Network Configuration Change Management Tool

Changes to config files, outside of your knowledge, could be a sign of something insidious.

Receive real-time alerts when unauthorized configuration changes occur on network devices.

Don’t get left high and dry if issues arise with your device configs. avoid having to hastily rewrite a bunch of inline code.

Schedule automated backups of network device configuration from routers, switches, firewalls, etc.

Example scenario: use cattools to update passwords on multiple devices

Here is a common scenario: several of your network devices use an server for remote authentication and according to your company’s security policy, the password for each of the devices must be updated. Normally, after updating the server password, you have to manually edit each network device individually to apply the new password.

Using the Kiwi CatTools DB.UpdateDevice.Password field activity, this process can be automated to push the new password to all of your devices at once. Additionally, to avoid disrupting productivity, you decide to run this activity Friday at midnight.

Using the Setup wizard, add your devices to Kiwi CatTools and ping to confirm your connection.
After adding required device information, continue to Add Activity.
Select DB.UpdateDevice.Password field as the activity type.
Enter a unique name and a description for the activity.
For Persistence, select Run once then deactivate.
Select the folder where you want to save the log file for this activity, if different from the default location.
Select Maximum available for Client Threads, and then click Next.
On the Add Activity Schedule window, configure the activity to run on Friday at midnight:
1. Select At midnight from the drop down list.
2. Select Friday under Days of the week.
Click Next.
On the Activity Options window, select AAA Password and enter the new server password in the SSH password field.
1. (Optional) The Stop of error check box will quit the activity should an error be encountered at any stage of processing.
Click Next to add the activity to Kiwi CatTools.

Now on Friday at midnight, Kiwi CatTools will automatically begin to change the passwords on network devices maintained in the CatTools database Device table.

Install as a standard interactive application

To install and start CatTools as a standard interactive application, create a batch (.bat) file that contains the following information:
```
"*AppPathCatTools_X.X.X.exe" /S INSTALL=APP /D=*InstallPath
"*InstallPathCatTools.exe"
```

Your .bat file now looks similar to:

"C:CatTools_3.5.0.setup.exe" /S INSTALL=APP /D="C:Program FilesCatTools3"
"C:Program FilesCatTools3CatTools.exe"

Install as a windows service

To install and start CatTools as a Windows service, create a batch (.bat) file that contains the following information:
```
"*AppPathCatTools_X.X.X.exe" /S INSTALL=SERVICE /D=*InstallPath
"*InstallPathCatTools_Manager.exe"
```

Your .bat file now looks similar to:

"C:CatTools_3.5.0.setup.exe" /S INSTALL=SERVICE /D="C:Program FilesCatTools3"
"C:Program FilesCatTools3CatTools_Manager.exe"

Kiwi cattools dashboard panes

The Kiwi CatTools dashboard provides a quick overview of the devices and activities that you have added and are currently monitored by your environment.

Kiwi cattools product support page | solarwinds success center

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The result? IT management products that are effective, accessible, and easy to use.

Learn more

See the following sections in the guide to learn more about:

Managing one-off config changes isn’t easy, not to mention the impact a minor issue can have on your entire network.

Simultaneously perform or schedule configuration changes across multiple network devices with great ease.

The ability to revert to configs in good standing could save your business from service interruptions and you from countless other headaches.

Maintain a complete configuration history, and facilitate rollbacks to the last good configuration.

To properly manage configuration changes on your network, you should rely on data, not intuition.

Generate configuration and device information reports related to port, MAC, ARP, version details, and more.

Whether it’s for troubleshooting or helping ensure the success of your work, the ability to compare configs between devices can make all the difference.

Compare configurations between two devices, and compare startup and running configurations.

Network Configuration Change Management Tool | Kiwi CatTools