How to Install RANCID on OpenBSD

RANCID (Really Awesome New Cisco confIg Differ) is an open-source tool that monitors changes to network device configurations. In this tutorial, we will install RANCID on OpenBSD.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure that you have the following:

• OpenBSD installed and configured
• Internet connection
• SSH access to the server

Steps

1. Open the terminal and log in as the root user.

2. Run the pkg_add command to install the necessary packages:

pkg_add -i rancid

3. Create the RANCID configuration file:

cp /usr/local/etc/rancid/rancid.conf.sample /usr/local/etc/rancid/rancid.conf

4. Open the configuration file with your favorite text editor:

vi /usr/local/etc/rancid/rancid.conf

5. Modify the following lines in the configuration file:

LIST_OF_GROUPS="router-switch"
LIST_OF_DEVICES="/usr/local/etc/rancid/router.db"

6. Create the device configuration file:

cp /usr/local/etc/rancid/router.db.sample /usr/local/etc/rancid/router.db

7. Open the device configuration file and add your devices:

vi /usr/local/etc/rancid/router.db

The configuration file should look like this:

# GroupName:DeviceType:IP:DeviceName
router-switch:cisco:192.168.0.1:MySwitch
router-switch:cisco:192.168.0.2:AnotherSwitch

8. Create the RANCID data directory:

mkdir /var/rancid

9. Modify the RANCID ownership and permissions:

chown -R rancid:rancid /var/rancid && chmod 2755 /var/rancid

10. Initialize RANCID:

sudo -u rancid /usr/local/bin/rancid-run

11. Verify that RANCID is running:

tail -f /var/log/rancid/rancid.log

You should see output similar to this:

starting: Mon Feb  1 15:39:47 EST 2021
RANCID: Found clogin (/usr/local/bin/clogin)
RANCID: Found /usr/local/bin/cloginrc file
router-switch:skipping aldoh04 (user defined excluded)
router-switch:skipping aldoh31 (user defined excluded)
router-switch:skipping nrtisw04 (user defined excluded)
router-switch:skipping nrtisw05 (user defined excluded)
router-switch:skipping nrtisw17 (user defined excluded)
router-switch: End Time: Mon Feb  1 15:40:06 EST 2021
Router Run completed at Mon Feb  1 15:40:06 EST 2021

Congratulations! You have successfully installed RANCID on OpenBSD. Now you can monitor and track changes to your network devices.

If you want to self-host in an easy, hands free way, need an external IP address, or simply want your data in your own hands, give IPv6.rs a try!

Alternatively, for the best virtual desktop, try Shells!