Cisco IOS automatic config backups

Backing up configuration files from Cisco switches and routers is an important part of maintaining a network.  Solarwinds has their config management suite, but it can get rather expensive.  There has to be a way to backup Cisco IOS configs in a more automated and cost effective way.  I'm not looking for automated notification when a config changes, just the backup where I can validate configurations as well as have a backup in case of equipment failure.  

I'm pleased to have discovered the Archive function in Cisco IOS.

Here are the simple setup steps.

1. Run a TFTP Server service (Solarwinds has one) 
2. Update the IOS config with the following commands

Switch1#conf t
Switch1(config)#archive
Switch1(config-archive)#path tftp://10.1.1.1/$h-$t
Switch1(config-archive)#write-memory
Switch1(config-archive)#end
Switch1#write mem

Note a few things.

• The IP address of the TFTP server needs to be your IP address
• The $h variable adds the switch/router host name to the file that is written
• The $t variable adds a time stamp to the file name that is written
• Each file that is written appends a hyphen and incremental numeric value.

** To do file comparison, it's fairly easy with the Compare Plugin in Notepad++.  Simply add Compare plugin (Go to the Plugins menu > Plugin Manager , check the Compare checkbox and press install) and compare the two files.

Other Reference Links
https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/blogs/vip-perspectives/2013/10/30/understanding-cisco-auto-archive-feature-to-backup-configuration-file