Novell Doc: Novell iChain Administration Guide - Automatic Configuration Mechanisms

20.3 Automatic Configuration Mechanisms

To	See
Learn about appliance configuration files	About Appliance Configuration Files
Learn about the three methods of managing configuration files	Managing Configuration Files
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
Configure multiple appliances	Creating Appliance Configuration Shortcuts
Restore the original factory settings	Restoring Factory Settings
Change the clone image. The appliance uses this to restore the system if it senses the system has become unstable.	Restoring the Appliance to the Clone Image
Reimage the appliance	Reimaging and Restoring the Appliance System

20.3.1 About Appliance Configuration Files

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=172.16.0.2,mask=255.255.255.0
set eth0 name=eth0
set eth0 speed=default
set eth0 duplex=default
clear eth0 address
add eth0 address=172.16.0.1,mask=255.255.255.0
set floppy poll=no
set floppy interval=120
set floppy saveonapply=no 
. . . 
apply

20.3.2 System-Generated Configuration Files

The iChain Proxy Server employs two configuration files: factory.nas and current.nas.

factory.nas

This file contains the appliance configuration as it came from the factory. This is a system file that is never modified.

current.nas

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, then select Current under Configuration Files on Appliance, then click Download.

20.3.3 Using Customized Configuration Files to Change the System Configuration

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.

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.

For a summary where having customized configuration files is an advantage, see Creating Appliance Configuration Shortcuts.

20.3.4 Managing Configuration Files

You can manage appliance configuration files using the browser-based management tool, using Telnet or the command line interface, and using the appliance's FTP functionality. The following three sections briefly explain how to use each of these management options:

Using the Browser-Based Management Tool

You can export and import configurations and manage the creation of the autoload configuration from the browser-based management tool.

Using Telnet or the Command Line

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.

If You Want To	Enter	Notes
Apply an autoload file from a floppy	import floppy	First verify that the disk is inserted into the appliance.
Export a named configuration file to the appliance's hard drive	export filename	Filename is the name of the configuration file without the .nas extension specified.
Export a named configuration file to a floppy	export filename floppy	The file is saved on the DOS-formatted floppy disk inserted into the appliance.
Apply a named configuration file from the appliance's hard drive	import filename	Filename is the name of the configuration file without the .nas extension.
Apply a named configuration file from a floppy	import filename floppy	The file is loaded from the DOS-formatted floppy disk inserted into the appliance.

Using FTP

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:

Command	Description
get filename.nas	Downloads the specified configuration file to your FTP local directory on your client workstation
put filename.nas	Uploads the specified configuration file from the FTP local directory to the appliance
put filename.nas,execute	Uploads the configuration file and applies it to the proxy server

20.3.5 Creating Appliance Configuration Shortcuts

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.

20.3.6 Restoring Factory Settings

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 for the appliance as described in the Initial Installation Guide or use a previously created .NAS file on a floppy diskette to restore the appliance's configuration settings.

An appliance's original factory settings include the following:

The eth0 network adapter is bound to IP address 172.16.0.1 on subnet 72.16.0 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0.
Other network adapters have no addresses bound.
No caching, proxy cache, caching hierarchy, filtering, or other appliance services are configured.

WARNING:Restoring factory settings removes all the settings you have configured except passwords. This includes network addresses and all appliance cache services.

From the Browser-Based Management Tool:

Click System > Actions > Factory Settings.
Restore factory settings by clicking Restore.

or

Cancel the action by clicking Do Not Restore.

From a Telnet Session or the Command Line:

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 Section 2.0, Installing iChain Components or use a previously created .nas file on a floppy diskette to restore the appliance's configuration settings.

20.3.7 Restoring the Appliance to the Clone Image

Each appliance stores a clone image that is initially 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 Section 2.0, Installing iChain Components, or, if you have saved the appliance configuration, you can use a .nas file to restore the configuration.

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.

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.

20.3.8 Reimaging and Restoring the Appliance System

The appliance comes with a CD that can be used to reimage the system. It reformats the hard disks and reinstalls the appliance system. After reimaging an appliance, you must either reinitialize it as described in the Section 2.0, Installing iChain Components 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.

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, then turn the appliance's power switch off and wait a few seconds before restarting.
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, 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.