rancid-cvs

Initialize CVS repositories for all defined RANCID groups

$ rancid-cvs

$ rancid-cvs

rancid-cvs

rancid-cvs initializes and maintains the version control repository structure for RANCID (Really Awesome New Cisco Config Differ). It creates the necessary directories and CVS/Subversion repositories for each device group defined in the RANCID configuration.
RANCID is a network device configuration management tool that automatically backs up configurations from routers, switches, and firewalls (Cisco, Juniper, HP, etc.), tracks changes in version control, and sends email notifications when configurations change.
The command reads the LISTOFGROUPS variable from /etc/rancid/rancid.conf and creates the corresponding directory structure under the RANCID home directory (typically /var/lib/rancid). Each group gets its own subdirectory with CVS working directories.
Run this command after initial RANCID installation and whenever new device groups are added to the configuration. Existing groups are not overwritten when the command is rerun.

/etc/rancid/rancid.conf

Main RANCID configuration defining LISTOFGROUPS, RCSSYS (cvs or svn), mail aliases, and working directory paths.

Per-group device inventory file listing device hostnames, types, and status (up/down) for configuration collection.

Variable in rancid.conf selecting the version control backend (cvs or svn).

Must be run as the rancid user, not root. The command expects proper permissions on the RANCID directories and CVS repository.
Requires CVS or Subversion to be installed and configured. The repository type is determined by the RCSSYS variable in rancid.conf.
The command does not configure devices or credentials. Device definitions must be added separately to the router.db file in each group directory.

RANCID was originally developed at Shrubbery Networks by Henry Kilmer and John Heasley. The name "Really Awesome New Cisco Config Differ" reflects its origins as a Cisco-focused tool, though it now supports many network device vendors. Development began in the late 1990s as organizations needed automated configuration backup and change tracking.

rancid-run(1), cvs(1), svn(1), clogin(1)