User's Manual

778 CHAPTER 19: BACKING UP DEVICE CONFIGURATIONS
Key Concepts The Backup feature is designed to help you store the software
configuration of your 3Com devices. The Backup feature associates each
saved backup with the source device from which the backup was taken,
by generating a unique physical identification for the source device.
The Restore feature allows you to apply a saved backup either to the
device matching the physical identification associated with the backup
(the source device) or if the source device cannot be found on your
network, you can apply the saved backup to a replacement device. The
replacement device must have the same physical configuration as the
source device it is replacing.
The Setup feature enables you to apply a software configuration from
either a saved backup or a ‘live’ network device to a set of target devices
that have the same physical configuration as the source device.
Physical Identification
of Devices
Every backup file is associated with a physical identification that uniquely
identifies the source device from which the backup was taken. This
physical identification is derived from the hardware address of the source
device.
The physical identification of a device, made up of more than one unit, is
unique to that combination of units. The physical identification of a
device will change if you replace or re-arrange the order of the units.
Physical
Configuration of
Devices
Every backup file contains a description of the physical configuration of
the source device, constructed as follows:
■ The physical configuration is determined from the devices’ type (part
number) and the media type of each of its ports.
■ If the physical configuration is made up of more than one unit, it will
include the type and position of each unit in the device.
■ The physical configuration includes the type of any plug-in modules
(including intelligent modules) that are present in the device.