Create a Configuration Parser

This section introduces how to create a Configuration Parser to extract key metrics from the configuration files of devices.

Example: Parse the version number of a device in its configuration file. 

1. Go to Parser Library, then click New Advanced Parser from the drop-down menu of a folder. The parser editor will open.  
   
   
2. Keep the default Traditional Devices node type and select Cisco Router from the Device Type list.
   
   

   Tip: The system also supports defining a Parser to retrieve and parse SDN data through APIs. See Creating an API Parser to get details about API Parser.

3. (Optional): Click Advanced to configure the settings for filtering applicable devices as qualified device. For more information, see Qualified Device Filter in Advanced Parser.
   
4. Select Configuration from the Data Type dropdown menu.
   
   
5. Select the data source (Live Network/Current Baseline) to obtain the sample configuration file.
   • Live Network: Retrieve live network data. 
   • Current Baseline: Use the current baseline data.
6. Click Retrieve and select a device (e.g., US-BOS-R1) to retrieve sample data.
   
   
7. Highlight the version number in the sample data and click Define Keyword in the floating menu. The Keyword Parser dialog prompts with the following fields auto-populated.
   
   

• Sample — the sample command line where the variable stays.
• Parser — defines keywords and where a variable is located. The Keyword line pattern Version $var1$,is created automatically. It contains the keywords Version that always stay the same and the variable $var1, which varies in different devices.
• Variable — the variable defined in the Parser. To change the auto-created variable name to a more meaningful name, rename the variable, such as from var1 to Version.

8. Click Save Variable in the Keyword Parser dialog. This variable will be displayed in the variable tree.
   
   
9. Click the icon the save the Parser in the Parser Library.

See also:

• Advanced Filter