Best practice | Upgrade the firmware on multiple routers using a template

Do you have multiple routers that require a firmware update? Do you want to update them using the same firmware version? Do you want to automate this process? If you answered Yes to these questions, a template is just what you need!

Prerequisites

• Digi Remote Manager and the Template feature.

• One router online and connected to Digi Remote Manager.

Workflow

1. Choose one router and upgrade its firmware.

2. Make sure the router functions as it should with the new firmware.

3. Create a new group.

4. Add the router you upgraded to the new group.

5. Click Devices, and then in the device list, select the checkbox for the device you upgraded.

   The configuration on this device will be copied to the template you create.

6. Click Actions Create Template from Device Settings.

   The template wizard opens.

7. Complete the mandatory and/or optional settings for each step. The following table highlights information you may want to know about some of the settings as you move through the steps in the wizard.

   Details	Name - Specify the name of the template. Tip Consider adding the device type and group in the template name for quicker identification. Groups - Only device(s) in the group(s) you select will be updated by this new template. As you add devices to the group associated with the new template, they are automatically scanned and/or remediated. Select a Model Device - Choose the device that you updated. Tip Do you want to use a template to update your devices to a new configuration, but you've been warned about a step-firmware upgrade that must be done first? If so, you can use an automation to upgrade all the devices in the group to the required step-firmware version, and then use the new template to update them to the newer configuration. You can also configure this automation to run before the template performs it scan. You can set up this automation in the Automation step.
   Cellular Modem Firmware	Note You will not see this step if you do not have peripheral modems attached to your devices, your modems do not support being updated via templates, or you are running 24.9 or older firmware. Specify whether you want to upgrade the firmware on the peripheral modems attached to your devices.
   Settings	Configuring Settings - Choose whether you want to import all, some, or none of the settings from a device, or skip this step. If you skip this step, none of the settings are imported to the new template. If you want to import the settings with no changes, then make sure the Initially make all settings managed checkbox is turned on, then click the Import from button. If you want to import the settings , but make some changes to those settings, then make sure the Initially make all settings managed checkbox is turned off, then click the Import from button. You will be able to change the settings before proceeding. After the settings are imported, you can also use a CSV file to specify site-specific settings.
   Containers	Note If you do not have this feature, you will not see this step. Specify the container(s) you want to add to the template or continue to the next step.
   File System	Upload and organize the files required for your device. Make any changes, or continue to the next step.
   Actions	Specify how often your devices are scanned, and the actions that should occur. Enable Scanning - Turn on if you want the template to be active. Remediate - Turn on this so that when a device is scanned and its settings and files are not in compliance with the configuration specified in the template, the device is automatically scanned and updated. If the Remediation setting is not enabled, the device is scanned, but not updated. This allows you to review the change(s) that would be made before turning on remediation.

8. Click Save.

   The new template is created.

9. In the group you created in Step 3, add several routers.

   The routers are scanned and upgraded automatically.

10. Make sure the routers function as they should with the new firmware.

    Repeat Step 9 until all your routers have been added to the group and are upgraded.

    Tip Now that you have moved all your routers to a new group and those routers are now controlled by the new template, you may want to delete any old groups or templates superseded by the new ones you created.