Both associating and deploying a template create a deployment of the template to the NSP network.

The difference between the two processes is in how they handle a mismatch between the template configuration and configuration already present on the target:

• If the template is deployed to the network, the deployment will apply the template values to the target.

• If the template is associated to the network, the deployment will not overwrite target values with template values.

  • If the mismatched value is flexible in the template, the template value will be set to the value on the target.

  • If the value is flexible in the template and not set on the target, the target will be updated with the template value.

• If the template being associated is a blueprint, deployments are only created if the blueprint’s target identifier is present on the target.

Attention: For NSP to discover the target configuration when you associate the template, the target NE must be configured using MD-CLI.

If an attribute on the target NE was not configured using MD-CLI, it will be marked misaligned when the template is associated. In the Audit Result form, the Actual Value field will show the value as undefined.