Get the Cisco configuration over SNMP

Saving the configurations from Cisco Devices is normally done by a tool (CW2k, Solarwinds Cirrus or whatever) but if you do not want to buy a tool here’s a way to do it yourself.

Cisco has a SNMP MIB called CISCO-CONFIG-COPY-MIB.oid which allows to save the configurations from Cisco devices over SNMP. If you also know your way around scripting (Shell, Perl or whatever you prefer) this is how you could save your devices automatic.

How to copy a config

This is a step by step guide on how to save the running-config on a TFTP Server. You need SNMP Write Access at the device and a device where you can use the snmpset command. The shown command line syntax was taken from NET-SMP 5.4.1. Please remember to use the ReadWrite Community for your devices.

snmpset -c <community> -v 1 <device> 1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.96.1.1.1.1.2.111 i 1
The ConfigCopyProtocol is set to TFTP

snmpset -c <community> -v 1 <device> 1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.96.1.1.1.1.3.111 i 4
Set the SourceFileType to running-config

snmpset -c <community> -v 1 <device> 1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.96.1.1.1.1.4.111 i 1
Set the DestinationFileType to networkfile

snmpset -c <community> -v 1 <device> 1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.96.1.1.1.1.5.111 a <TFTP IP>
Sets the ServerAddress to the IP address of the TFTP server

snmpset -c <community> -v 1 <device> 1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.96.1.1.1.1.6.111 s <Filename>
Sets the CopyFilename to your desired file name.

snmpset -c <community> -v 1 <device> 1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.96.1.1.1.1.14.111 i 1
Sets the CopyStatus to active which starts the copy process.

snmpset -c <community> -v 1 <device> 1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.96.1.1.1.1.14.111 i 6
Sets the CopyStatus to delete which cleans all saved informations out of the MIB

The number 111 at each OIDs end is nothing else then a randomly picket number which has to be the same during the whole copy process. Just to keep it easy and the same way I always use 111.
The following section describes all CISCO-CONFIG-COPY-MIB functions so you can change the process how you like it.

CISCO-CONFIG-COPY-MIB.oid functions

ccConfigCopyProtocol
OID: 1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.96.1.1.1.1.2
Type: INTEGER
Options:tftp(1)
ftp(2)
rcp(3)
scp(4)
sftp(5)
Description: Defines whicn protocol is used for the copy process. TFTP is default

ccCopySourceFileType
OID: 1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.96.1.1.1.1.3
Type: INTEGER
Options: networkFile(1)
iosFile(2)
startupConfig(3)
runningConfig(4)
terminal(5)
Descripton: Defines the source. Either the Source or the DestinatioFileType have to be set to startupConfig or runningConfig. Furthermore the SourceFileType has to be different to the DestinationFileType.

ccCopyDestFileType
OID: 1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.96.1.1.1.1.4
Type: INTEGER
Options: networkFile(1)
iosFile(2)
startupConfig(3)
runningConfig(4)
terminal(5)
Description: Defines the destination.Either the Source or the DestinatioFileType have to be set to startupConfig or runningConfig. Furthermore the SourceFileType has to be different to the DestinationFileType.

ccCopyServerAddress
OID: 1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.96.1.1.1.1.5
Type: IP Address
Description: Sets the address of the server to which the file will be copied to. Values like 0.0.0.0 or FF.FF.FF.FF are not allowed for this OID.

ccCopyFileName
OID: 1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.96.1.1.1.1.6
Type: STRING
Description: Sets the name of the destination or source file. This OID has to be set as far as the destination or sourceFileType are set to networkFile or iosFile.

ccCopyUserName
OID: 1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.96.1.1.1.1.7
Type: STRING
Description: Sets a username for FTP, RCP, SFTP or SCP. This will overwrite the user name which might have been set over the rcmd remote-username <username> command if RCP is used as protocol.

ccCopyUserPassword
OID: 1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.96.1.1.1.1.8
Type: STRING
Description: Sets the password for FTP, RCP, SFTP or SCP

ccCopyNotificationOnCompletion
OID: 1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.96.1.1.1.1.9
Type: INTEGER
Description: Defines if a notification has to be sent after the process has ended.

ccCopyState
OID: 1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.96.1.1.1.1.10
Type: INTEGER
Options: waiting(1)
running(2)
successful(3)
failed(4)
Description: Shows the copy process’ status. This value will be set after the COPYEntryRowStatus has been set to active.

ccCopyTimeStarted
OID: 1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.96.1.1.1.1.11
Type: TimeStamp
Description: Shows the last start time of the process or zero if the process never changed the status to running.

ccCopyTimeCompleted
OID: 1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.96.1.1.1.1.12
Type: TimeStamp
Description: Shows the last time after the process changed from running to successful or failed.

ccCopyFailCause
OID: 1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.96.1.1.1.1.13
Type: INTEGER
Options: unknown(1)
badFileName(2)
timeout(3)
noMem(4)
noConfig(5)
unsupportedProtocol(6)
someConfigApplyFailed(7)
Description: Shows why the process failed

ccCopyEntryRowStatus
OID: 1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.96.1.1.1.1.14
Type: INTEGER
Options: active(1)
notInService(2)
createAndGo(4)
createAndWait(5)
destroy(6)
Description: Shows the process’ status