Congratulations on your purchase of SolarWinds Cirrus Configuration Manager. SolarWinds Cirrus Configuration Manager is a comprehensive, intuitive solution designed to streamline and automate network configuration management. Cirrus Configuration Manager increases availability, saves time, improves security, and ensures policy adherence. Cirrus Configuration Manager features automation capabilities that reduce the amount of time network engineers spend on mundane network tasks, allowing them to focus on business-critical network projects.

This version adds the following key features to the already robust Cirrus Configuration Manager feature set:

• User roles and permissions
• Windows Active Directory support
• User activity tracking
• User-specific device login credentials
• Additional default device support for the following devices:
• Indirect transfer support for menu-driven devices
• Intermediary device support for devices referenced by a unique IP address
• Thwack Community Site Integration
• Immediate Policy Remediation
• SNMP v3 inventory and configuration support
• Ability to unmanage devices

Why Install this Version

This version of Cirrus Configuration Manager provides the following customer-driven key features:

Added User Roles and Permissions

Cirrus now includes the ability for multiple user accounts to be created with different privileges. The user accounts allow users to login to Cirrus and perform different configuration management tasks.

Active Directory Support

User accounts created within Cirrus can be authenticated via Windows Active Directory. Cirrus performs Active Directory pass-through authentication.

User Activity Tracking

Cirrus users can view who made configuration changes, backed up configs, or when users log in and out of Cirrus. Reports can be generated by running a User Activity Tracking report. Additionally, this allows compliance to regulations such as HIPAA and PCI while also enabling administrators to respond to external and internal audits.

Thwack Community Site Integration

Thwack integration allows Cirrus users to communicate directly with an extensive community of highly skilled network experts using SolarWinds products.

Immediate Policy Remediation

Allows you to automatically remediate any policy violations found as a result of running a policy report. Users can right-click on a violation and automatically apply a remediation script to all devices that were in violation.

User-specific Device Login Credentials

Cirrus now allows users to leverage their individual login credentials created on TACACS+, Radius, or other authentication servers to perform configuration changes. Device login credentials allow users to better track who made configuration changes for network troubleshooting and policy compliance.

Ability to Unmanage Devices

Cirrus users can maintain a historical record of configuration history for devices they no longer wish to manage within Cirrus. Additionally, devices imported into Cirrus from Orion can be marked as unmanaged if they do not care to manage within Cirrus but want to keep the devices in the database so they are not imported each time.

SNMP v3 Inventory and Configuration Support

Cirrus now fully supports SNMP v3. Users can collect node information and inventory information using SNMP v3. Cirrus users can also upload and download configurations from Cisco devices using SNMP v3.

Support for Read-only and Read-write Community Strings

Cirrus now differentiates between read only and read write community strings

Additional Device Support

Support for the following devices has been added:

• Indirect transfer support for menu-driven devices
• Intermediary device support for devices referenced by a unique IP address

Added Ability to Import Configuration Files

You can now import configuration files to Cirrus using any ASCII formatted text file.

Updated System OID/Device Description Database

The Cirrus OID/device description database has been updated to include the latest device descriptions.

Added Ability to Clear All Baselines

You can now clear all baseline configurations that have been set within Cirrus.

Added Ability to Execute a Command Script From Within the Search Config Feature

You can now execute command scripts from the Search Config results pane.

Encryption of Custom Macro Usernames and Passwords

Custom Macro usernames and passwords can now be encrypted.

New Reports

The following reports have been added:

• User Activity Tracking
• Cisco Card Data
• Backup Status of Running Config
• Backup Status of Startup Config

Features of Previous Versions

Previous versions of Cirrus Configuration Manager added the following features:

Scheduled Configuration Backups

Using the scheduled task feature, managing routers and other network devices has never been easier. Schedule configuration downloads, configuration uploads, device reboots, command scripts execution, and more. In addition, configuration backups are stored both in a relational database for archival history and as flat files in an intuitive folder structure for easy viewing.

Multivendor Support

Provides support for network devices from multiple hardware vendors. As a monitor and manager of routers, switches, firewalls, VPN concentrators, wireless access points and more, Cirrus is a robust solution that is fully capable of managing your hybrid vendor network.

Policy Management

Enables you to ensure that device compliance with federal regulations, as well as corporate standards. The Policy Reporting Manager comes with several out-of-the-box policy reports, including SOX, HIPAA, CISP, and Cisco Security.

