Deployment and upgrade of network devices in a network environment

One or more non-transitory tangible media that includes instructions for execution, which when executed by a processor of a switch, is operable to perform operations comprising:

• comparing configuration settings executing on the switch with settings in a configuration file downloaded to the switch from a central configuration server in the network;
• identifying a difference between the configuration settings executing on the switch and the settings in the configuration file;
• synchronizing the difference by updating the configuration file at the configuration server if a sync up operation is selected;
• and
• synchronizing the difference by updating the configuration settings executing on the switch if a sync down operation is selected.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a memory element for storing data;
• and
• a processor operable to execute instructions associated with the data, wherein the processor and the memory element cooperate, such that the apparatus is configured for:
• comparing configuration settings executing on the apparatus with settings in a configuration file downloaded to the apparatus from a central configuration server in the network;
• identifying a difference between the configuration settings executing on the apparatus and the settings in the configuration file;
• synchronizing the difference by updating the configuration file at the configuration server if a sync up operation is selected;
• and
• synchronizing the difference by updating the configuration settings executing on the apparatus if a sync down operation is selected.