topic Re: How to Backup Checkpoint R80.20 management server in Firewall and Security Management

How to Backup Checkpoint R80.20 management server

dnpl — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 12:09:08 GMT

I wanted to know what options I have to backup Checkpoint mangement server. Specifically want to know how to backup the smart console database. I don't backup of the gateway applicances.

I need to be able to backup the NAT rules, VPN's etc in Smart console and potentially restore them.

Currently I do take a Azure VM backup and want a second backup of the mangement server.

Currently I'm using Checkpoint R80.20

Is there any way to backup Smart Console via the software?

Re: How to Backup Checkpoint R80.20 management server

PhoneBoy — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 01:48:36 GMT

It depends entirely on what you're going to do with the backup.
The various options are explained here:
https://supportcenter.checkpoint.com/supportcenter/portal?eventSubmit_doGoviewsolutiondetails=&solutionid=sk108902

If you want to potentially use the backup to create a new management server or upgrade to a new version on new hardware, you should use the migration tools.

Re: How to Backup Checkpoint R80.20 management server

dnpl — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 08:52:19 GMT

Thanks for the reply @PhoneBoy.

Sorry I'm a bit new to all this and I just wanted to know the best way to backup the rule base in smart console.

What's the best recommended method for that?

Re: How to Backup Checkpoint R80.20 management server

Hasse_Haglund — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 09:06:02 GMT

@dnpl personally I would use the backup scheduler and send the backups to a dedicated SFTP server.

Re: How to Backup Checkpoint R80.20 management server

dnpl — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 10:28:29 GMT

@Hasse_Haglund Is there any documentation or link on how to do this in Checkpoint R80.20 please?

Re: How to Backup Checkpoint R80.20 management server

Jeroen_Demets — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 11:46:23 GMT

Browse to your management server using https, login and go to Maintenance, System Backup

There you can create a backup and even schedule it. Unfortunately sftp is not in the gui but ftp and scp are.

Re: How to Backup Checkpoint R80.20 management server

dnpl — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 15:37:57 GMT

Thanks @Jeroen_Demets that's exactly what I wanted.

Re: How to Backup Checkpoint R80.20 management server

PhoneBoy — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 18:14:36 GMT

Like I said, it entirely depends what the purpose of the backup is.
The backup options in Gaia OS are good if you want to restore to the same hardware type.
If you want to restore to a different hardware type and/or do an upgrade the migration tools are a better bet.