Backing up and Restoring Brocade Switch Configuration

Back to: Brocade FC (Fibre Channel) Switches

Step-by-step guide for Backing up and Restoring Brocade Switch Configuration.

🔒 Backup Switch Configuration:

1. Log in to the switch:
   • Use SSH or the console to access the switch:
   • • ssh admin@<switch-IP>
2. Backup the configuration:
   • Use the configupload command to upload the config to an FTP server:
   • • configupload
     • Select the protocol: Choose FTP/SFTP/SCP.
     • Provide the FTP/SFTP/SCP server details:
       • Host IP
       • Path (where the config file will be stored)
       • Username and Password
   • Examples
     • To upload the switch configuration interactively from a switch that is not enabled for Virtual Fabrics:
       • switch:admin> configupload
       • Protocol (scp, ftp, sftp, local) [ftp]: sftp
       • Server Name or IP Address [host]: xxx.xx.xxx.xxx
       • User Name [user]: user
       • File Name [<home dir>/config.txt]:  /remote_dir/file_name.txt
       • Section (all|chassis|switch [all]):
       • Password: ******
       • configUpload complete: All config parameters are uploaded
3. Verify backup:
   • Confirm that the config file is successfully uploaded to your FTP server.

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🚀 Restore Switch Configuration:

1. Ensure minimal activity:
   • Since restore is disruptive, schedule this during a maintenance window.
2. Restore using configdownload:
   • configdownload
     • Protocol: FTP/SFTP/SCP
     • Server details: IP, path, and credentials
     • Confirm overwrite when prompted
   • Examples:
     • To download the switch configuration file interactively to the current logical switch from a local directory (no chassis permissions):
       • switch:admin> configdownload
       • Protocol (scp, ftp, sftp, local) [ftp]: sftp
       • Server Name or IP Address [host]: xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
       • User Name [user]: admin
       • Path/Filename [<home dir>/config.txt]:/remote_dir/file_name.txt
       • Section (all|chassis|FID# [all]):
       •  *** CAUTION ***
       • This command is used to download a backed-up configuration
       • for a specific switch. If using a file from a different
       • switch, this file’s configuration settings will override
       • any current switch settings. Downloading a configuration
       • file, which was uploaded from a different type of switch,
       • may cause the switch to fail.
       • A switch reboot is required for the changes to take effect.
       • Please make sure all the switches are disabled by
       • using chassisdisable command. Downloading configuration
       • to an online switch may result in some configuration not
       • being downloaded to that switch.
       • configDownload operation may take several minutes
       • to complete for large files.
       • Do you want to continue [y/n]: y
       • Password: *******
       • Activating configDownload: Switch is disabled
       • configDownload complete: All config parameters are downloaded
3. Reboot the switch if needed:
   • Some configurations might require a switch reboot:
   • • fastboot

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✅ Key Points:

• Backup is non-disruptive — it won’t affect switch operations.
• Restore is disruptive — might cause a brief outage.
• FTP server is mandatory for backups — local backups on the switch aren’t supported.
• Always verify the integrity of your backups before upgrading firmware.