Configure FlexConfig Objects

• Click Add FlexConfig Object to create a new object.

• Click Edit () to edit an existing object.

• Click View () to see the contents of a predefined object.

• If you want to edit a predefined object, click Copy () to create a new object with the same contents.

The object content is a sequence of scripting commands and configuration commands that generate a valid ASA software command sequence. The threat defense device uses ASA software commands to configure some features. For more information on scripting and configuration commands, see:

• Template Scripts

• CLI Commands in FlexConfig Objects

You can use variables to supply information that can be known only at runtime, or which can differ from device to device. You simply type in processing variables, but you must use the Insert menu to add variables that are associated with policy objects or system variables, or which are secret keys. For a complete discussion of variables, see FlexConfig Variables.

• To insert system variables, choose Insert > Insert System Variable > Variable Name. For a detailed explanation of these variables, see FlexConfig System Variables.

• To insert policy object variables, choose Insert > Insert Policy Object > Object Type, selecting the appropriate type of object. Then, give the variable a name (which can be the same name as the associated policy object), select the object to associate with the variable, and click Save. For a detailed explanation of these types, see FlexConfig Policy Object Variables. For more detail on the procedure, see Add a Policy Object Variable to a FlexConfig Object.

• To insert secret key variables, choose Insert > Secret Key and define the variable name and value. For more detail on the procedure, see Configure Secret Keys.

Note

You must use the Insert menu to create a new policy object or system variable. However, for subsequent uses of that variable, you must type it in, $ included. This is also true for system variables: the first time you use it, add it from the Insert menu. Then, type it out for subsequent uses. If you use the Insert menu more than once for a system variable, the system variable is added to the Variables list multiple times, and the FlexConfig will not validate, meaning you cannot save your changes. For processing variables (those not associated with a policy object or system variable), simply type in the variable. If you are adding a secret key, always use the Insert menu. Secret key variables do not show up in the Variables list.

• Deployment—Whether to deploy the commands in the object Once or Everytime. The only way to choose the right option is to test the results of deployment.

  Start by selecting Everytime. Then, after you attach the object to a FlexConfig policy, deploy the configuration. After a successful deployment, come back to the FlexConfig policy and preview the configuration for one of the assigned devices as described in Preview the FlexConfig Policy. If the section labeled ###CLI generated from managed features ### contains commands that clear or negate the commands in the object, and the ###Flex-config Appended CLI ### section contains the commands to reconfigure the feature, you know that Everytime is the right option.

  Even if you do not see negate commands, make some minor change to the device configuration, then run another deployment. If the deployment completes successfully, you can check the deployment transcript (see Verify the Deployed Configuration). If you see that the commands were issued again (even when they were already configured) without error, then you can keep Everytime.

  Change to Once only if the system does not first negate the commands in the object before issuing them again, or if the deployment results in errors that are specific to the command. In some cases, the system does not allow you to issue a command that is already configured, but this is the exception.

  Some additional tips:

  • If the FlexConfig object points to system-managed objects such as network or ACL objects, choose Everytime. Otherwise, updates to the objects might not get deployed.

  • Use Once if the only thing you do in the object is to clear a configuration. Then, remove the object from the FlexConfig policy after the next deployment.

• Type—Select one of the following:

  • Append—(The default.) Commands in the object are put at the end of the configurations generated from the management center policies. You must use Append if you use policy object variables, which point to objects generated from managed objects. If commands generated for other policies overlap with those specified in the object, you should select this option so your commands are not overwritten. This is the safest option.

  • Prepend—Commands in the object are put at the beginning of the configurations generated from the management center policies. You would typically use prepend for commands that clear or negate a configuration.

The object is always validated when you click Save. You cannot save an invalid object.