2025-04-27 0

How to Save Configuration in Huawei Switch? Can Proper Backups Prevent Network Disasters?

Imagine spending hours fine-tuning your ​Huawei switch’s VLANs, ACLs, and QoS rules—only to lose everything during a routine reboot. Saving configurations isn’t just a box-ticking task; it’s the digital life jacket your network needs when storms hit. While the save command seems straightforward, mishandling it has bricked switches, erased critical settings, and even triggered compliance audits. So, ​how do you save configurations in a Huawei switch correctly? And can a bulletproof backup strategy truly rescue you from firmware crashes or ransomware attacks? Let’s strip away the guesswork and drill into methods that turn configuration saves from a chore into a lifeline.

d5c364490d3a780088b32f94bcd8743c Physical Topology

The Basics: Saving Without Shooting Yourself in the Foot

The save command is your first ally—but misuse it, and you’ll regret it. Here’s the right way:

  1. ​Manual Save via Console/SSH: 
    <Huawei> save  
The current configuration will be written to the device.  
Are you sure to continue?[Y/N] y

    ​Always confirm the save location: Use display startup to check if configurations save to the correct memory (e.g., flash:/vrpcfg.zip). A tech team in Berlin lost a week’s work because their saves went to a USB drive that wasn’t mounted.

  2. ​Automatic Timed Saves:
    Schedule daily backups to avoid human forgetfulness: 
    scheduler schedule DAILY_SAVE  
user-interface con 0  
idle-timeout 20 0  
task backup_config  
time repeating 04:00:00  
save

    This auto-saves at 4 AM daily. Test it once—cron jobs fail silently if permissions are wrong.

Beyond Basics: Nuclear-Proof Backups

Manual saves aren’t enough. Fortify your strategy with:

  1. ​External Backup to FTP/TFTP: 
    ftp 192.168.1.100  
put vrpcfg.zip /backup/huawei_switch_config_$(date +%F).zip

    Store versions with dates—critical for rolling back after bad updates.

  2. ​Configuration Compare & Rollback:
    Use compare configuration to spot unsaved changes: 
    <Huawei> compare configuration  
Display the differences between the current configuration and the next startup configuration? [Y/N]: y

    If mismatched, reset saved-configuration and reload the clean file.

  3. ​Password-Encrypted Archives:
    Protect backups from prying eyes: 
    zip -er backup.zip vrpcfg.zip  
Enter password: ​**********

    A hospital avoided a HIPAA violation by encrypting configs containing patient IoT device settings.

When Saves Go Wrong: Recovery Tactics

Even pros mess up. Here’s how to salvage botched saves:

  • ​BootROM Rescue:
    • Reboot the switch, press Ctrl+B during startup.
    • Select Restore Factory Configuration but ​only if you have a backup.
  • ​USB Recovery:
    • Format a USB drive as FAT32, copy vrpcfg.zip to it.
    • Insert into the switch’s USB port and run: 
      startup saved-configuration usb:/vrpcfg.zip  
reboot

    A logistics company revived a switch in 15 minutes using this method after a firmware update corrupted the config.

Automate or Perish: Smart Backup Workflows

Manual backups are risky. Automate with:

  • ​Huawei’s eSight NMS: Schedule config backups across 100+ switches, with alerts for failed saves.
  • ​Git Version Control: Store configs in a Git repo to track changes. Use commit messages like “Pre-QoS-Update-2024”.
  • ​Cloud Sync: Use scripts to upload encrypted configs to AWS S3 or Azure Blob Storage nightly.

A university IT team rolled back a breaking ACL change in 2 minutes using Git history—no panic required.

Why Saving Configs Is Your Network’s Insurance Policy
Saving configurations in Huawei switches isn’t about compliance checklists—it’s about survival. Every unsaved change is a potential disaster waiting to erase weeks of work or expose sensitive data. By mastering manual saves, automating backups, and preparing for worst-case scenarios, you transform routine tasks into an unbreakable safety net.