Download Switch Configuration

[Shadius]

Hey Merakians,

I'd like to know how I can download the configuration file that's currently on my switches.

Thank you in advance.

[BlakeRichardson]

@Shadius  Meraki is cloud managed, you are unable to download a configuration to a file. 

[Bruce · Accepted solution]

As Blake correctly stated, there is no configuration file on the switches. Unlike a 'traditional' switch the Meraki switches are completely cloud managed. Yes, they do obtain (download) a configuration from the Meraki cloud - they obviously have to to be able to operate - but its not a configuration that is readable, or can be extracted from the switch.

If you're looking to take a backup (snapshot in time) that you can keep then what is available through the Dashboard is essentially the current configuration (unless you've made any changes in the last couple of minutes that haven't made their way to the switch). You can access most of this configuration through the Dashboard API, and I'm sure there are some scripts out there (e.g. on Git Hub) that do exactly this.

If you're looking to ensure that there is a backup of the configuration in case the switch fails then you don't need to, that's one of the great things about Meraki - the configuration is held in the Dashboard. And just for comfort there are two copies of your shard (essentially where your Dashboard is stored) in a primary Data Centre for your region, and a third in a secondary Data Centre in your region... so you should never be without your configuration through the Dashboard.

[GreenMan]

While you cannot download any raw configuration file, as others have already said - you can access details of your Dashboard configuration via API and use the API to reconfigure your Dashboard setup, hence providing an avenue for a kind of backup and restore.   Appropriate scripts can be created, customised to what you need.  Such a script and others are available online and GitHub is a great place to start.  Maybe have a look at this one first:   https://github.com/meraki/automation-scripts/tree/master/backup_configs

Loads more resources around Meraki APIs are available here:  https://developer.cisco.com/meraki/ 

[JPena]

Hey Shadius,

As others have mentioned, there isn't a way to download configs from your devices. I'm not sure what the end goal is, but you can 'save' a switch config by making use of templates/switch profiles. Check out the following doc for more info - https://documentation.meraki.com/Architectures_and_Best_Practices/Cisco_Meraki_Best_Practice_Design/...

[Shadius]

The end goal was to be able to share the configuration file with a vendor to review in order to solve an issue we're experiencing with our phone system once we've implemented Meraki switches.

Thank you all for your replies.

[PhilipDAth]

>The end goal was to be able to share the configuration file with a vendor to review in order to solve an issue we're experiencing with our phone system once we've implemented Meraki switches.

Grant them read-only access to the network.  Then they can review and look at diagnostics as well.

[GreenMan]

And don't forget - you can use packet captures;    https://documentation.meraki.com/General_Administration/Cross-Platform_Content/Packet_Capture_Overvi...