topic Re: Delete objects from many policies in General Topics

Delete objects from many policies

ChiragP — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 09:21:09 GMT

Hi,

Currently, an object which has been configured for 130+ policies. What's the best way to remove it.

Easy for object groups but how can to deal with this kind of situation with an easy solution?

Thank you.

Re: Delete objects from many policies

S.Cantwell — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 16:55:27 GMT

Hello there

Are you using Panorama or a single FW with 130+ policies?

Not to state the obvious, but if you delete the object, it would delete from all the policies.

Is this not working?

I think we need additional details of what you are attempting to accomplish.

Please include screen capture of object(s) in question, and an example policy of what needs to be deleted.

Re: Delete objects from many policies

dmifsud — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 20:21:53 GMT

Hello,

You could always export the config and delete the references from the xml.

- DM

Re: Delete objects from many policies

ChiragP — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 23:21:32 GMT

Hi SteveCantwell,

Thanks for the reply.

Sorry, my writing is a bit confusing and I should mention in my post i.e. - the device is managed by Panorama.

Yes, you are right if I delete an object from the group, It will delete from the 130+ policies and that is what I want because an object is not required any more due to server decom.

Currently, the object which I want to delete is configured in both - group and policies. To delete an object from the group is easy but to delete an object from 130+ policies is a bit time-consuming. Because I need to manually go to all 130+ policies and delete the object.

I am looking for the ways - To NOT go to manually 130+ policies -> find the object that I want to delete and complete the job.

As @Dmifsud mentioned, export xml config is one way but since it is managed by panorama I am not sure how it would work.

Thank you once again for the response.

Re: Delete objects from many policies

ChiragP — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 02:06:35 GMT

Does anyone have any ideas/solutions about my previous post?

Thank you.

Re: Delete objects from many policies

S.Cantwell — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 12:13:00 GMT

I am still confused to be honest.

I get that the object is part of a group.. if you delete it from the group.. then it is no longer part of the group.

You would then simply to the (presuming) address object, within the Object tab, and delete the object.

Wouldn't that delete the object in all policies?

If you believe that the object was not created as an address object (or similar) but manually defined in your policies (again... you can add any object, predefined, prior to using the object, or enter an IP on the fly, within the config)

There are only 2 suggestions that can be recommended here.

Export the Panorama config. Do a search/delete of those elements/objects you do not want. Import back into Panorama.

From CLI, go into config mode.

Enter "run set cli config-output-format set"

This will let you see the config in "set" notation.

From here, do a "show | match (object name)" command, which will show you all lines in the config, where (object name) is being used.

If you export those lines, you could then copy/paste into a document, change the "set (object name)", into a "delete (object name)", and then copy/paste those lines back into the Panorama.

Personally, the first way, where you are just removing the elements from the xml may be a safer bet, if you are comfortable with the CLI.

As long as the object is not part of the FW local config, you should be OK with modifying the xml.

Good luck!

Re: Delete objects from many policies

ChiragP — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 09:08:37 GMT

Thanks, SteveCantwell.

I have managed to complete the task through cli using PAN01> set cli config-output-format set.

I did very similarly what you mentioned (show | match "object that I want to delete" -> copy output into the text (I used visual studio code to adjust the object that I want -> removed set and added delete in the text -> copied it -> paste into the panorama -> went to the GUI -> previewed the changes -> committed 🙂

I used one more cmd - "run set cli scripting-mode on" to avoid any copy and paste errors

I will try with xml when I get a chance.

Thank you for your time and support.