Database Rollback

Database Architecture

The BOLT is configured with two main databases; candidate and running.

• The Candidate database is where changes are stored.
• The candidate database is not persistent.
• Running Database is persistent
  • Different from some switches, it insures the user doesn't lose a change.
  • It doesn't require a startup database since the running database is persistent.
• A commit will add the candidate database changes to the running database, and the changes are stored persistently.
• If the user fails to commit the changes on exiting the config mode, the system will issue a warning.

The rollback command allows a user to replace the running database with a previous database contained in the candidate database rollback folder. While in config mode, all changes are stored in the candidate database queue.  This database mirrors the running database and will not affect the current traffic flow. The rollback changes will not take effect until the commit command is executed. When the commit command is executed, the previous database in the candidate database will replace the data in the running database. The new and old data is stored, with a timestamp and name, in a rollback folder. 

Video

Access OLT Command Line Interface (CLI)

Connect via Console Serial RJ45

The BOLT is equipped with a Console Serial RJ45 interface which provides direct access to the Command Line Interface (CLI) found on all Tellabs OLTs. To use this interface, attach a standard Cisco serial cable from the OLT Console port to any serial port or USB to serial cable.

Once the cable is connected, open a serial terminal program (TeraTerm, putty, HyperTerminal, etc.) Typically, a serial port for the connection is automatically created. 

When connecting directly to the OLT using the serial port, the serial parameters should be configured for standard N-8-1 (115, 200 bit/s, N, 8, 1) settings as follows: 

• Speed: 115200
• Parity: none
• Data bits: 8
• Stop bits: 1

 

1. Log into the OLT CLI. The default username and password for the system are: admin/tellabs

   Tellabs Linux BOLT 3.1.33 MDS1-ESUA ttyS0 MDS1-ESUA login: admin <enter> Password: tellabs <enter> Welcome, admin! Last login: Mon Sep 15 18:22:55 EDT 2025 from 10.99.99.110 on pts/1 admin connected from 127.0.0.1 using console on MDS1-ESUA

    

Display System Configuration

The following example shows the contents of the running-config database.

1. From the MDS1-ESUA# command line, input show running-config, and press Enter. The system will display the entire contents of the database. With up to 8,000 ports, it can be quite long, so for these examples we will use a filter and specific configurations.
    

   MDS1-ESUA# show running-config <enter> ---- will show the whole databaee with up to 8000 ports--- ---- more--- ---- more--- ---- more--- ---- more--- ---- more--- aborted: by user MDS1-ESUA#

 

The following examples will filter out the NTP data.

1. From the MDS1-ESUA# command line, input show running-config tolt system ntp, and press Enter. The following will display the NTP configuration.
    

   MDS1-ESUA# show running-config tolt system ntp <enter> tolt system ntp config ntp-peer-list 132.163.97.1 tolt system ntp config ntp-peer-list 132.163.97.2 MDS1-ESUA#

Database Removal Procedure

To conduct a database rollback, perform the following steps:

To perform any changes to the system, the user will need to first enter configuration mode. In addition, changes need to be committed for the change to take effect. Changes are buffered in the candidate database queue, until changes are committed.

1. From the MDS1-ESUA# command line, input config, and press Enter. Output similar to the following is displayed:

   MDS1-ESUA# config <enter> Entering configuration mode terminal MDS1-ESUA(config)#

2. From the MDS1-ESUA# command line, input show running-config tolt system ntp and press Enter. The  NTP configuration is displayed.
    

   MDS1-ESUA# show running-config tolt system ntp <enter> tolt system ntp config ntp-peer-list 132.163.97.1 tolt system ntp config ntp-peer-list 132.163.97.2 MDS1-ESUA#

 

3. From the MDS1-ESUA# command line, input show running-config tolt system dns, and press Enter. The DNS configuration is displayed.
    

   MDS1-ESUA# show running-config tolt system dns <enter> tolt system dns config admin-state enabled admin-state enabled   key-phrase ""   key-id 58   encryption type none ! tolt system dns config ntp-peer-list 132.163.97.2   admin-state enabled    encryption type none ! MDS1-ESUA#

 

4. The removal of any file is a two-step procedure. First, go to the MDS1-ESUA(config)# command line, input no tolt system ntp and press Enter. The NTP file is now residing in the candidate database queue. 

