Using RANCID!

Network management & monitoring Workshop

how to configure it:

1. Start by installing the postfix mail system + mail client

	# apt-get install postfix
	# apt-get install mutt

	(answer "Internet Site" at the question of which type of host you are
	running)

2. Add an alias for the rancid user in /etc/aliases

	rancid-all:			mgmt
	rancid-admin-all:	mgmt

	Save the file, then run:

	# newaliases

3. Install Rancid itself

   apt-get install rancid-core

   	(just say yes to the questions)

   apt-get install rancid-util
   apt-get install rancid-cgi
   apt-get install cvsweb
   apt-get install cvs

4. Edit /etc/rancid/rancid.conf

	Find the line with the parameter LIST_OF_GROUPS, and replace it with

	LIST_OF_GROUPS="all"

5. Choose which router you will manage:

	pc1 + pc2		169.223.142.11
	pc3 + pc4		169.223.142.12
	pc5 + pc6		169.223.142.13
	pc7 + pc8		169.223.142.14
	pc9 + pc10		169.223.142.15
	pc11 + pc12		169.223.142.16
	pc13 + pc14		169.223.142.17
	pc15 			169.223.142.18

6. Change to the rancid user

	# su -s /bin/bash rancid
	
	- Check that you ARE the rancid user:

	> id

	- You should see something similar:

	uid=115(rancid) gid=123(rancid) groups=123(rancid)

7. Create /var/lib/rancid/.cloginrc

	> vi /var/lib/rancid/.cloginrc

	add user 169.223.142.x admin
	add password 169.223.142.x apr10cot apr10cot

	(Remember to replace x with .11 - .18)

	> chmod 600 /var/lib/rancid/.cloginrc

7. Initialize the CVS repository for rancid:

	> /usr/lib/rancid/bin/rancid-cvs

	- You should see something similar to this:

No conflicts created by this import

cvs checkout: Updating all
Directory /var/lib/rancid/CVS/all/configs added to the repository
cvs commit: Examining configs
cvs add: scheduling file `router.db' for addition
cvs add: use `cvs commit' to add this file permanently
/var/lib/rancid/CVS/all/router.db,v  <--  router.db
initial revision: 1.1


8. Test login to the router

	>  /usr/lib/rancid/bin/clogin 169.223.142.x

	(where x is the IP of the route (from .11 - .18))

	- You should now be logged in to the router, and see something like:

rtrX#

	- Type 'exit' to logout

9. Add the router.db

	> vi /var/lib/rancid/all/router.db

	Add:

	169.223.142.x:cisco:up

	(remember to replace x with .11 - .18)

10. Let's run rancid!

	> /usr/lib/rancid/bin/rancid-run

	(Should take a few seconds)

11. Check out the logs:

	> cd /var/lib/rancid/logs
	> ls -l

	... View the contents of the file:

	> more all.*


12. Look at the configs

	> cd /var/lib/rancid/all/configs
	> more 169.223.142.x

	- If all went well, you can see the config of the router.


13. Let's change an interface Description on the router

	> /usr/lib/rancid/bin/clogin 169.223.142.x

	- At the "rtrX#" prompt, enter the command:

	config terminal

	- You should see:

Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.
rtrX(config)#

	- Enter:

	interface FastEthernet 0/0

	- You should get this prompt:

rtrX(config-if)#

	- Enter:

	description testing rancid from PCX 		# X = the number of your PC


	- Then type CTRL-Z (press Control + the Z key)

	- You should now have this prompt:

rtrx#

	- To save the config to memory:

	write memory

	- You should see:

Building configuration...
[OK]

	- If you are running on a virtual router (.11 - .18), run this as well:

	copy running-config flash:running-config

	(press enter at every prompt)

	- Type to exit:

	exit

14. Let's run rancid again:

	> /usr/lib/rancid/bin/rancid-run

	Look at the config and logs

	> ls /var/lib/rancid/logs/

15. Let's see the differences

	> cd /var/lib/rancid/all/configs
	> ls -l

	You should see all the router config files

	> cvs log 169.223.142.x

	(where X is the IP of the router, .11 - .18)

	Notice the revisions.  Let's view the difference between two versions:

	> cvs diff -r 1.2 -r 1.3 169.223.142.x | more

	... can you find your changes ?

16. Check your mail

	As the user "mgmt", run the "mutt" mailer to see the mails that
	Rancid has sent:

	> exit
	# su mgmt

	> mutt

	If everything goes as planned, you should be able to read the mails
	sent by Rancid.

	(use q or x to quit mutt)

17. Finally, let's make rancid run automatically every 30 minutes from cron

	> crontab -e

	- Add this line:

	*/30  *  *  *  *  /usr/lib/rancid/bin/rancid-run

	... then save and quit