To | See |
---|---|
Learn about appliance configuration files |
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Learn about the three methods of managing configuration files |
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Save appliance configurations |
Using Customized Configuration Files to Change the System Configuration |
Change the current appliance configuration |
Using Customized Configuration Files to Change the System Configuration |
Back up the appliance configuration |
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Configure multiple appliances |
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Restore the original factory settings |
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Change the clone image. The appliance uses this to restore the system if it senses the system has become unstable. |
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Reimage the appliance |
Configuration files are ASCII text files that store the command line syntax used to configure the appliance. Each line in the file represents a single configuration command. When you use the browser-based management tool, the system generates multiple commands in the correct order to cause the configuration changes you specify. These commands are then recorded, in the correct sequence, in configuration files on the appliance.
The following is a sample from a configuration file with the missing portion indicated by the ellipsis (...).
set eth1 name=eth1
set eth1 speed=default
set eth1 duplex=default
clear eth1 address
add eth1 address=10.1.1.2,mask=255.255.255.0
set eth0 name=eth0
set eth0 speed=default
set eth0 duplex=default
clear eth0 address
add eth0 address=10.1.1.1,mask=255.255.255.0
set floppy poll=no
set floppy interval=120
set floppy saveonapply=no
. . .
apply
The iChain Proxy Server employs four configuration files: FACTORY.NAS, CURRENT.NAS, AUTOLOAD.NAS, and iChain.NAS.
This file contains the appliance configuration as it came from the factory. This is a system file that is never modified.
This file contains the appliance's current configuration settings since the last apply command was issued.
You can view this file in the browser-based management tool if you are interested in seeing all of the commands used to create the current appliance configuration. To view the file, click System > click Import/Export > select Current under Configuration Files on Appliance > click Download.
This file is saved by iChain Proxy Services whenever a floppy disk is in the appliance's floppy drive and automatic polling is enabled.
NOTE: System monitoring of the AUTOLOAD.NAS file is enabled by default with a polling interval of 30 seconds. You can change these settings in the browser-based management tool > Import/Export tab. See Import/Export Tab.
By default, the AUTOLOAD.NAS file contains the appliance's configuration settings since the last apply command was issued.
After the system is reimaged and after the clone image is applied, iChain Proxy Services checks the floppy disk for an AUTOLOAD.NAS file. If the file is found, iChain Proxy Services immediately applies the commands it contains.
AUTOLOAD.NAS is useful in two situations:
IMPORTANT: Remember that the last command in AUTOLOAD.NAS is always the apply command, which causes the system to immediately update AUTOLOAD.NAS.
You can prevent automatic updating of AUTOLOAD.NAS by opening the write-protect tab on the floppy disk after the desired AUTOLOAD.NAS file is in place, or by setting the file properties of AUTOLOAD.NAS to read-only on a different workstation.
In addition to using system-level configuration files, iChain Proxy Services lets you save the appliance's current configuration to arbitrarily named .NAS files and apply them to the system later.
The Import feature lets you save backup copies of the appliance configurations you have created, and the Export feature lets you quickly apply any previously backed-up configuration to the appliance.
For more information about importing and exporting configuration files, see Managing Configuration Files, Backing Up the Appliance Configuration, and Import/Export Tab.
Configuration files have an 8.3 DOS-style filename, the last three characters of which must be NAS.
You can save the configuration settings on the appliance or to a floppy disk on the appliance through the browser-based management tool, Telnet, and the command line interface. You can then quickly reconfigure the appliance using the configuration files.
IMPORTANT: We recommend storing copies of your customized configuration files on a floppy disk. This ensures that you have the files if the clone image is ever applied or the appliance is ever reimaged.
Two situations where having customized configuration files is an advantage are summarized in Backing Up the Appliance Configuration and Creating Appliance Configuration Shortcuts .
You can manage appliance configuration files using the browser-based management tool, Telnet, or the command line interface, and using the appliance's FTP functionality. The next three sections briefly explain how to use each of these management options.
You can export and import configurations and manage the creation of the autoload configuration from the browser-based management tool. For more information, see Import/Export Tab.
From Telnet or a command line, you can import and export configuration files. Do not specify the three-digit NAS extension when using either of these methods.
You can use FTP to move the configuration files to and from the appliance using the get and put commands. You can also apply a configuration file you are moving by using the execute option specified after a comma on the command line.
After starting the FTP client and pointing it to an IP address for the appliance (see Starting an FTP Session with the Appliance), use one of the following commands, where filename is the name of your configuration file:
Because the backup configuration file, AUTOLOAD.NAS, is automatically updated by the caching system each time any configuration change is applied (see AUTOLOAD.NAS), we recommend saving your appliance configuration to a .NAS file with another name.
If you ever need to reimage your proxy server for some reason, having an alternatively-named .NAS file will provide a configuration backup in case the AUTOLOAD.NAS file is overwritten with factory settings before your configuration is restored.
