Cisco Configuration Engine

Simplify Router and Switch Deployments

Cisco Configuration Engine 3.0 is a secure network-management product that provides intelligent image and configuration distribution through centralized template-based management. It provides a scalable infrastructure for managing the large-scale deployment of Cisco devices, taking full advantage of the Cisco CNS Intelligent Agent technology embedded in Cisco IOS Software to manage Cisco routers and switches.

Using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) to interface with Cisco IOS Software devices or Cisco PIX firewalls or using Secure Shell (SSH) Protocol to access devices that are not enabled with Cisco CNS agents, the Cisco Configuration Engine provides an end-to-end, zero-touch deployment solution for the entire portfolio of Cisco products.

Cisco Configuration Engine offers a programmatic interface to a customer's operations support or business support systems through the Cisco Software Development Kit. Cisco Configuration Engine also provides speed: 10,000 device-image or configuration updates in less than an hour per deployed server.

Cisco Configuration Engine can offers scalability and high availability by combining multiple Cisco Configuration Engine servers behind a Cisco load balancer. Key features include:

• Zero-touch deployment for initial rollout
• Cisco IOS bulk configuration updates
• Cisco IOS software image distribution and activation
• Web Service API for programmatic access to Cisco Configuration Engine
• Intuitive web-based graphical user interface
• Support for third-party devices

Benefits of implementing Cisco Configuration Engine include:

• Reduced deployment costs (Cisco IT achieved 12% to 14% savings for zero-touch deployment to telework employees)
• Accelerated CPE deployment and revenue ramp-up
• Automation of routine operations results in manual errors and increased uptime