Version Control for Network Configs – Bring Git-Like Power to Your Routers! [CCNP ENTERPRISE]

I’ve seen this scenario more times than I can count: “Who changed the switch config and broke VLAN access?” or “Why was BGP removed from this router yesterday?” These are not just frustrating moments; they’re productivity killers. That’s where version control for network configurations comes in—and let me tell you, it’s a total game-changer.

Just like developers use Git to track code changes, we network engineers can (and should!) use version control to manage router, switch, and firewall configs. You’ll have complete visibility of what changed, who changed it, and when. Whether you’re prepping for CCNP, DevNet, or managing a multi-vendor enterprise network—version control isn’t optional anymore; it’s essential.

Let’s break it all down from the fundamentals to lab-level hands-on.

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Theory in Brief

What is Version Control?

Version Control is a system that records changes to files over time. For network engineers, this means tracking configuration files of routers, switches, firewalls, and even automation scripts. You can roll back to a previous version, audit changes, or share exact versions with team members.

Popular tools like Git, RANCID, and Oxidized help in achieving this.

Why Do We Need Version Control for Network Devices?

• Track changes made to configs
• Restore older configs if something breaks
• Maintain audit trails for compliance
• Collaborate within teams
• Integrate with automation tools like Ansible or Python scripts

Imagine treating your router’s config like a developer treats their code. That’s the mindset shift we’re making!How It Works in Networking

You pull device configurations using SSH or APIs. These configs are then stored in plain-text files. Git (or similar tools) keeps track of every change to those files. You can compare, revert, or even auto-deploy them back if needed.

Integration with CI/CD Pipelines

Yes, network automation is heading toward DevOps principles! Tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, and GitHub Actions can be integrated with Ansible or Python to push only validated configurations after successful reviews and testing.

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Version Control Comparison

Feature	Git	RANCID	Oxidized
Purpose	General Version Control	Config change detection	Config backup + Git integration
Language Support	All file types	Network device configs only	Network device configs only
Real-time Monitoring	No	Yes	Yes
Git Integration	Native	Manual export	Native
CLI/Script Friendly	Yes	Limited	Yes
GUI Available	GitHub/GitLab/Bitbucket	No	With third-party dashboard

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Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Tracks every config change	Initial learning curve (especially with Git)
Enables collaboration & approvals	Needs a Git server or third-party hosting
Can restore old configs instantly	External dependency (pull scripts need reliability)
Can be automated with cron or Ansible	Pulling device configs needs secure credentials
Audit trail improves security posture	Not all tools support all vendors

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Essential CLI Commands for Version Control

Task	CLI Command / Description
Show running configuration	show running-config
Export config via SSH (Linux)	scp user@router:/config.txt ./router_config.txt
Commit changes (Git)	git add . && git commit -m "Updated R1 config"
View config differences	git diff router_config.txt
Restore old version	git checkout <commit-id> router_config.txt
Clone versioned configs repo	git clone https://github.com/myteam/network-configs.git
Backup config using Oxidized	oxidized --config /etc/oxidized/config
Schedule auto-pull (Linux cronjob)	crontab -e → @hourly /scripts/pull-config.sh
Ansible config pull example	ansible-playbook fetch_configs.yml
Verify backup timestamp	ls -lt configs/

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Real-World Use Case – Git + Ansible + Router Config Backup

Objective	Automatically pull configs from routers & store in Git
Devices Involved	Cisco Routers and Switches
Tools Used	Git, Ansible, SSH
Process	Ansible pulls config → stores in text → Git commits it
Result	Centralized, versioned, traceable network configurations
Bonus	Integrated Slack alert when config change is committed

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Small EVE-NG Lab – Git-Based Config Tracking

Lab Diagram

• R1/R2 – Cisco IOS Routers
• Ubuntu Git Server – Acts as Git repo and config puller
• Mgmt Switch – Optional, connects lab together

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Objective

• Use a shell script or Ansible to pull running-config from R1 and R2
• Store configs in Git repo
• Track changes with Git commits

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CLI Configuration Steps

On R1 and R2:

hostname R1
username netadmin privilege 15 password cisco123
ip domain-name netjourney.lab
crypto key generate rsa
ip ssh version 2
line vty 0 4
 login local
 transport input ssh

On Git Server (Ubuntu):

sudo apt install git ansible sshpass

# Clone your repo
git clone https://github.com/networkjourney/configs.git

# Create Ansible inventory and playbook
vi inventory.ini
[Routers]
192.168.100.1
192.168.100.2

vi fetch_configs.yml
---
- hosts: Routers
  gather_facts: no
  tasks:
    - name: Backup running-config
      ios_config:
        backup: yes

# Commit pulled configs
git add .
git commit -m "Daily config snapshot"

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Troubleshooting Tips

Problem	Troubleshooting Tip
Git not committing changes	Use git status to check staged files
SSH connection fails	Validate username/password, or use SSH keys
Cron jobs not working	Run script manually to check for syntax errors
Config not updated in repo	Ensure file is really modified (Git ignores unchanged files)
Git remote errors	Check .git/config and verify GitHub credentials
Oxidized not pulling configs	Check device credentials and model in Oxidized config
Ansible connection issues	Add ansible_connection=network_cli and proper ansible_network_os
Config version overwritten	Use git pull before committing
Large diff output in Git	Use git diff --color-words for easier readability
Router time mismatch	Sync router time with NTP for accurate logs

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FAQs – Version Control for Network Configs

1. What is version control, and how is it relevant to network engineers?

Answer:
Version control is the practice of tracking changes to files over time, commonly used in software development. But it’s just as useful for network engineers! Think of it like keeping a history of your router or switch configurations, so you can:

• See who changed what, and when
• Roll back to a previous version if something breaks
• Collaborate more easily in a team
  Tools like Git allow you to bring these powerful practices into network automation and configuration management.

