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ipMonitor provides the ability to import and export configuration settings in XML format.

The Import Settings option imports a properly structured XML file into ipMonitor. This file can be used to make configuration changes and add new Monitors, Profiles and Alerts, Maintenance Schedules and Report Configurations to your installation.

The Export Settings option will export most ipMonitor configuration settings to an industry-standard XML file. Security-related parameters are not exported.

Taking advantage of ipMonitor's ability to import and export configuration settings allows you to:

• Import and export settings between ipMonitor and other management solutions.
• Administrate network resources outside of ipMonitor and import configuration settings into ipMonitor.
• Move components of one ipMonitor configuration to another ipMonitor installation.
• Download and import resources provided by SolarWinds.Net to assist you in setting up various Monitoring, Alerting and Recovery tasks.

To edit the resulting XML file once you have exported your configuration settings, you will need access to a text editor such as Notepad, UltraEdit, etc.

Click the PDF icon to open a printable PDF version of this tutorial. It includes all the information found here, including images from the ipMonitor software, diagrams, and links to additional resources.

ipMonitor allows you to export many of your installation's configuration settings using the Export Settings option. The settings are then written to an industry-standard XML file, which can be accessed and modified using a text editor. Using this ability, it is possible to export settings from remote without requiring access to the local file system.

To export your existing configuration settings, proceed with the following:

1. Log in to the ipMonitor Administration web interface.
2. Click the Settings menu option, then select Export Settings.

3. Select all the Areas to Export options that are to be included in the XML file.

4. Click the Export button.
5. The XML file will be displayed in a new web browser window. To save the output, simply click the File menu option, then select Save As... When prompted, select a target directory and enter a file name.

A properly structured XML file can be imported into ipMonitor using the Import Settings feature. This file can be newly created, or obtained by exporting configuration settings from an alternate ipMonitor installation or by downloading resources from SolarWinds.Net.

Imported XML files can be used to make configuration changes and add new Monitors, Profiles, Alerts, Maintenance Schedules and Report Generators to your installation.

1. Log in to the ipMonitor Administration web interface.
2. Click the Settings menu option, then select Import Settings.

3. Select all the Areas to Import options included in the XML file being used.

4. Two methods are available to import data into your ipMonitor installation:
   
   Upload Local File
   This option allows you to upload a properly formatted XML file directly into your installation.
   
   • Enter the path and file name manually in the XML File Name field, or click the Browse... button to locate the desired file and populate this field.
   
   • Click the Import button located at the bottom of the screen.

TIP The file being imported is relative to ipMonitor, and is not uploaded via HTTP or HTTPS. Instead, the ipMonitor Service attempts to locate and open the file. Therefore, if the XML file is not located on the ipMonitor host system, a UNC path must be used and the ipMonitor Service must have the appropriate privileges to open the file.

5. Cut and Paste XML
   This option allows you to paste a section of formatted XML text and import it directly in your installation without the need to create or locate a file. This ability is especially useful for making last-minute changes to your XML configuration before the import process.
   
   • Paste the formatted XML text into the XML Text field. The blue arrow button allows you to expand the field to encompass the full length of the text.
   
   • Make any last-minute editing changes to the text as needed.
   
   • Click the Import button located at the bottom of the screen.

The Import Settings option can also be used to create new Monitors, Groups, Alerts, Profiles, Maintenance Schedules and Report Generators. Each of these features contains a Popup XML button on the menu bar, which allows you to display the item's XML settings in text format and edit the output with a text editor such as Notepad or Ultra Edit.

The following example will walk you through creating a new batch of Monitors:

1. From the Monitors List, click on a previously configured Monitor name to enter Edit Mode.
2. Click the Popup XML button to display the Monitor's XML settings.

3. Save the resulting output and open it using a text editor.

Note: The settings displayed below are based on a configured Ping Monitor. However, the general layout of the XML file will remain the same regardless of the type of Monitor or feature you choose to duplicate.

