I’m still fairly new to Cambium gear and cnMaestro. I’m looking for some guidance on the proper procedure for replacing an existing cnMatrix switch. Here’s the scenario.
Yesterday, I had a cnMatrix switch stop providing power to several access points and cameras. It appears the PoE functionality is dead. I have some spare switches laying around. What is the correct process for adopting the new switch to cnMaestro and cloning the config of the old switch?
Here’s what I did. I restored the config from the bad switch onto the replacement switch using the CLI and then used the onboarding section of cnMaestro to adopt it. After adding it to the switch group defined for the building, configuring its location, etc. and completing the onboarding process, most of the config was lost. In cnMaestro, I had to manually edit the switch group and set the VLANs, port types, etc. on each port for the new switch. Surely, I did something wrong, and there is a better way. With other manufacturer gear I’m used to just restoring a config and going about my business. What did I do wrong? How do I get the replacement switch to have the same config as the old switch without having to manually edit all the settings after the onboarding wiped them?
Hi Steve, unfortunately there is no replacement/config restore for the switch in cnMaestro. When you onboard the new switch, you need to re-configure all the switch ports in cnmaestro before re-sync the configuration. There will be a feature in the upcoming cnMaestro release that would facilitate the switch replacement task.
cnMatrix switches are designed to be used with cnMaestro switch group. The way that you set up the configuration is this:
Create the switchgroup in cnMaestro. Make sure the switch group has all the common configuration for all the switches you intend to make members of the switch group. One thing to remember is that the switch group has priority over any configuration you have put in the switch with CLI or GUI.
Onboard your switch into cnMaestro. Instead of just approving the switch, click the edit icon (looks like a pencil) and enter the configuration parameters specifically for that switch (ip address info, management VLAN, location, and any other info specific for that switch.
After you’ve approved the edited onboarding, you make any changes in switch configuration through cnMaestro only. You never really have to log into the switch directly. If you do, and change any configuration, you’ll get an “out of sync” error in cnMaestro, and if you try to resolve it, the switch group config will overwrite your manually entered parameters.
I encourage you to use policy based automation for all the connections to the switch. This way, cnMaestro is in control of the configuration. When you plug a device in, the switch can recognize it, and apply rules to that port. Then, when the device is removed, the port goes back to default configuration. You can configure PBA for both Cambium and non-Cambium devices - in my lab, I have every device recognized by PBA, the correct VLAN’s and port configuration (Access, Trunk, or Hybrid) to every port, including the SFP ports.
If a switch breaks, and you have to replace it, you simply onboard the replacement into cnMaestro the same way, using the edit icon for specific configuration, approve it, and the switch group + edited configuration will be downloaded to the switch. The switch might reboot, depending on the changes applied, and cnMaestro will look after configuraiton management, so you do not have to rely on a config backup directly from the switch.