USB First Time Config using autoconf.clish files - How it works

[G_W_Albrecht]

For GAiA appliances, ISOmorphic.exe can be used to prepare for autoconfiguration by USB medium, replacing the First Time Wizard, see sk65205. But for SMB appliances, this is different and can be achieved by using an USB medium containing autoconf.clish file(s).

The autoconf.clish files have been documented in the Admin Guides, the CHECK POINT 600/700/1100/1200R/1400 APPLIANCE CLI Guide and in sk104799, sk105518, sk108277 and sk110796. They need no special conventions or syntax apart from standard CLISH commands. As they will mostly be used instead of the First Time Wizard, it is clear which configuration details it should contain. The USB drive with the autoconf.clish file can be inserted in the front or the rear USB port, but make sure it is formatted in FAT32.

Two kinds of autoconf.clish can be used: A general autoconfiguration CLI script named autoconf.clish and/or a MAC-specific configuration CLI script named autoconf.XX-XX-XX-XX-XX.clish with the MAC of the unit in the filename. These files are used as follows:

1. If only an autoconf.clish file is present, it is used for configuration.
2. If only an autoconf.XX-XX-XX-XX-XX.clish with a MAC identical with the units MAC is present, it is used for configuration.
3. If both an autoconf.clish file and an autoconf.XX-XX-XX-XX-XX.clish with correct MAC are present, first the general autoconfiguration CLI script and then the MAC-specific configuration CLI script is used for configuration, with the MAC-specific configuration CLI script being able to re-define settings from the general configuration CLI script.

Successfull configuration is shown by a ...Done after running the script:

System Started...
Start running general autoconfiguration CLI script from USB1 ...Done

System Started...
Start running MAC-specific autoconfiguration CLI script from USB1 ...Done

System Started...
Start running general autoconfiguration CLI script from USB1
Start running MAC-specific autoconfiguration CLI script from USB1 ...Done

If not successful, a log is saved containing the commands and the corresponding errors:

System Started...
Start running general autoconfiguration CLI script from USB1 ... Error.
autoconf.00-1C-7F-70-2F-58.2014-10-07.0931.log was copied to USB1

System Started...
Start running MAC-specific autoconfiguration CLI script from USB1 ... Error.
autoconf.00-1C-7F-70-2F-58.2014-10-07.1706.log was copied to USB1

The USB LED is red when there is a problem running the configuration script. After an error, the unit is in the First Time Wizard state, but values may have been set that are not shown in First Time Wizard. So a restore default-settings should be issued and the process repeated after correcting the autoconf.clish file.

You can find the second and third parts of this article here:

USB First Time Config using autoconf.clish files - How to use them

USB First Time Config using autoconf.clish files - How it is written

And you can also consult my article:

Configuration transfer between different SMB models 

Also see this list SMB documents for more.