   MDS1-ESUA(config)# no tolt system ntp <enter> MDS1-ESUA(config)#

 

5. To show the changes residing in the candidate queue, go to the MDS1-ESUA(config)# command line, input show configuration and press Enter. The following displays the NTP file that is now residing in the candidate database queue.

   MDS1-ESUA(config)# show configuration <enter> no tolt system ntp config ntp-peer-list 132.163.97.1 no tolt system ntp config ntp-peer-list 132.163.97.2 MDS1-ESUA(config)#_

 

6. Next, remove the DNS file from the current database and add it to the candidate database rollback folder, go to the MDS1-ESUA(config)# command line, input commit and press Enter. The DNS file is now residing in the candidate database rollback folder.

   MDS1-ESUA(config)# commit (enter> Commit complete MDS1-ESUA(config)#_

7. In this example, we will remove the DNS data and instead of entering the commit command, we will use the exit command line. The system will inform the user that there is data in the candidate database queue.

8. To remove the current DNS file, go to the MDS1-ESUA(config)# command line, input no tolt system dns and press Enter. The DNS file is now residing in the candidate database queue. 

   MDS1-ESUA(config)# no tolt system dns <enter> MDS1-ESUA(config)#_

10. To show the list of changes, go to the MDS1-ESUA(config)# command line, input show configuration and press Enter. The following displays the removed configuration.

    MDS1-ESUA(config)# show configuration <enter> no tolt system dns config admin-state enabled no tolt system dns config dns-hosts-list [ 10.50.0.102 10.50.0.103 ] no tolt system dns config default-domain-list [ tellabs.com ] MDS1-ESUA(config)#_

 

11. Next, remove the DNS file from the current database and add it to the candidate database rollback folder, go to the MDS1-ESUA(config)# command line, input exit and press Enter.  There is data in the queue, so the system will ask the following questions.

    • yes - commits the data
    • no - does not commit, but the data resides in the candidate queue.
    • CANCEL - removes the data from the queue and leaves the config mode.
12. Go to the MDS1-ESUA(config)# command line, input yes and press Enter.

    MDS1-ESUA(config)# exit <enter> Uncommited changes found, commit them? [Yes/no/CANCEL] yes <enter> MDS1-ESUA#_

 

Database Rollback Procedure

To do a rollback, the user will view the configuration removal history. It is organized as last in first out. Select a file to rollback and use the commit command to restore the selected file to the running database.

1. To show the last entry to the rollback folder, go to the MDS1-ESUA# command line, input show configuration rollback changes, and press Enter. The last entry is displayed.

   MDS1-ESUA# show configuration rollback changes <enter> no tolt system dns config admin-state enabled no tolt system dns config dns-hosts-list [ 10.50.0.102 10.50.0.103 ] no tolt system dns config default-domain-list [ tellabs.com ] MDS1-ESUA#_

 

2. To show all entries to the rollback folder, go to the MDS1-ESUA# command line, input show rollback-files, and press Enter. The entire list of entries is displayed.

