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User database backup

Posted: 14 May 2013 06:44
by lpaso
Hi all,

I'm sorry if this question's already been answered but I wasn't able to find anything about it, so I'm asking it.

How can we backup the users of an Alcatel switch, then recover from this backup ?

I was thinking all I had to do was to backup the "usertable5" file then copy it when needed in the /network folder, but I'd like to be sure it's the way to do it.

Thank you very much.

Re: User database backup

Posted: 14 May 2013 08:17
by duBeN
hi,

yes you can do it as you described. Just remember that switch loads userTable5 to RAM during boot so if you upload new userTable5 you will have to reload the switch to have new file active.

Re: User database backup

Posted: 14 May 2013 09:08
by lpaso
Is there another way to do it ?

Re: User database backup

Posted: 15 May 2013 03:13
by duBeN
If you have so many users in local database that you have to backup it, I'd consider to use tacacs or radius servers which have more options of backup/restore.

Re: User database backup

Posted: 15 May 2013 04:14
by devnull
lpaso wrote:Is there another way to do it ?
No..

Radius of course is always prefarably.

duBeN is right, the UserTable is read during reboot, so it does not work copying a userTable into a running switch

Re: User database backup

Posted: 16 May 2013 03:20
by lpaso
I don't have many users, but I need to be able to backup and restore them (job prerequisites, I'm not the one who decided this).
So, if I summarize the procedure, to restore the users, I copy the UserTable file in the network folder, overwriting the previous one, then I restart the switch for the file to be applied.
Am I correct ?

Re: User database backup

Posted: 16 May 2013 04:41
by devnull
Yes..
Otherwise if you know the users (and have the passwords) you could just recreate them on CLI, which saves you the rebooting.
(e.g. as telnet script via Omnivista

Re: User database backup

Posted: 16 May 2013 05:07
by lpaso
The reboot is not a problem in my case ;)
Thank you very much for your kind answers.