Manually add devices/configs?

Question

We're running Cirrus 4.0.1 with data stored on an external MS SQL server. Before I muck with the database, I wanted to know if there's any (easier) way of adding device info for, say, Cisco switches which are not SNMP-reachable from the Cirrus box. Ideally I'd like to populate as closely as possible the types/quantity of data which Cirrus gets by polling and downloading configs. Yes, I know this kind of misses the point of Cirrus, so please don't go out of your way to tell me that.

GeorgeK · Answer

You could use the File > Import Device capability to get these devices into Cirrus initially.

So before I did a File > Import Device I did an Export to CSV of an existing device, to get some idea of what I can populate easily. Turns out that the column names (field names) you guys use when you export is not the same as the column names you use when you import. That sure makes life ... interesting. Case of right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing? I guess that's why you said the schema is "pretty" transparent. It might be more transparent if I knew that "Node Name" and "NodeCaption" were the same thing.

GeorgeK · Answer

Thanks for the reply, Chris. I'm not uncomfortable with SQL.

chris.lapoint · Answer

You could use the File > Import Device capability to get these devices into Cirrus initially.  Unfortunately, from that point forward, you're going to have to muck with the database to add the data that Cirrus would normally get by polling / downloading configurations.   The database schema is pretty transparent, so this shouldn't be too bad if you know SQL.   Good luck ;-)