Bulk Changes

Enables quick changes to community strings, passwords, and black lists. With Cirrus, you can execute bulk changes either in realtime or within a scheduled change window. Uploads, changes, and global command scripting can be scheduled by device type, physical location, by owner, or by any custom property you create.

Configuration Change History

Reports what devices have had configuration changes over any time period you specify. Configuration change reports can also compare current configurations with a baseline configuration alerting you whenever a change is discovered.

Device Inventory

Cirrus Configuration Manager includes a detailed device inventory for each managed device. Information such as interface and port details, IP addresses, ARP tables, and many others can be collected.

Realtime Configuration Change Detection

Includes the ability to alert you of any changes to device configurations when they occur. Utilizing the SolarWinds Orion Syslog or Trap server, Cirrus Configuration Manager will notify you when a change occurs, and email you a comparison highlighting the changes.

Support for Pre-Command Devices

Provides support for devices utilizing pre-commands such as CTRL-Y in menu systems.

Indirect Transfer Support

Includes the ability to transfer configurations using SolarWinds TFTP Server.

For more information about any of these features or the many other features of Cirrus Configuration Manager, see the Administrator Guide.

Fixes in this Release

This release of Cirrus Configuration Manager includes the following fixes:

Version 4.0.1

• Resolved issue where the node list in the Cirrus application could take several minutes to load.
• Fixed issue where scheduled jobs downloading configurations from devices using SSH would fail randomly.
• Resolved issue where scheduled jobs downloading configurations from devices using SNMP/TFTP would hang.
• Reports no longer include random characters captured from command prompts.
• Occasional incomplete configuration downloads no longer occur when using SSH.
• Default scheduled jobs no longer fail to start.
• Installation no longer continues if Microsoft .Net Framework is not installed.
• Resolved issue where node discovery was not detecting new information about nodes.
• Fixed issue where the 'Changes over the Last XX Days' config change report would report inaccurate data.
• Resolved login issue with Nortel Baystack 325's.
• The Cirrus SysObjectID database has been updated to include the latest device details.
• Fixed issue where converting an Access database to SQL would prevent Cirrus from connecting to the database.

Version 4.0

• Hiddin usernames and passwords within the Cirrus application are no longer visible to any user.
• Updated Config Change Report to accurately reflect appropriate changes when selecting to view changes over past 1 day.
• Cirrus now supports the apostrophe character (') in community strings.
• Enhanced Find MAC/Find IP tool to improve device connectivity tracking.
• Cirrus now supports banners with "#" and ">" characters.
• Resolved "No SNMP" issue for added devices.
• Find MAC/IP tool no longer removes the entered text when switching between MAC Address and IP Address options.
• Resolved Toolset TFTP Server, Free TFTP server, and Cirrus TFTP server integration issues.
• The device name is now included in the subject line for Realtime config change detection notifications.
• The interface name is now included within Config Change reports, notifications, and logs when indented interface sub values change.
• Resolved issue where Cirrus ignored "Send notifications only when Policy Violations are present" checkbox

Version 3.5.1

• Fixed compatibility issue where installing Cirrus on a computer with SolarWinds Orion and then running the Orion Map Maker application returns runtime error 430.
• Fixed compatibility issue where installing SolarWinds Orion on a computer with Cirrus breaks the ability to edit nodes individually within Cirrus.
• Resolved issue where searching Device Details in the 'Up' direction causes Cirrus to hang.
• Fixed formatting issue when exporting policy reports to Excel
• Resolved issue where configuration backup jobs would occasionally hang when running on several devices.
• Improved performance when loading the node list
• Fixed several issues related to managing devices using SSH including the transfer protocol resetting to TELNET on an upgrade and on rare occasion storing improperly formatted configuration files due to SSH communication failure.

Version 3.5

• Resolved issue where notifications would not be sent to addresses in the email CC field.
• Fixed issue where scheduling inventory reports to be emailed or printed would fail.
• Fixed issue where email notification of a backup job would fail.
• Fixed parsing of minutes and seconds when archiving configurations with the ${nn} & ${ss} variables.
• Resolved issue where configurations downloaded using SSH would periodically be saved as blank files.
• Fixed issue where sending items as an attachments would fail.
• Resolved issue where data within the node details comments field is instantly removed after performing a show command.
• Fixed line spacing in configuration backup job notifications.
• Resolved overflow error upon startup after executing a large script.
• Fixed issue where MIB Browser would not load from the MIB Browser Icon or Menu Header when the SolarWinds Toolset MIB Browser was installed on the same machine.

