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Comparing Configuration Files

Junos Space Network Management Platform enables you to compare two device configuration files by using the Compare Configuration File Versions action. You can view entire device configuration files side by side to compare them, see the total number of differences, the date and time of the last commit operation, and the number of changes made.

You can compare device configuration files in any of the following ways:

  • The configuration file of one device with the configuration file of another device. By default, the latest versions are compared.

  • Two versions of the same configuration file. By default, the latest version and the previous version are compared.

  • An earlier version of the configuration file of one device with a later version of the configuration file of another device

Comparing configuration files does not generate an audit log entry.

To compare device configuration files:

  1. On the Junos Space Network Management Platform UI, select Configuration Files > Config Files Management.

    The Config Files Management page appears, displaying all the configuration files managed by Junos Space Platform.

  2. On the Config Files Management page, select the configuration file that you want to compare.
  3. Select Compare Configuration File Versions from the Actions menu.

    The Compare Config Files page appears.

  4. For the source, select the source device from the Source Device list and a version of its configuration file from the ConfigFile Version list.

    The timestamp is displayed adjacent to the version number. It indicates the time at which this version of the configuration was backed up.

  5. For the target, select the target device from the Target Device list and a version of its configuration file from the ConfigFile Version list.

    The timestamp is displayed adjacent to the version number. It indicates the time at which this version of the configuration was backed up.

  6. Click Compare.

    The View Diff page appears and displays the two selected configuration files side by side, with the device names and their versions in a dark gray bar underneath the legend at the top of the page.

    The legend references the following:

    • Total diffs—Block text indicates content that is common to both files.

    • Source—Green text indicates content in the source file on the left that is not contained in the target file on the right.

    • Target—Blue text indicates content in the target file on the right that is not contained in the source file on the left.

    • Changed—Pink text indicates content that is changed.

    The status bar shows the current page number and the total number of pages. It also provides controls for moving from page to page and for refreshing the display.

    The date and time of the last commit operation is shown in pink.

    Note:

    When you compare files, each configuration parameter in one file or version is set side by side with the same parameter in the other. Therefore, you might see multiple pages of configuration for a single parameter in one file, whereas the same parameter in the other file might be only a few lines long.

  7. (Optional) To locate differences in configuration, click Prev Diff or Next Diff.
  8. (Optional) To export differences in the configuration to your local system, click Export Diff.

    A dialog box appears prompting you to save the zip file.

    1. Save the zip file to your computer. The filename is of the following format: source-hostname.VersionNumber_target-hostname.VersionNumber.conf.zip
    2. (Optional) Extract the zip file and open the extracted file by using a text editor.

      The file lists the differences in the configuration. The first two lines in the extracted file represent the device name, version number, and timestamp of the configuration files that were compared.

    When you export the configuration differences, an audit log entry is automatically generated.

  9. Click Close at the bottom of the View Diff page to stop viewing the comparison.

    You are returned to the Compare Config Files page.

  10. Click Cancel to exit the Compare Config Files page.

    You are returned to the Config Files Management page.