Looking for some assistance and help on the Meraki python restore script

[Lalana]

Hi Team,

I was looking at this Git repository for Meraki backup and restore functionality (https://github.com/meraki/automation-scripts/tree/master/backup_configs). However, I noticed that the restore script only restores networks.

Do we have any repository or script to restore the complete configuration in order? For example, restoring the entire organization by first restoring networks, then claiming devices into inventory, and finally the organization itself.

Looking for some assistance and help.

Thanks in advance.

[alemabrahao]

There is no API or Script for this. You would have to use a set of APIs, but it will make your script very complex.

[Lalana]

Thank you for the quick response. Set of API's you mean set of python modules from this Link -> https://developer.cisco.com/meraki/api-v1/create-organization/ right?

[alemabrahao]

Yes, you will need more than one API to be able to do this, but you also need to do it in a correct order.

Sorry for the question, but why this concern since all the settings are stored in the Meraki cloud?

[Lalana]

Thanks again, that is the requirement/use case from one of our customer. But I am new to Meraki as well, can you please elaborate more on this statement please  "all the settings are stored in the Meraki cloud?"

[alemabrahao]

Introduction to the Meraki Cloud and Dashboard

Before creating a dashboard account, let's address terminology:

• Meraki cloud: The backbone of the highly available, secure, and efficient Meraki solution. The cloud enables instant onboarding access to all features inside the Meraki dashboard. It is comprised of highly reliable servers at various data centers around the world. 
• Meraki dashboard: A centralized, web-based tool used to monitor and configure Meraki devices and services. 
• Dashboard account: What you use to log in to the dashboard. From your account, you can manage and configure your organizations, networks, and devices.

It is important to note that "organization" and "network" in this sense are from the perspective of the dashboard. 

• Organization: A logical container for Meraki networks managed by one or more accounts. 
• Network: A logical container for a set of centrally managed Meraki devices and services. 

Devices go in a network, networks go in an organization,  and organizations are managed by user accounts from the Meraki dashboard. This information, as well as device configuration settings, is stored in the Meraki cloud.

Refer to the Meraki Cloud Architecture article for more information on how devices communicate with the Meraki Cloud.

[Lalana]

Thank you, will check that out. But does taking backup of networks and restoring makes sense? If not the whole organization? 

[alemabrahao]

Look, I personally only used this when I needed to migrate settings from one organization to another, on a daily basis (in my opinion) I don't see much point.

Not to mention that you can simply make a clone of a given network easily via the dashboard.

There may be members who disagree with my opinion, but I see it as each person's personal opinion.

[Lalana]

okay Thank you.

[GreenMan]

The use case for what you are asking about is generally around a 'bad actor' admin;   while Meraki has a primary config - stored locally on all the devices, and a backup - stored in the Meraki cloud  (it's actually more the ther way around):   an angry Full Dashboard Admin can conceivably remove both, though there's no quick way to do this, particularly the larger an Org gets (you have to delete a lot of small stuff separately before you can delete an Org).  While a set of scripts could be built to back up the whole lot to something outside of Dashboard, it's likely to be easier (though maybe more costly) to use an ecosystem partner who has already pre-built something along these lines:  https://apps.meraki.io/en-US/listing?cat=106403
You would also need to bear in mind:   if it's an inside bad actor, you need to ensure they can't also get to the off-Meraki 'backups'

[DarrenOC]

CAE offer this service.  Believe they have something in the Meraki Marketplace.

i would say just because the config is stored in the cloud it can’t be lost!  This I believe has happened in the past.

No harm in having your own backups in whatever form that may be.

[Lalana]

Thank you both, but somehow https://apps.meraki.io/en-US/listing?cat=106403 these apps are not available or visible in my country. So looks like the only option I have is to refer to https://developer.cisco.com/meraki/api-v1/create-organization/ and https://github.com/meraki/automation-scripts/tree/master/backup_configs these contents and code similarly for restoring the devices and entire organization.

[PhilipDAth]

This is a very old backup/restore system I wrote.  It uses the V0 API and needs to be modernized to use the V1 API.

https://www.ifm.net.nz/cookbooks/meraki-backup.html 

[Lalana]

Hi Philip,

Thank you so much. I will check this out.