If you want to automatically load a configuration using the settings in an alternatively-named file, you can use a workstation and replace the system-created AUTOLOAD.NAS file with a copy of your file on the floppy disk before inserting it into the appliance's floppy disk drive.
You might want to have more than one configuration for an appliance, depending on business or other conditions. An alternate method to manually reconfiguring the appliance is to save various configurations in separate configuration files and use these to turn services on and off through FTP services. For example, you could use two files named FORWARD.NAS and REVERSE.NAS to quickly configure the appliance to provide the services indicated by the filenames.
You can quickly return the appliance to its original factory settings from the browser-based management tool, a Telnet session, or the command line. After restoring factory settings, you must either reinitialize the appliance as described in the Initial Installation Guide or use a previously created AUTOLOAD.NAS file on a floppy diskette to restore the appliance's configuration settings.
An appliance's original factory settings include the following:
WARNING: Restoring factory settings removes all the settings you have configured except passwords. This includes network addresses and all appliance cache services.
In most cases, you can automatically restore the settings if you have prepared an AUTOLOAD file on a floppy disk. See AUTOLOAD.NAS and Import/Export Tab.
You should also prepare an alternatively-named backup configuration file as a precaution. For further details, see Backing Up the Appliance Configuration.
Click System > Actions > Factory Settings.
Restore factory settings by clicking Restore.
or
Cancel the action by clicking Do Not Restore.
At the system prompt, enter
factorysettings
Do one of the following:
Restore factory settings by entering apply.
or
Cancel the action by entering cancel.
After restoring factory settings, you must either reinitialize the appliance as described in the Initial Installation Guide or use a previously created AUTOLOAD.NAS file on a floppy diskette to restore the appliance's configuration settings. See AUTOLOAD.NAS and Import/Export Tab.
Each appliance stores a clone image that, initially, is the same as the factory image. If the appliance experiences an abnormal shutdown four times within a half hour period, or if it is restarted six times within a half-hour period, the appliance assumes the current configuration is faulty and automatically replaces it with the clone image.
If the default factory image is restored, you must either reinitialize the appliance using the instructions in the Initial Installation Guide, or, if you have saved the appliance configuration, you can use an AUTOLOAD.NAS file to restore the configuration. See AUTOLOAD.NAS.
To prevent automatic restoration to the default factory settings in the event of system problems, you can overwrite the default clone image after you have applied an alternate configuration to the appliance. You can also apply the clone image as an alternate method for reconfiguring the appliance. For more information, see Actions Tab.
IMPORTANT: You should update the clone image whenever you perform an upgrade. Be aware, however, that this process causes the appliance to reboot, resulting in a temporary interruption of services. See Upgrade Tab and Actions Tab.
The appliance comes with a CD that can be used to reimage the system. This reformats the hard disks and reinstalls the appliance system. After reimaging an appliance, you must either reinitialize it as described in the Initial Installation Guide or use a previously created AUTOLOAD.NAS file to restore your configuration settings.
WARNING: Reimaging the system removes all the settings you have configured, including passwords, network addresses, and all cache services.
In most cases, you can automatically restore the settings if you have prepared an AUTOLOAD file on a floppy disk. See System-Generated Configuration Files and Import/Export Tab.
You should also prepare an alternatively-named backup configuration file as a precaution. For further details, see Backing Up the Appliance Configuration.
To reimage and restore an appliance using an AUTOLOAD.NAS file:
Locate the appliance system CD.
IMPORTANT: If the system CD is in the appliance, remove the CD, shut down the appliance, recycle the appliance's power switch and allow the appliance to restart.
If the appliance configuration has not been previously saved, insert a formatted, blank floppy disk into the appliance's floppy disk drive.
If you have previously saved the appliance configuration, skip to Step 7.
If you have access to the appliance through the browser-based management tool, click System > Import/Export; otherwise, continue to Step 5.
If there is an AUTOLOAD file on the floppy disk, skip to Step 6.
If you need to create an AUTOLOAD file on the floppy disk, type autoload in the Export Configuration File to Floppy field > click Export To > skip to Step 6.
If you do not have appliance access through the browser-based management tool, establish a Telnet or null-modem session with the appliance. (You can also use an attached keyboard and monitor if your appliance has the required connections.).
At the appliance command line, enter the following:
export autoload floppy
An AUTOLOAD.NAS file is created on the floppy disk.
Remove the floppy disk from the appliance.
Insert the appliance system CD into the CD drive.
Turn the appliance's power switch off, wait a few seconds, and then turn the appliance back on.
The CD automatically launches and the appliance reinitializes.
After the initialization process starts, insert the configuration diskette with the AUTOLOAD.NAS file into the appliance.
After all disk activity ceases and the system prompt appears, remove the appliance system CD and the floppy disk.
Shut down the appliance, recycle the appliance power switch, and wait for the system prompt to appear or for the start-up beep sequence to sound.
The appliance should now be restored to its previous operating configuration.