Cisco Catalyst Center Administrator Guide, Release 3.2.x

Configure the location to store backup files

Updated: May 4, 2026

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Overview

Describes how to configure backups for automation and Assurance data.

Catalyst Center allows you to configure backups for automation and Assurance data.

Use this procedure to configure the storage location for backup files.

Before you begin

Make sure that the following requirements are met:

Only a user with SUPER-ADMIN-ROLE permissions can perform this procedure.
The data backup server must meet the requirements described in Backup server requirements.

Procedure

From the main menu, choose System > Backup and Restore.

You can view this window:

Click Configure Settings.

Alternatively, choose System > Settings > System Configuration > Backup Configuration.

Choose the Physical Disk or NFS server option.

The Backup Configuration page shows the physical disk option, mount path, encryption passphrase, and backup retention.

Physical Disk: Catalyst Center provides an option to mount an external disk to the virtual machine, to store a backup copy of Assurance and automation data. To configure a physical disk, click the Physical Disk radio button and define these settings:

Note

The physical disk option is only supported for single-node virtual machines.


Field	Description
Mount Path	Location of the external disk.
Encryption Passphrase	Passphrase used to encrypt the security-sensitive components of the backup. These security-sensitive components include certificates and credentials. This passphrase is required, and you will be prompted to enter this passphrase when restoring the backup files. Without this passphrase, backup files are not restored. After the passphrase is configured, if you want to change the passphrase, click Update Passphrase.
Backup Retention	Number of backups for which the data is retained. Data older than the specified number of backups is deleted.

NFS: Catalyst Center creates the backup files and posts them to a remote NFS server. For information about the remote server requirements, see Backup server requirements. To configure an NFS backup server, click the NFS radio button and define these settings:


Field	Description
Mount Path	Location of the remote server.
Encryption Passphrase	Passphrase used to encrypt the security-sensitive components of the backup. These security-sensitive components include certificates and credentials. This passphrase is required, and you will be prompted to enter this passphrase when restoring the backup files. Without this passphrase, backup files are not restored. After the passphrase is configured, if you want to change the passphrase, click Update Passphrase.
Backup Retention	Number of backups for which the data is retained. Data older than the specified number of backups is deleted.

Click Submit.

After the request is submitted, you can view the configured physical disk or NFS server under System > Backup & Restore.

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