<monitor>
 <id>11112223333</id>
 <typeid>16</typeid>
 <nv>
  <ui>
   <name>Ping Monitor - XYZ Company</name>
   <server></server>
  </ui>
  <cred>
   <monitoring></monitoring>
   <alerting></alerting>
  </cred>
  <addr>www.xyzcompany.com</addr>
 </nv>
 <testing>
  <up>300</up>
  <warn>300</warn>
  <down>300</down>
  <lost>300</lost>
 </testing>
 <stats>
  <enabled>true</enabled>
 </stats>
 <tags>
  <tag>
   <name>createdate</name>
   <value>Aug/27/2004/13:22:20</value>
  </tag>
  <tag>
   <name>scanid</name>
   <value>9999888877</value>
  </tag>
 </tags>
 <enabled>true</enabled>
 <maxtest>300</maxtest>
 <notifyfailures>3</notifyfailures>
 <maxalerts>3</maxalerts>
</monitor>

4. Remove the data between the <id> and </id> tags.

TIP To create a new Monitor upon import, the XML file must not show a value between the <id> and </id> tags. Leaving the data between the <id> and </id> tags intact before importing the file will result in the changes being applied to the existing Monitor.

5. Copy the text from the original Monitor template as many times as you require, changing the value in the <name> </name> and <addr> </addr> tags as desired.
6. Place an <export> tag at the beginning of the file (just above the first <monitor> tag), and an </export> tag at the end of the file (just below the last </monitor> tag).

TIP The 'root' <export> and </export> tags must be present for ipMonitor to be able to import a file.

The XML structure displayed below shows a new Monitor ready to be imported:

<export>
<monitor>
 <id></id>
 <typeid>16</typeid>
 <nv>
  <ui>
   <name>NEW Ping Monitor - XYZ Company</name>
   <server></server>
  </ui>
  <cred>
   <monitoring></monitoring>
   <alerting></alerting>
  </cred>
  <addr>ftp.xyzcompany.com</addr>
 </nv>
 <testing>
  <up>300</up>
  <warn>300</warn>
  <down>300</down>
  <lost>300</lost>
 </testing>
 <stats>
  <enabled>true</enabled>
 </stats>
 <tags>
  <tag>
   <name>createdate</name>
   <value>Aug/27/2004/13:22:20</value>
  </tag>
  <tag>
   <name>scanid</name>
   <value>9999888877</value>
  </tag>
 </tags>
 <enabled>true</enabled>
 <maxtest>300</maxtest>
 <notifyfailures>3</notifyfailures>
 <maxalerts>3</maxalerts>
</monitor>
</export>

7. When you are ready to save the file, ensure that the file name ends in the .XML extension.
8. Access the ipMonitor Administration web interface.
9. Click the Settings menu option, then select Import Settings.
10. Place a checkmark in the Import Monitors checkbox of the Areas to Import section.
11. Click the Browse... button to choose the path and file name of the XML file you created. This action will populate the XML File Name field.
12. Click Import.

Exporting your ipMonitor configuration using the Export Settings option should not be used as the primary method of backing up ipMonitor. Although Monitors, Groups, Profiles, Alerts, Maintenance Schedules and Report Generators can all be included in the export process, the following items cannot be exported:

• User Accounts
• Credentials
• Monitor databases
• Monitor State files
• Server Settings
• Whiteboard contents
• Network Scan results
• Content Generator settings
• Updates and Tips
• Historic Reports

TIP In order to fully back up your ipMonitor configuration, we recommend using manual Backup feature accessed from the Settings menu option. All your previously configured items can be backed up using this process, including Monitors, Alerts, Profiles, Accounts, etc.

For more information regarding importing and exporting your configuration settings, access the Settings section of ipMonitor's Context-Sensitive Help system, then click the Import / Export Settings link. The Context-Sensitive Help can be accessed by clicking the Help link located in the top right corner of ipMonitor's Administration web interface.

For information on other features and concepts related to those discussed in this article, refer to the following ipMonitor resources:

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Last Updated: May 9, 2007 | What did you think of this topic?