A configuration management server centralizes device configuration instead of requiring administrators to configure each device individually. It stores configuration files, assembles device-specific configurations, applies changes to appropriate devices, and checks active configurations against defined standards. section 25.2 section 25.3
Core building blocks include:
- Configuration templates define the desired configuration structure in a standardized format. section 25.2
- Variables hold values unique to each device, allowing one template to generate multiple configurations. section 25.2
- Drift detection compares active device configurations with expected templates and variables, then notifies administrators of discrepancies. section 25.2 section 25.3
Reusable router configuration
A template can define hostname, NTP, OSPF, interface addresses, and helper addresses while variables supply R1’s hostname, addresses, and masks; the server renders and applies R1’s configuration.
