For classic devices, selecting Unmanage or Delete in the NSP UI performs the selected function in the underlying classic management system.

The unmanage function may be used for unusual conditions such as when the NSP requires a complete refresh of device data because of data corruption. If the discovery rule runs while the NE is in unmanaged status, the discovery operation skips the NE. When the NE is re-managed, the NE is resynchronized with the NSP.

When a device is deleted, if the IP address of the NE is not removed from the associated unified discovery rule, the NE will be re-discovered in the next scanning interval.

For model-driven NEs, unmanage is not supported in the current release.

The following table summarizes the differences between unmanaging and deleting an NE.

When a user selects Unmanage in the NSP UI, the NE is unmanaged in the underlying classic management system. All current and historical management data is removed, for example, physical links and statistics. If the device is managed again, the data is not restored.

If the discovery rule runs while the NE is in unmanaged status, the discovery operation skips the NE. When the NE is re-managed, the NE is resynchronized with the NSP.

To unmanage or re-manage a classic device, select the device in the Device Management, Managed Network Elements view. Click (Table row actions), Manage, Unmanage or Manage.

Note: If you need to unmanage and re-manage an NE with telemetry subscriptions configured, a delay of up to 15 min may occur before all telemetry subscription are reinstated.

Backups for unmanaged classic devices

When a classic device is unmanaged, the backup files stored for the device on NFM-P are deleted. Retention cannot be configured.

Nokia recommends using backup operations within NSP to create NE backups. Backup operations are still available in the Device Management, Operations views and backup files remain in the File Server after an NE is unmanaged. After the NE has been re-discovered and managed, you can restore the backup; see How do I restore an NE from a backup?.

If you are using NFM-P to back up your classic devices, backup files are deleted when the NE is unmanaged.

Using the NSP to delete a device completely removes the device from the managed network. All current and historical management data is removed, for example, physical links and statistics. If the device is discovered again, the data is not restored.

For model-driven NEs, the NE IP address remains in the discovery rule after the NE is deleted. The next time the discovery rule scans the network, it discovers and manages the device again, or you can run the discovery rule manually.

Classic NE IP addresses are removed from the classic discovery rule after the device is deleted from the NSP, but not removed from the unified discovery rule. These devices will not be rediscovered automatically by the classic discovery rule in the next scanning interval but would be discovered again on the next scan interval of the NSP unified discovery rule unless the IP address has been removed from the unified discovery rule.

Backups for deleted devices

Nokia recommends using backup operations within NSP to create NE backups. Backup files remain in the NSP File Server after the NE is deleted. After the NE has been re-discovered and managed, you can restore the backup; see How do I restore an NE from a backup?.

If you are using NFM-P to back up your classic devices, you can configure retention of backups after NE deletion; see “How do I configure backup-file retention for deleted NEs?” in the NSP System Administrator Guide. You can use retained backups to assist in recovering a device that was deleted in error.