uses this information to send the correct commands to retrieve configurations.

Supported Vendors:

• Cisco Systems: IOS, IOS-XE, IOS-XR, NX-OS, ASA, FTD, WLC, Small Business
• HP/Aruba: ProCurve, Comware, AOS-CX, Mobility Controllers
• Juniper: JunOS, ScreenOS (Legacy)
• Arista: EOS
• Dell: Force10, OS10, PowerConnect, Isilon
• Extreme: EXOS, ERS, NetIron, NOS, SLX, VDX, VSP, WiNG
• Mellanox/NVIDIA: Onyx, MLNX-OS

How to Choose:

• Select the vendor group first (e.g., "Cisco Systems")
• Then select the specific platform (e.g., "Cisco IOS-XE" for Catalyst 9000 series)

Not sure which type? Check your device's CLI prompt or use "show version" to identify the platform.

Step 4: Select Device Model (Optional)

Optionally specify the device model for better organization and reporting.

Benefits of Setting Device Model:

• Better device identification in reports
• Easier filtering and searching
• More accurate inventory tracking
• Helps with hardware lifecycle management

Available Models Include:

• Cisco: Catalyst 9200/9300/9400/9500, Nexus 3000/5000/7000/9000, ISR, ASR, etc.
• Aruba: CX 6000/6100/6200/6300/6400/8200/8300/8400 Series
• Juniper: EX Series, QFX Series, MX Series, SRX Series
• And many more...

If your specific model isn't listed, you can select "Generic Network Device" or "Other".

Step 5: Assign to Device Group (Optional)

Organize your devices into logical groups for easier management and targeted operations.

Benefits of Device Groups:

• Organization: Group by location, function, or department
• Batch Operations: Backup or monitor all devices in a group at once
• Access Control: Assign user permissions by group
• Reporting: Generate reports for specific groups

Common Group Examples:

• By Location: "Headquarters", "Branch-NYC", "Data Center"
• By Function: "Core Switches", "Access Switches", "Firewalls"
• By Department: "Engineering", "Sales", "Finance"

Click Manage Groups to create new groups if needed.

Step 6: Configure Backup Options

Set backup preferences for the device to control what gets backed up and when.

Backup Options:

• Running Config: Backup the current running configuration (recommended, enabled by default)
• Exclude from Backup: Check this if you don't want to backup this device (useful for devices managed by other systems)

Backup Profile:

• Select a backup profile to automatically backup this device on a schedule
• Profiles define when backups run (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.)
• Create profiles in Settings → Backup Profiles
• Leave as "No scheduled backup" for manual backups only

Tip: For critical devices, assign them to a profile that backs up daily or even multiple times per day.

Step 7: Configure Monitoring Options

Enable syslog monitoring to receive log messages from this device.

Syslog Monitoring:

• Enable Syslog Monitoring: Allow this device to send syslog messages to Backup Manager
• When enabled, the device will be recognized when sending logs
• Device name will appear in syslog dashboards instead of just IP address

Configure Your Device to Send Syslog:

On your network device, configure syslog to send messages to Backup Manager. Example for Cisco IOS:

logging host <BackupManager-IP>
logging trap informational
logging source-interface <management-interface>

Note: SNMP monitoring is configured separately in the SNMP Monitoring section after the device is added.

Step 8: Save the Device

After filling in all the required information, save the device to add it to Backup Manager.

Before Saving, Verify:

• Device name is descriptive and unique
• IP address is correct and reachable from Backup Manager
• Username and password are correct
• Device type matches your actual device
• Port and protocol are correct (SSH on 22, Telnet on 23)

Click "Save Device" to add the device.

What Happens Next:

• The device is added to your device list
• Backup Manager will attempt to connect and verify the device
• Status will update to "Online" if connection is successful
• You can now backup, monitor, and manage the device

Step 9: Verify Device Status

After adding the device, verify it appears in the device list and check its status.

Device Status Indicators:

• Online: Device is reachable and responding
• Offline: Device is not responding (check network connectivity)
• Unknown: Status hasn't been checked yet

If Device Shows Offline:

• Verify the IP address is correct
• Check network connectivity from Backup Manager to the device
• Ensure SSH/Telnet is enabled on the device
• Verify firewall rules allow the connection
• Check that credentials are correct

Managing Devices:

• Edit: Select a device and click "Edit" to modify settings
• Duplicate: Create a copy of device settings for similar devices
• Delete: Remove a device from Backup Manager

Best Practices for Adding Devices

Naming Conventions:

• Use consistent, descriptive names (e.g., LOCATION-TYPE-NUMBER)
• Examples: "NYC-CORE-SW01", "LA-ACCESS-SW12", "DC1-FW-01"
• Match device hostname when possible for easy correlation

Security Recommendations:

• Use SSH instead of Telnet whenever possible
• Use dedicated backup accounts with minimum required privileges
• Use strong, unique passwords for each device

Organization Tips:

• Create device groups before adding many devices
• Set up backup profiles first, then assign devices
• Use the Duplicate feature for similar devices to save time
• Document any special configuration requirements

Adding Multiple Devices:

• Add one device first and test backup to verify settings
• Use Duplicate to quickly add similar devices
• Group devices by location or function for easier management