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Backup Checkpoint Firewall

Backup Checkpoint Firewall

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Best Practices - Backup Checkpoint Firewall 


1. Introduction

There are a few methods to perform a backup of your Check Point system running Gaia OS. They differ by size, time of creation and content. This article provides an overview of all available backup methods and recommendation for configuring effective backup scheme.
The built-in Gaia backup procedures:
  • Snapshot Management
  • System Backup (and System Restore)
  • Save/Show Configuration (and Load Configuration)
All methods can be used to backup your Security Gateways, Security Management and Multi-Domain Server.
All methods are appliance-specific and can only be restored on the same model of appliance.

2. Snapshot Management

The snapshot creates a binary image of the entire root (lv_current) disk partition. This includes Check Point products, configuration, and operating system.
Starting in R77.10, exporting an image from one machine and importing that image on another machine of the same type is supported.
The log partition is not included in the snapshot. Therefore, any locally stored FireWall logs will not be saved.

3. System Backup (and System Restore)

System Backup can be used to backup current system configuration. A backup creates a compressed file that contains the Check Point configuration including the networking and operating system parameters, such as routing and interface configuration etc., but unlike a snapshot, it does not include the operating system, product binaries, and hotfixes.
Command Use to generate backup from CLI:

Mgmt> add backup ( Local or tftp or scp or ftp)

To check status of backup:

Mgmt> show backup status

To delete old backup file:

Mgmt> delete backup ( backup Name)

4. Save Configuration (and Load Configuration)

Allows saving Gaia OS configuration settings as a ready-to-run CLI script. This allows you review your current setup and quickly restore the Gaia OS configuration.
For complete backup of the system and maximum confidence, Check Points recommends combining all three methods as part of the backup plan (Snapshot Management, System Backup/Restore, Save/Load Configuration). This will allow multiple restore points, redundancy and reliability of overall restore procedure.
Collect:
  • Snapshot - after a fresh installation, before an upgrade, and before a hotfix installation.
  • Scheduled Backup - monthly or weekly, depending on how frequently you perform changes in your configuration and policy.
  1. Revert to a Snapshot - restores the Check Point version with all the setup details, including type (management/gateway) and installation of hotfixes.
  2. Restore from Backup - restores latest system configuration with all recent network and security configuration.
  3. Compare the output of Clish command "show configuration" to the saved configuration to verify that Gaia OS configuration was restored properly.
  4. Install policy on this machine (if it is a Security Gateway / StandAlone).
ToolDescription
migrate export
  • The migrate tool is located in the $FWDIR/bin/upgrade_tools/ directory.
  • This command backs up all Security Management configuration, independent of hardware, OS or Check Point version.
  • The output file does not include OS information.
  • For built-in help, run:
    [Expert@HostName:0]# $FWDIR/bin/upgrade_tools/migrate --help
eva_db_backup.csh
evs_backup
  • These tools are used to backup SmartEvent / SmartReporter Server.
mds_backup
  • This tool is used to perform advanced backup of Multi-Domain Security Management Server.
  • Refer to Multi-Domain Security Management Administration Guide (R76, R77) - Chapter 12 'Multi-Domain Security Management Commands and Utilities' - Command Line Reference - mds_backup.

8. Comparison of backup methods


Snapshot
Management		System
Backup		"show
configuration"		"upgrade_export" /
"migrate export"
How much time
does it take ?		30 - 60 minutes5 - 30 minutesFew secondsDepends on
configuration
Size of output file
on Security Gateway		5-100 GBDepends on
configuration		Few KBDepends on
configuration
Size of output file
on Management Server		5-100 GB5-100 GBFew KBDepends on
configuration
Does it back up
Gaia OS configuration ?		YesYesYesNo
Does it back up
Products configuration ?		YesYesNoYes
Does it back up
Hotfixes ?		YesNo (*)NoNo
Does it back up
Check Point
logs ?		NoNoNoNot by default.
Use the flag "-l"
in the syntax
to backup the
SmartView Tracker
logs as well
Does it support
automatic scheduling ?		NoYesNoNo
Can you restore
from different version ?		YesNoWith manual
adjustments		Upgrade is performed
when importing to
a newer version
Does it require to close
SmartConsole GUI clients ?		NoR7x - No
R80 - Yes		NoYes
Does it require to stop
Check Point services?		NoNoNoYes
Does it require reboot ?NoNoNoNo
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