Top 7 Time-Saving Scripts and Templates for SolarWinds CatTools

5 Essential Features of SolarWinds CatTools You Should KnowSolarWinds CatTools is a lightweight but powerful network automation utility designed to simplify routine configuration and management tasks for network devices. It’s widely used by network engineers and administrators who need a fast, reliable way to back up configurations, push changes, and run scripted tasks across multiple devices. Below are five essential features of CatTools that make it a valuable addition to any network toolkit, with practical tips and examples for using each one effectively.

1. Automated Configuration Backup

One of CatTools’ core strengths is its ability to automatically back up device configurations on a scheduled basis. Regular backups protect against accidental misconfigurations, hardware failures, and other incidents that could lead to extended downtime.

• What it does: Connects to devices (SSH, Telnet, etc.), retrieves running and startup configurations, and stores them with timestamps.
• Why it matters: Quick recovery and easy change tracking. If a bad change is introduced, you can compare the current config to a known-good backup and restore or reapply settings.
• Practical tips:
  • Schedule backups during off-peak hours to reduce device load.
  • Keep backups in a secure, separate location and consider off-site replication.
  • Use standardized naming conventions (device name, timestamp, site) to make searches and restores simpler.

Example scenario: After a planned firmware upgrade, CatTools runs a scheduled backup every night; when an unexpected rollback is needed, the admin quickly restores the previous config from the backup repository.

2. Bulk Configuration and Command Execution

CatTools lets you run the same command or configuration across many devices at once — ideal for pushing policy updates, changing SNMP strings, or applying ACL changes.

• What it does: Sends a predefined set of commands (from a file or template) to a group of devices, either interactively or on a schedule.
• Why it matters: Saves hours of manual CLI work and reduces human error when making repetitive changes.
• Practical tips:
  • Test commands on a small, representative group first or use non-production devices.
  • Include rollback commands or ensure you have a reliable backup before changes.
  • Use variables or templates to customize commands per-device (hostname, IP, location).

Example scenario: Rolling out updated NTP server settings to 200 edge routers using a single CatTools job instead of manually editing each device.

3. Config Comparison and Change Reporting

CatTools includes tools to compare current configurations against previous versions and to generate change reports. These features are invaluable for auditing, troubleshooting, and meeting compliance requirements.

• What it does: Shows diffs between two configuration snapshots, highlights additions, deletions, and modifications, and can produce human-readable reports.
• Why it matters: Rapidly identifies what changed and when, helping pinpoint the cause of outages or misbehavior.
• Practical tips:
  • Integrate change reports with ticketing or logging systems for traceability.
  • Use scheduled diff checks to detect unexpected or unauthorized changes.
  • Train team members to read diffs and use them during incident response.

Example scenario: A sudden routing issue is traced to a recently applied ACL change; the config comparison pinpoints the exact line that caused the problem.

4. Multivendor Support and Protocol Flexibility

Although it’s lightweight, CatTools supports many vendors and connection methods (SSH, Telnet, SNMP, and more). This makes it suitable for heterogeneous environments where multiple device types coexist.

• What it does: Uses device-specific scripts/templates and connection methods to interact with Cisco, Juniper, HP, and other equipment.
• Why it matters: Prevents tool sprawl — you don’t need separate utilities for each vendor.
• Practical tips:
  • Maintain a library of vendor-specific templates and update them when you upgrade firmware or platforms.
  • Use SNMP for read-only operations when SSH isn’t available or desirable.
  • Verify command syntax differences across vendors to avoid failures.

Example scenario: Backing up both Cisco IOS and Juniper Junos configurations in the same scheduled job.

5. Scheduling, Logging, and Job Management

Effective automation tools require robust scheduling and logging. CatTools provides simple scheduling options, detailed logs for every job, and easy job management so administrators can see status, history, and errors.

• What it does: Lets you set up recurring tasks, view job success/failure, and export logs for audits or troubleshooting.
• Why it matters: Ensures tasks run reliably and gives visibility into automation activity.
• Practical tips:
  • Use job dependencies or staggered schedules to avoid overloading network devices.
  • Regularly review logs for intermittent failures that may indicate device issues.
  • Archive old logs to keep the management console responsive.

Example scenario: A nightly backup job shows intermittent timeouts to a remote site — logs reveal a WAN issue that the network team can then investigate.

Best Practices When Using CatTools

• Maintain an organized library of templates and scripts, version-controlled if possible.
• Always back up configurations before making mass changes.
• Start automation in a limited scope, validate results, then expand.
• Use role-based access control for the CatTools console to prevent unauthorized changes.
• Combine CatTools with monitoring tools to trigger backups or jobs after specific events.

Using SolarWinds CatTools can dramatically reduce manual effort for configuration management tasks and improve change visibility across complex networks. Its combination of automated backups, bulk changes, config comparison, multivendor support, and job scheduling make it a practical choice for many network teams.