Using command set groups

Command set groups are collections of device-specific command sets that all perform the same configuration change. You use command set groups when you want to apply the same change to devices of a different VTMOS.

Command set groups overview

To change a device you need to deploy a command set specific to that device type. To apply the same change to a number of different device types, you can create a group of command sets that collects together those device-specific command sets.

The Command Set Advisor can suggest the command sets for you to add to the group in order to achieve full coverage for all your selected devices, thereby enabling a network operator to apply a configuration change to one or more network resources without specific network resource knowledge.

Command set groups can consist of native or modeled command sets, and are scheduled and submitted like any other unit of work (UOW).

Parameters in a command set group are shared by all command sets in the group, so that the values that are modified at run time are applied to all the devices covered. For example, a command set group can change the banner for a range of devices. When applying the group to the devices, an operator can supply the new banner name (the parameter), which is then inserted into each of the command sets in the group, and applied to each device.

Remember:
  • The command sets in a command set group should all perform the same change.
  • Together, all command sets in a group should cover all selected devices.
  • Parameters in command set groups are shared by individual command sets.
  • Devices must be in synch before applying command set groups.
Command Set Advisor
After you have selected the devices to be configured by the command set group, you use the Command Set Advisor to add command sets to the group until all devices are covered.
For example, a command set that changes the login banner for a router might be slightly different from one that does the same on a switch. Therefore if you create a command set group to change the login banners of a range of different devices, you need to select specific command sets that are capable of changing the banner of each of the devices.
Coverage
Each time you add a command set to a group the Command Set Advisor calculates the percentage of selected devices covered.
You add command sets to the group until all devices are covered, that is, until your coverage reaches 100%.
Automatic coverage
Automatic coverage occurs when the defined command set (or native command set) is deemed valid by the system for one or more devices.
Note: Empty modeled command sets will not be deemed valid for any device.
Manual coverage
Manual coverage occurs when the user overrides the system and sets a command set to be valid for one or more devices.
Note: When you add or remove a device for manual coverage the system determines which other devices will be affected by this, and then adds or removes these as well.
Failures
A failure occurs if there is no applicable command set for a selected device. If this happens the command set is not processed against the device and the error is logged.
If a native command set is applicable for a selected device and the UOW is run in ’report only’ mode, a failure occurs and the error is logged.
Multiple command set groups
Multiple command set groups can be applied within the same UOW.
Reevaluating command set groups after adding or removing drivers
When adding or removing Netcool Configuration Manager drivers, you must reevaluate all existing command set groups.
Use the icosutil ’ReevaluateGroups’ command to determine if the addition or deletion of drivers has an impact on the coverage of the command set groups, and to then update them accordingly. See the related links for information on how to use the icosutil utility to run the ’ReevaluateGroups’ command.
Note: In addition to running the icosutil ’ReevaluateGroups’ command, you should also manually review the coverage of the command set groups after adding or removing drivers.
Security sets
Security sets do not apply to the command sets contained within a command set group.