In Versa Director, workflow templates help automate and manage configuration changes across devices. Options like Clean & Recreate and Re-Deploy serve different purposes for maintaining and updating configurations.

1. Clean & Recreate

The Clean & Recreate option essentially removes existing configurations tied to a template and applies a fresh configuration. Here's what happens:

• Purpose:

  • Used when you want to reset the configuration on a device and start fresh.
  • Removes any old configuration artifacts that might interfere with the new setup.

• Process:

  1. The device's configuration tied to the template is wiped clean.
  2. The configuration in the template is recreated and applied to the device.
  3. All template-associated settings (e.g., system, routing, policies) are re-pushed.

• When to Use:

  • If the configuration has become corrupt or inconsistent.
  • When transitioning to a completely new template setup.
  • When troubleshooting issues caused by lingering old configurations.

2. Re-Deploy

The Re-Deploy option simply re-applies the existing template configuration to the device. Here's what happens:

• Purpose:

  • Used to refresh or force the application of the template configuration without removing it first.
  • Ensures that all settings from the template are properly pushed to the device.

• Process:

  1. The configuration in the template is validated.
  2. The settings are re-pushed to the device to ensure they are correctly applied.
  3. Existing configuration settings not part of the template remain unchanged.

• When to Use:

  • If a device configuration seems out of sync with the template.
  • After making minor changes to a template.
  • For troubleshooting and ensuring consistency between the template and the device.

Key Differences

Considerations

• Clean & Recreate is more aggressive and can cause downtime if not used carefully.
• Re-Deploy is safer for minor fixes and ensuring configuration alignment.
• Always back up configurations before performing Clean & Recreate.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to perform Clean & Recreate or Re-Deploy in Versa Director:

Performing Clean & Recreate or Re-Deploy in Versa Director

Prerequisites:

1. Backup the Current Configuration:

   • Before making any changes, ensure that the current configuration is backed up.
   • You can export the running configuration from the device to keep a fallback option in case something goes wrong.

2. Access to Versa Director:

   • Log in with appropriate administrative privileges.

3. Device Grouping:

   • Ensure the device is assigned to a template. Both actions will impact devices tied to the template.

Steps for Clean & Recreate

1. Log in to Versa Director:

   • Navigate to the Workflows > Templates section.

2. Select the Template:

   • Locate the template associated with the device(s) you want to reset.

3. Choose the "Clean & Recreate" Option:

   • In the template management menu, find and select the Clean & Recreate option.
   • This action will remove all configurations tied to this template on the device and then push a new configuration based on the template.

4. Confirm the Action:

   • A warning will appear about potential disruption since this action erases and recreates the configuration. Review carefully and confirm.

5. Monitor the Deployment:

   • Go to Monitor > Tasks to track the progress of the Clean & Recreate process.
   • Ensure that the device successfully receives and applies the new configuration.

6. Validate the Configuration:

   • Use the CLI or GUI to verify that the intended configuration has been applied correctly to the device.

Steps for Re-Deploy

1. Log in to Versa Director:

   • Navigate to Workflows > Templates.

2. Select the Template:

   • Locate the template associated with the device(s) you want to re-deploy.

3. Choose the "Re-Deploy" Option:

   • From the menu, select the Re-Deploy option.
   • This will push the existing template configuration back to the device without erasing the existing settings.

4. Confirm the Action:

   • Review the summary and confirm the action to begin re-deployment.

5. Monitor the Progress:

   • Check the progress in Monitor > Tasks to ensure the re-deploy operation completes successfully.

6. Validate the Configuration:

   • Confirm that all configurations from the template have been applied properly.
   • Check for discrepancies in the Device View in Versa Director.

Best Practices

• Use Clean & Recreate during major troubleshooting or when resetting devices to a new configuration baseline.
• Use Re-Deploy for refreshing the existing configuration after minor template updates or to correct sync issues.
• Always inform stakeholders if downtime is expected due to configuration changes.
• Test changes in a staging environment before applying them to production devices.