Seed file sources

To create the seed entries in a seed file, you can usually find the information that you need from existing computer-accessible sources:

• If you are currently using CiscoWorks with Resource Manager Essentials, you can dump the hardware inventory to a text file, which can be converted into a seed file. Similar operations might be possible with other network management platforms.

• If you store backup router or switch configuration files at a central location, you can construct a seed file from them.

• Domain name resolution files, such as hosts.txt or zone files, are often a useful source. Note that, at sites where multiple administrative authorities select different read community strings, the hosts that are listed in a given zone file often share an administrative authority and hence a read community string. Terminal Access Controller Access Control System (TACACS) configuration files might be useful for similar reasons.

• Large sites usually maintain hardware inventories in a database, or at least in some computer-readable form. These inventories often contain the network information that you need to create the seed file.

• Some sites run network sniffer tools to keep track of active IP addresses. The lists of addresses that they generate can form the basis for a seed file.