HP 5900 Router(5900AF-48XG-4QSFP+)

[Canaveth]

What is the fastest way to configure an HPE 5900 Router(assuming original went bad and you have a backup of the config) when you have an identical spare unit? Thanks

[parnassus]

Hi! if the spare unit is identical to the one you want to replace (same SKU) copying the configuration file you have saved (as backup) into the defaulted spare unit (maybe ensuring the same level of Comware software to do a real like-for-like exchange) should be enough to have it running exactly how it run on the gone one. 

[Canaveth]

Thanks, I'll give it a try. Just trying to minimize downtime in our campuses if something goes wrong with one of this units.  So far this units have been working non-stop for about 6 years.  Thanks for the quick response.

[Ivan_B]

Hi @Canaveth !

Old 5900:

<Old_5900> save safely force
<Old_5900> backup startup-configuration to <tftp-server> 5900-backup.cfg

New 5900:

Step 1: If new switch at factory defaults, skip to Step 2. Otherwise if any non-default configuration exists, first reset the config and reboot:

<New_5900> reset saved-configuration
<New_5900> reboot
# BE CAREFUL AND DO NOT SAVE CURRENT CONFIG BEFORE THE REBOOT! Pay attention to what device asks you 

Step 2: Restore the configuration from TFTP server :

<New_5900> restore startup-configuration from <tftp-server> 5900-backup.cfg

Step 3a: Either reboot the switch to load the new config (recommended), OR:
Step 3b: Replace running-configuration with the downloaded file:

<New_5900> configuration replace file 5900-backup.cfg

Hope this helps!

[Canaveth]

Thanks Ivan, What about if the two units are not exactly the same?

This are the two units that we have:

5900AF-48XG-4QSFP+ (Working Unit)

FF 5940 48SFP+    (Spare)

Really appreciate the help.

[Ivan_B · Accepted solution]

I am afraid in this case it won't work. 'backup startup-configuration' and 'restore startup-configuration' commands will work only with identical units. 5900 and 5940 are too different devices - different chipset, different ports, different software and hardware feature sets etc etc. Even if technically such configuration transfer will work (which I highly doubt, but never tried that, so who knows...), it may bring many problems and instability to the new unit. I definitely wouldn't go this way. Unfortunately, manual reconfiguration is the only way in case of 5900 --> 5940 migration.

[Canaveth]

Thanks for all the info Ivan.

[gjmallare]

probably get the current configuration of the 5900, create a template or script for the 5940  (regularly update it if there are any configuration changes) and save it. In case the production switch have any issue, you can just copy and paste the script to your 5940, that should minimize your downtime.