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2. How can I track changes in network device configurations using Git?

Answer:
You can periodically back up your network configs (e.g., using Ansible, Python scripts, or manually), and then store those config files in a Git repository. Every time you make a change:

• Commit the new version
• Add a comment explaining the update
• Push it to a remote repo (like GitHub, GitLab, or a private Git server)
  This allows you to compare versions, see diffs, and recover quickly if a change causes problems in production.

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3. Is Git only for software developers or can network engineers use it too?

Answer:
Git was originally designed for software development, but it’s incredibly valuable for network engineers, especially as networks become more programmable. Whether you manage configurations manually or via automation tools like Ansible or Python, Git helps you:

• Track config changes
• Collaborate with your team
• Improve documentation
• Ensure consistency across multiple devices

Using Git isn’t just a good practice anymore—it’s becoming a critical skill in modern NetDevOps workflows.

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4. Can I integrate Git with network automation tools like Ansible or Python scripts?

Answer:
Yes, and you absolutely should!
You can:

• Use Ansible playbooks that pull device configurations and store them as text files
• Use Python scripts with libraries like Netmiko or Nornir to fetch config and save to .txt files
• Then track these files with Git
  This allows you to create automated pipelines that both configure and version your network devices—like CI/CD for networks!

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5. How do I compare different versions of a router config using Git?

Answer:
When you store config files in Git, you can use the git diff command to compare:

git diff HEAD~1 config_backup.txt

This will show you the exact lines added, removed, or changed.
You can also use GUI tools like GitHub Desktop, VS Code, or GitKraken to visually compare versions.
This is a game changer for troubleshooting—you’ll immediately spot what changed and can revert if needed.

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6. Where should I host my network configuration repositories—GitHub, GitLab, or local server?

Answer:
It depends on your use case:

• GitHub/GitLab/Bitbucket: Great for learning and collaborating, with free private repos
• Private Git Server: Best for enterprise environments where configs are sensitive
• Self-hosted GitLab or Gitea: If you want full control and security

Regardless of the platform, the key is to ensure access control, backups, and encryption when handling production device configs.

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7. What are the best practices for naming and organizing config files in Git?

Answer:
Here’s a structure that works well for most teams:

network-configs/
├── routers/
│   ├── R1/
│   │   ├── config-2025-07-07.txt
│   │   └── config-2025-06-30.txt
├── switches/
│   └── SW1/
│       ├── config-2025-07-07.txt
│       └── config-2025-06-30.txt

Use:

• Device names as folder names
• Timestamps in filenames
• Commit messages to summarize changes

This keeps your repo clean, searchable, and audit-friendly.

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8. How does version control improve network troubleshooting?

Answer:
Version control lets you:

• Quickly identify config changes that caused an issue
• Roll back to the last known good state in seconds
• Collaborate with your team to see who made the change and why
  In traditional setups, troubleshooting is often guesswork. With Git, it’s data-driven and fast—no more “when did that ACL change?” headaches.

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9. Can I automate config backups and commits using cron jobs or CI tools?

Answer:
Yes! You can create a scheduled task (cron job) or use a CI/CD tool like Jenkins/GitHub Actions to:

1. Pull current config from the device using a script
2. Save the config as a .txt file
3. Commit and push it to a Git repo

For example, a simple bash script can run every night and version control your network, hands-free.

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10. Is using Git and version control DevNet/CCNP exam relevant?

Answer:
Absolutely. For DevNet Associate and Professional, you’re expected to understand:

• Git basics (clone, commit, push, pull)
• CI/CD pipelines for networks
• Configuration management principles
  For CCNP Enterprise Automation (ENAUTO), using tools like Git is part of managing configuration state across programmable networks.
  It’s not just exam-relevant—it’s job-relevant.

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YouTube Video

Watch the Complete CCNP Enterprise: Version Control for Network Configs – Bring Git-Like Power to Your Routers! Lab Demo & Explanation on our channel:

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Final Note

Understanding how to differentiate and implement Version Control for Network Configs – Bring Git-Like Power to Your Routers! is critical for anyone pursuing CCNP Enterprise (ENCOR) certification or working in enterprise network roles. Use this guide in your practice labs, real-world projects, and interviews to show a solid grasp of architectural planning and CLI-level configuration skills.

If you found this article helpful and want to take your skills to the next level, I invite you to join my Instructor-Led Weekend Batch for:

CCNP Enterprise to CCIE Enterprise – Covering ENCOR, ENARSI, SD-WAN, and more!

Get hands-on labs, real-world projects, and industry-grade training that strengthens your Routing & Switching foundations while preparing you for advanced certifications and job roles.

Email: info@networkjourney.com
WhatsApp / Call: +91 97395 21088

Upskill now and future-proof your networking career!

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