Installing this Version

You do not need to uninstall your previous version before installing this version of Cirrus. Shutdown any running Cirrus applications, and then run the setup program. The setup program will detect and uninstall your previous version without a loss of customizations.

Updated Requirements

The requirements in the following table supersede those found in the Administrator Guide.

SQL Express

SQL Express, a free version of SQL Server 2005 with a 4GB database limit, is a supported database platform for Cirrus Configuration Manager.

Specifying Your Instance

During the database section of the Configuration wizard, it is possible that the browse function of the wizard will not find your database. If you experience difficulty browsing to your SQL Express instance, type ServerName\sqlexpress in the SQL Server field on the Login to SQL Server dialog, where ServerName is the pre-Windows 2000 name of your SQL Server.

Creating Data Directories

The Configuration wizard does not create nor offer to create data directories for the database you install during the Setup Database section of the wizard. If you create new data directories using Windows Explorer or some other tool while on the Create/Connect to Database dialog, you must click Back to return to the Login to SQL Server dialog, then click Continue. You will be able to select the newly created directory for your database data.

Connections and Cancellations

When Cirrus Configuration Manager experiences connection loss and when operations are cancelled, dialogs and notifications may not always clearly reflect the appropriate message.

Scheduled Jobs and Node Filters

When creating a scheduled job and specifying a condition of "Where Node Name starts with ABC". Devices that begin with ABC are not being selected when the job runs. As a workaround, change the filter for the node selection to be "Where System Name starts with ABC".

Realtime Changes and Baselines

When utilizing the Realtime Configuration Change Detection feature, if a baseline configuration has not been established for a node, the last configuration file received will be used for the comparison.

Indirect Transfers with Multiple IP Addresses

When using indirect transfers on a server that has multiple IP addresses (for example, a main IP and a vpn IP), the retrieved TFTP IP address may not be the desired IP address. To manually specify a TFTP IP address, click File > Settings > TFTP Server, and then uncheck Do not automatically retrieve IP, and then type the desired TFTP IP address.

Configuring Local Help

You can install the online versions of the Cirrus Administrator Guide and QuickStart Guide locally on your network. This is useful if you have Cirrus installed on a machine that does not have access to the Internet.

To configure local help:

1. Close all Cirrus applications.
2. Download the local help files from the customer portal area at SolarWinds.com
3. Extract the files to the server Cirrus is installed on or another server accessable from the Cirrus machine.
4. On the Cirrus machine, click Start > Run.
5. Type regedit, and then click OK.
6. Browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SolarWinds.Net\Configuration Manager\Settings.
7. Click Edit > New > String Value, type AllowRedirectedURL, and then press Enter.
8. Click Edit > Modify, type True in the Value data field, and then click OK.
9. Click Edit > New > String Value, type RedirectedServer, and then press Enter.
10. Click Edit > Modify, type ServerName in the Value data field, and then click OK. Where ServerName is the hostname or IP address of the server the local help files are located.
    Note: If the CirrusDocs folder is anywhere other than the root of the webserver, you must include the path after the hostname or IP address.
11. Close the Registry Editor, and then start Cirrus Configuration Manager to test the help function.

Legal

Copyright© 1995-2007 SolarWinds.net, all rights reserved worldwide. No part of this document may be reproduced by any means nor modified, decompiled, disassembled, published or distributed, in whole or in part, or translated to any electronic medium or other means without the written consent of SolarWinds All right, title and interest in and to the software and documentation are and shall remain the exclusive property of SolarWinds and its licensors. SolarWinds Orion™, SolarWinds Cirrus™, and SolarWinds Toolset™ are trademarks of SolarWinds and SolarWinds.net® and the SolarWinds logo are registered trademarks of SolarWinds All other trademarks contained in this document and in the Software are the property of their respective owners.

SOLARWINDS DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, CONDITIONS OR OTHER TERMS, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE, ON SOFTWARE AND DOCUMENTATION FURNISHED HEREUNDER INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE WARRANTIES OF DESIGN, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL SOLARWINDS, ITS SUPPLIERS OR ITS LICENSORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, WHETHER ARISING IN TORT, CONTRACT OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY EVEN IF SOLARWINDS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Microsoft® and Windows 2000® are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

Graph Layout Toolkit and Graph Editor Toolkit © 1992 - 2001 Tom Sawyer Software, Oakland, California. All Rights Reserved.

Portions Copyright © ComponentOne, LLC 1991-2002. All Rights Reserved.