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 devices 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. Note If you use the same group as the template from which you are copying, the initial template needs to be disabled before enabling the new one. Firmware Version - Choose the new firmware version to which you would like to upgrade. Tip 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 a modem in or 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 for cellular modem(s). If you have devices that use different cellular modems, you can select a different firmware bundle for each type.
   Settings	Configuring Settings - Settings - global and local - are automatically imported from the old template to the new one. As a result of choosing a new firmware version, settings may have changed. What's Changed - If there are changes between firmware versions (modified, new, or removed settings), you will see them listed. This does not appear if there are no changes to the settings between the firmware versions. Review the list and make any necessary changes. Click Accept Changes to proceed. Managed Template Settings - Edit the settings you want managed by the template. You can also use a CSV file to specify site-specific settings.
   Containers	Note 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	Review the files copied to the new template. Make any changes, or continue to the next step.
   Actions	Specify how often your devices are scanned, and the actions that should occur. Remediate - Enabling this setting in the template means 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.

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 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.