About, page 1 Back Up DNA Center, page 2 Restore DNA Center, page 4 Schedule a Backup, page 5 About The backup and restore procedures for DNA Center can be used for the following purposes: To create backup files for disaster recovery To create backup files to restore to a different appliance (if required for your network configuration) Backup When you perform a backup, DNA Center creates a copy of the following files and exports the files to a specific location on a remote server: DNA Center databases DNA Center credentials DNA Center file system and files Important The backup files should not be modified by the user. The backup files are created and posted to a remote server. You are able to restore the backup files from the remote server using the DNA Center. Only a single backup can be performed at a time. Performing multiple backups at once are not permitted. Additionally, only a full backup is supported. Other types of backups (for example, incremental backups) are not supported. While a backup is being performed, you will be unable to delete any files that have been uploaded to the file service and any changes that you make to files might not be captured by the backup process. 1
Back Up DNA Center When performing a backup, we recommend the following: Perform a backup everyday to maintain a current version of your database and files. Perform a backup after making any changes to your configuration. For example, when changing or creating a new policy on a device. Only perform a backup during a low impact or maintenance time period. Restore When you restore the backup files, DNA Center removes and replaces the existing database and files with the backup files. You restore the backup files from the remote server. When a restore is being performed, DNA Center is unavailable. Back Up DNA Center You can back up and restore the DNA Center database and files. When you perform a backup, DNA Center copies and exports the database and files to a location on a remote server that you configure. When you restore the backup files, DNA Center removes and replaces the existing database and files with the backup files. For more information about the backup and restore process, see About, on page 1. Data is backed up using SSH/SCP. Before You Begin Only a user with SUPER-ADMIN-ROLE permissions may perform this procedure. For more information, see About User Roles. Procedure Step 1 From the DNA Center Home page, click the gear icon ( ) and then choose System Settings > Backup & Restore. The Backup & Restore window appears consisting of three tabs: Backups, Schedule, and Activity. The first time you access this window, the Set up backup server field also appears. Step 2 Step 3 Click Configure in this field. The Remote Backup Server side panel opens. Configure the remote backup server for the DNA Center backups. Enter configuration values for the remote backup server. SSH IP Address SSH Port Server Path IP address of the remote server that you can SSH into. Port address of the remote server that you can SSH into. Path to folder on the server where the backup files will be sent to and saved. 2
Back Up DNA Center Username Password Encryption Passphrase Username used to protect the encrypted backup. Password used to protect the encrypted backup. This passphrase encrypts the security-sensitive components of the backup. These security-sensitive components include both certificates and credentials. This is a required passphrase that you will be prompted for and that must be entered when restoring the backup files. Without this passphrase, backup files will not be restored. Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 Click Apply to save the Remote Backup Server configuration. Other options are Cancel to cancel this configuration or Remove to remove an earlier remote backup server configuration. Click Create New Backup. To view the backup's progress, click the Activity tab and review the Status column. During the backup process, DNA Center creates the backup database and files. The backup files are saved to the specified location on the remote server. You are not limited to a single set of backup files, but can create multiple backup files that are identified with their unique names. You receive a Backup done! notification when the back up process is finished. If the back up process fails, there is no impact to the appliance or its database. DNA Center displays an error message stating the cause of the backup failure. The most common reason for a failed backup is insufficient disk space. If your backup process fails, make sure that there is sufficient disk space on the remote server and attempt another backup. (Optional) Verify the final backup status in the Backup & Restore window (Backups tab). The following information is displayed: Date Local date and time of the backup or restore. Backup Name Name of the file that was backed up or restored. File Size Size of the file that was backed up or restored. Status Success or failure status of the operation. Place your cursor over the failure status to display additional details about the failure. Operation Type of operation, either backup or restore. Action Possible actions to take with the backup files. For example, restore the DNA Center with the backup files or proceed to delete the backup files. Step 7 (Optional) To download a.csv file of what is displayed in this window for your records, click Export.. What to Do Next When necessary and at the appropriate time, you can restore the backup file to DNA Center by clicking the Restore link in the Backups tab for the backup. You can also schedule a future backup using the configuration 3
Restore DNA Center options displayed in the Schedule tab. For information about this procedure, see Schedule a Backup, on page 5. Restore DNA Center You can restore DNA Center from the backup files on the remote server that you configured. When you restore from the backup files located on the remote server, DNA Center removes and replaces the existing database and files. For more information about the backup and restore process, see About, on page 1. Caution The DNA Center restore process only restores the database and files. The restore process does not restore your network state and any changes made since the last back up, including any new network policies that have been created, any new or updated passwords, or any new or updated certificates and trustpool bundles. You can only restore a backup to an appliance that is running the same DNA Center software version, apps, and app versions as the appliance and apps from which the backup was taken. To view the current apps and versions, click, then System Settings, then App Management. Before You Begin Only a user with SUPER-ADMIN-ROLE permissions may perform this procedure. For more information, see About User Roles. Procedure Step 1 From the DNA Center Home page, click the gear icon ( ) and then choose System Settings > Backup & Restore. The Backup & Restore window displays the following three tabs: Backups, Schedule, and Activity. The default tab that displays is Backups. If you have already successfully created a backup on a remote server, then it will display in the Backups tab. Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 In the Backup Name column, locate the backup that you wish to restore. In the Actions column, select Restore. The DNA Center restore process restores the database and files. The restore process does not restore your network state and any changes made since the last backup, including any new network policies that have been created, any new or updated passwords, or any new or updated certificates and trustpool bundles. During a restore, the backup files remove and replace the current database. To view the progress of the restore process, click the Activity tab. If you stop the backup, then an ABORTED message is displayed in the Status column of the Activity tab. If the backup fails, then a FAILURE message is displayed in the Status column of the Activity tab. By clicking on the icon next to the FAILURE message, information about where in the backup process the failure occurred is displayed. Review the information under Error Type. You can use this information to troubleshoot a backup failure. 4
Schedule a Backup Step 5 Click the Backups tab to view the results for a successful restore process. Schedule a Backup You can schedule a backup of the DNA Center database and files at a future date and time. You schedule this backup using the DNA Center GUI. Before You Begin Only a user with SUPER-ADMIN-ROLE permissions may perform this procedure. For more information, see About User Roles. Procedure Step 1 From the DNA Center Home page, click the gear icon ( ) and then choose System Settings > Backup & Restore. The Backup & Restore window displays the following three tabs: Backups, Schedule, and Activity. The default tab that displays is Backups. Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 Step 7 Step 8 Step 9 Click the Schedule tab header. The Schedule window opens. Click + Add at the upper right of the Schedule tab. The Create Backup side panel opens. Enter a name for the backup file. Click the Schedule Later option. Enter the date for the scheduled backup or use the month icon to select a date. Enter a time for the scheduled backup including an AM or PM value. Click the Schedule button. Click the close icon at the upper right of the side panel to close the panel. After scheduling a future backup, the following information is displayed: Date Date of scheduled backup Backup Name Name of the backup Status Whether backup is scheduled or not Operation Backup operation Scheduled Run Date and time of scheduled backup Action Option to delete scheduled backup With the current release, you can only configure one scheduled backup at a time. Not more than one scheduled backup is permitted. 5
Schedule a Backup What to Do Next When necessary and at the appropriate time, you can restore the backup files to DNA Center. 6