Using Configuration Templates for AOS-Switch Management

Templates in Aruba Central (on-premises) refer to a set of configuration commands that can be used by the administrators for provisioning devices in a group. Configuration templates enable administrators to apply a set of configuration parameters simultaneously to multiple switches in a group and thus automate switch deployments.

For template-based provisioning, switches must be assigned to a template group.

Creating a Group for Template-Based Configuration

Unlike UI groups, template groups have minimal UI options and use the CLI commands to provision a device. Template groups allow you to automate switch deployments. For template-based provisioning, switches must be assigned to a group with template-based configuration method enabled.

To manage devices using configuration templates, you can create a template group and assign devices.

For more information, see Creating a Group and Assigning Devices to Groups.

Creating a Configuration Template

To create a configuration template for switches:

1. In the Network Operations app, set the filter to a template group.

   The dashboard context for the group is displayed.

2. Under Manage, click Devices > Switches.
3. Click the Config icon.

   The tabs to configure switches using templates is displayed.

4. Click the Templates tab. The Templates page is displayed.
5. Click + to add a new template. The Add Template window is displayed.
6. In the Basic Info tab, enter a name for the template in the Template Name field.
7. In the Device Type drop-down, select Aruba Switch.
8. Select the switch model and software version. You can specify any of the following combinations:
   • ALL for both Model and Version—To apply the template to all switch models and all supported switch software versions.
   • ALL for Model and a software version for Version—To apply the template to all switch models running the selected software version.
   • ALL for Version and a switch model for Model—To apply the template to a switch model and all software versions supported by the selected switch model.
   • A switch model and a software version—To apply the template to a specific switch model and the software version. The template created for a switch model and a software version takes precedence over the template that is created for all platforms and versions.
9. Select the manufacturing part number of the switch in the Part Number drop-down.

10. Click Next. The Template tab is displayed.
11. Build a new template or import configuration information from a switch that is already provisioned in the template group.
    • To build a new template, add the switch command information in the Template text box. Ensure that the template text adheres to the guidelines listed in the Important Points to Note.
    • To import configuration text from a switch that is already provisioned in the template group:
      1. Click Import Configuration As Template.
      2. From the search box, select the switch from which you want to import the configuration. The imported configuration is displayed in the Template text box.
      3. If required, modify the configuration parameters. Ensure that the template text adheres to the guidelines listed in the Important Points to Note.
         • Importing configuration from an existing device in the template group allows you to quickly create a basic template. However, before applying the template to other switches in the group, ensure that the template text is variabilized as per your deployment requirements. For more information on variable definitions, see Managing Variable Files.
         • All switch templates must include a password command to set a password for the device. The template cannot be saved without adding a password command. If the configuration that is pushed from Aruba Central (on-premises) to the device does not contain a password command, the configuration push is aborted for the device and a log is added to the audit trail. For example, if you add the password command in a condition block and the condition evaluates to false, the configuration that is pushed will not contain the password command. For more information, see Managing Password in Configuration Templates.

           For more information about using password commands, see the Configuring Username and Password Security chapter in the ArubaOS-Switch Access Security Guide.

      4. To view the variables present in the imported configuration template, click Show Variables List. The Variables in Template column is displayed.

         For more information on variables, see Managing Variable Files.

      5. To download the variables as a CSVComma-Separated Values. A file format that stores tabular data in the plain text format separated by commas. or plain text file, click the download icon and select one of the following options:
    • Download .CSV
    • Download plain text (.txt)
12. Click Save. After you apply the configuration template, switches reboot and reconnect to Aruba Central (on-premises) with the new configuration.

Important Points to Note

Note the following points when adding configuration text to a template:

• The CLI syntax in the switch template must be accurate. Aruba recommends that you validate the configuration syntax on the switch before adding it to the template text.
• Ensure that the command text indentation matches the indentation in the running configuration.
• The commands in the template are case-sensitive.

  The following example illustrates the case discrepancies that the users must avoid in templates and variable definitions.

See also: Managing Variable Files.

Best Practices

Aruba recommends you to follow the below steps to use configuration templates in managing switches:

1. Configure the switch.
2. Add the switch to Aruba Central (on-premises).
3. Create the template, You can use Import template option to import an existing template created for switches.
4. Modify the template based on the user requirement. For example, addition or removal of variables.
5. Save the edited template.