Email

This is how your folder should look once updated

This is how your folder should look once updated

Following from Automated backup for your network switches with WinSCP and PowerShell you can take things one step further and with a little more PowerShell its possible to get email reports on any changes between switch configs.

This kind of setup would be useful for any sized organisation who have a need to ensure changes are logged or want to ensure that no one has maliciously changed a configuration.

Make sure you edit lines 6-8 with your SMTP details

Make sure you edit lines 6-8 with your SMTP details

The setup is simple, just as with the automated backup these will need to be extracted to your C:\Network Switch Backup folder which should look something like the screenshot to the right once done.

I’ve also included an updated .cmd file which calls the Backup Network Switches.ps1 script and then the Compare Configs.ps1 script in turn.

  Network Switch Change Log (1.6 KiB, 1,646 hits)

There is plenty of description within the PowerShell file; even a little error handling as well! Be sure to edit lines 6-8 with your SMTP settings.

If you have ever found yourself setting up your Internet service provides email on your preferred email program (Outlook/Thunderbird/Windows Live Mail/ect) and wondered which settings you should use (POP3 or IMAP) here is the definitive answer.

IMAP – plain and simple, here’s the why…..

Persistent connection

With POP3 you will find that every few minutes your email program will download new messages – IMAP will however maintains a persistent connection and so a new email appears in your inbox the moment it is sent. Continue reading