Configuring Session Manager

This chapter contains the following sections:

Information About Session Manager

Session Manager allows you to implement your configuration changes in batch mode. Session Manager works in the following phases:

  • Configuration session—Creates a list of commands that you want to implement in session manager mode.

  • Validation—Provides a basic semantic check on your configuration. Cisco NX-OS returns an error if the semantic check fails on any part of the configuration.

  • Verification—Verifies the configuration as a whole, based on the existing hardware and software configuration and resources. Cisco NX-OS returns an error if the configuration does not pass this verification phase.

  • Commit— Cisco NX-OS verifies the complete configuration and implements the changes atomically to the device. If a failure occurs, Cisco NX-OS reverts to the original configuration.

  • Abort—Discards the configuration changes before implementation.

You can optionally end a configuration session without committing the changes. You can also save a configuration session.

Guidelines and Limitations for Session Manager

Session Manager has the following configuration guidelines and limitations:

  • Session Manager supports only the access control list (ACL) feature.

  • You can create up to 32 configuration sessions.

  • You can configure a maximum of 20,000 commands across all sessions.

Configuring Session Manager

Creating a Session

You can create up to 32 configuration sessions.

Procedure
     Command or ActionPurpose
    Step 1 switch# configure session name
     

    Creates a configuration session and enters session configuration mode. The name can be any alphanumeric string.

    Displays the contents of the session.

     
    Step 2 switch(config-s)# show configuration session [name]
          		(Optional)

    Displays the contents of the session.

     
    Step 3 switch(config-s)# save location
          		(Optional)

    Saves the session to a file. The location can be in bootflash or volatile.

     

    Configuring ACLs in a Session

    You can configure ACLs within a configuration session.

    Procedure
       Command or ActionPurpose
      Step 1 switch# configure session name
       

      Creates a configuration session and enters session configuration mode. The name can be any alphanumeric string.

       
      Step 2 switch(config-s)# ip access-list name
       

      Creates an ACL.

       
      Step 3 switch(config-s-acl)# permit protocol source destination
              		(Optional)

      Adds a permit statement to the ACL.

       
      Step 4 switch(config-s-acl)# interface interface-type number
       

      Enters interface configuration mode.

       
      Step 5 switch(config-s-if)# ip port access-group name in
       

      Adds a port access group to the interface.

       
      Step 6 switch# show configuration session [name]
              		(Optional)

      Displays the contents of the session.

       

      Verifying a Session

      To verify a session, use the following command in session mode:

      Command

      Purpose

      switch(config-s)# verify [verbose]

      Verifies the commands in the configuration session.

      Committing a Session

      To commit a session, use the following command in session mode:

      Command

      Purpose

      switch(config-s)# commit [verbose]

      Commits the commands in the configuration session.

      Saving a Session

      To save a session, use the following command in session mode:

      Command

      Purpose

      switch(config-s)# save location

      (Optional) Saves the session to a file. The location can be in bootflash or volatile.

      Discarding a Session

      To discard a session, use the following command in session mode:

      Command

      Purpose

      switch(config-s)# abort

      Discards the configuration session without applying the commands.

      Configuration Example for Session Manager

      The following example shows how to create a configuration session for ACLs: 

      switch# configure session name test2

      switch(config-s)# ip access-list acl2

      switch(config-s-acl)# permit tcp any any

      switch(config-s-acl)# exit

      switch(config-s)# interface Ethernet 1/4

      switch(config-s-ip)# ip port access-group acl2 in

      switch(config-s-ip)# exit

      switch(config-s)# verify

      switch(config-s)# exit

      switch# show configuration session test2

      Verifying the Session Manager Configuration

      To verify Session Manager configuration information, perform one of the following tasks:

      Command

      Purpose

      show configuration session [name]

      Displays the contents of the configuration session.

      show configuration session status [name]

      Displays the status of the configuration session.

      show configuration session summary

      Displays a summary of all the configuration sessions.