   MDS1-ESUA# show rollback files <enter> FIXED ID NAME NUMBER CREATOR DATE VIA LABEL COMMENT -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0 rollback0 11291 bolt-support 2026-08-10 17:06:04 cli - - 1 rollback1 11290 internal 2026-08-10 16:28:39 ems - - 2 rollback2 11289 internal 2026-08-10 16:28:34 ems - - 3 rollback3 11288 internal 2026-08-10 16:28:30 ems - - 4 rollback4 11287 internal 2026-08-10 16:28:25 ems - - 5 rollback5 11286 internal 2026-08-10 16:28:21 ems - - 6 rollback6 11285 internal 2026-08-10 16:28:17 ems - - 7 rollback7 11284 internal 2026-08-10 16:28:12 ems - - 8 rollback8 11283 internal 2026-08-10 16:28:08 ems - - 9 rollback9 11282 internal 2026-08-10 16:28:03 ems - - 10 rollback10 11281 internal 2026-08-10 16:27:58 ems - - 11 rollback11 11280 internal 2026-08-10 16:27:53 ems - - 12 rollback12 11279 internal 2026-08-10 16:27:49 ems - - 13 rollback13 11278 internal 2026-08-10 16:27:44 ems - - 14 rollback14 11277 internal 2026-08-10 16:27:40 ems - - 15 rollback15 11276 internal 2026-08-10 16:27:36 ems - - 16 rollback16 11275 internal 2026-08-10 16:27:31 ems - - 17 rollback17 11274 internal 2026-08-10 16:27:27 ems - - 18 rollback18 11273 internal 2026-08-10 16:27:23 ems - - 19 rollback19 11272 internal 2026-08-10 16:27:18 ems - - 20 rollback20 11271 internal 2026-08-10 16:27:14 ems - - 21 rollback21 11270 internal 2026-08-10 16:27:09 ems - - 22 rollback22 11269 internal 2026-08-10 16:27:05 ems - - 23 rollback23 11268 internal 2026-08-10 16:27:01 ems - - 24 rollback24 11267 internal 2026-08-10 16:25:10 ems - - 25 rollback25 11262 internal 2026-08-10 16:22:46 ems - - 26 rollback26 11260 internal 2026-08-10 16:22:44 ems - - 27 rollback27 11258 internal 2026-08-10 16:22:43 ems - - 28 rollback28 11256 internal 2026-08-10 16:22:43 ems - - 29 rollback29 11255 internal 2026-08-10 16:22:42 ems - - 30 rollback30 11254 internal 2026-08-10 16:22:42 ems - - 31 rollback31 11253 internal 2026-08-10 16:22:42 ems - - 32 rollback32 11252 internal 2026-08-10 16:22:36 ems - - 33 rollback33 11250 internal 2026-08-10 16:22:28 ems - - 34 rollback34 11249 internal 2026-08-10 16:21:43 ems - - MDS1-ESUA#_

 

3. To show a specific entry from the rollback folder, select a entry from the list, go to the MDS1-ESUA# command line, input show configuration rollback changes 1, and press Enter. Entry 1 is displayed.

   MDS1-ESUA# show configuration rollback changes 1 <enter> no tolt system ntp config admin-state enabled no tolt system dns config dns-hosts-list [ 10.50.0.102 10.50.0.103 ] no tolt system dns config default-domain-list [ tellabs.com ] MDS1-ESUA#_

 

4. To show another specific entry from the rollback folder, select an entry number from the list, go to the MDS1-ESUA# command line, input show configuration rollback changes 3, and press Enter. The following displays the last entry.
    

   MDS1-ESUA# show configuration rollback changes 3 <enter> tolt system dns config admin-state enabled admin-state enabled   key-phrase ""   key-id 58   encryption type none ! tolt system dns config ntp-peer-list 132.163.97.2   admin-state enabled    encryption type none ! MDS1-ESUA#

 

5. To rollback a data file, go into Config Mode, select an entry number to rollback, go to the MDS1-ESUA(config)# command line, input rollback configuration 1, and press Enter. The configuration 1 data is now in the candidate queue, ready to commit to the running database.
    

   MDS1-ESUA# config <enter> MDS1-ESUA(config)# rollback configuration 1 <enter> MDS1-ESUA(config)#

 

6. To view the rollback data in the queue, go to the MDS1-ESUA(config)# command line, input show configuration, and press Enter. The following displays configuration 1 data in the candidate queue.
    

   MDS1-ESUA(config)# show configuration <enter> tolt system dns config admin-state enabled admin-state enabled   key-phrase ""   key-id 58   encryption type none ! tolt system dns config ntp-peer-list 132.163.97.2   admin-state enabled    encryption type none ! MDS1-ESUA#

 

7. To rollback data into the queue, go to the MDS1-ESUA(config)# command line, input commit, and press Enter. The system will now add the Rollback data into the running database.
8. The system is now running with the restored data.
9. Go to the MDS1-ESUA(config)# command line, input exit, and press Enter to exit the config mode.
    

   MDS1-ESUA(config)# commit <enter> commit complete. MDS1-ESUA(config)# exit <enter> MDS1-ESUA#_