Cisco Cisco IOS Software Release 12.0(12) White Paper
Configuration Management: Best Practices White
Paper
Paper
Document ID: 15111
Contents
Introduction
High−Level Process Flow for Configuration Management
Create Standards
Software Version Control and Management
IP Addressing Standards and Management
Naming Conventions and DNS/DHCP Assignments
Standard Configuration and Descriptors
Configuration Upgrade Procedures
Solution Templates
Maintain Documentation
Current Device, Link, and End−User Inventory
Configuration Version Control System
TACACS Configuration Log
Network Topology Documentation
Validate and Audit Standards
Configuration Integrity Checks
Device, Protocol, and Media Audits
Standards and Documentation Review
Related Information
High−Level Process Flow for Configuration Management
Create Standards
Software Version Control and Management
IP Addressing Standards and Management
Naming Conventions and DNS/DHCP Assignments
Standard Configuration and Descriptors
Configuration Upgrade Procedures
Solution Templates
Maintain Documentation
Current Device, Link, and End−User Inventory
Configuration Version Control System
TACACS Configuration Log
Network Topology Documentation
Validate and Audit Standards
Configuration Integrity Checks
Device, Protocol, and Media Audits
Standards and Documentation Review
Related Information
Introduction
Configuration management is a collection of processes and tools that promote network consistency, track
network change, and provide up to date network documentation and visibility. By building and maintaining
configuration management best−practices, you can expect several benefits such as improved network
availability and lower costs. These include:
network change, and provide up to date network documentation and visibility. By building and maintaining
configuration management best−practices, you can expect several benefits such as improved network
availability and lower costs. These include:
Lower support costs due to a decrease in reactive support issues.
•
Lower network costs due to device, circuit, and user tracking tools and processes that identify unused
network components.
network components.
•
Improved network availability due to a decrease in reactive support costs and improved time to
resolve problems.
resolve problems.
•
We have seen the following issues resulting from a lack of configuration management:
Inability to determine user impact from network changes
•
Increased reactive support issues and lower availability
•
Increased time to resolve problems
•
Higher network costs due to unused network components
•
This best−practice document provides a process flowchart for implementing a successful configuration
management plan. We'll look at the following steps in detail: create standards, maintain documentation, and
validate and audit standards.
management plan. We'll look at the following steps in detail: create standards, maintain documentation, and
validate and audit standards.