Compare Snapshots
See what changed in the network between two scans, on the diagram. Click the Compare tab under the page title in the Visualizer; click Snapshot to switch back.
Prerequisites
At least two completed scans. Until then, the Compare tab is disabled.
Choosing the two scans
Pick the scans with the older and newer pickers at the top right, joined by "vs.". By default, Compare shows the second-latest scan against the latest. The older picker can't select the latest scan.
The canvas shows both scans together: everything in the newer scan plus anything that exists only in the older one. Removed resources keep their old place in the layout.
The URL holds both scans, so you can share a comparison link. The Changes page reads the same link format.
Reading the changes
- Green ring
- Added in the newer scan.
- Orange ring
- Modified between the scans.
- Dashed red ring
- Removed: exists only in the older scan, drawn where it used to be.
- Dimmed node or line
- Unchanged.
- Green line
- Connection added. Drawn slightly thicker.
- Dashed red line
- Connection removed. Connections have no modified state.
The summary line under the pickers counts the changes visible under the current filters, for example "3 added, 2 modified, 1 removed, 4 connection changes". Click a node to see its status in the detail panel: an Added, Modified or Deleted badge. The badge shows the real status even when that change type is filtered out.
Focusing on changes
- Filter changes
- Show any of Added, Modified and Deleted. Default is All changes.
- Show Unchanged
- On: the whole network, with unchanged resources dimmed. Off: only changes and their direct neighbours (one hop), re-laid out and zoomed to fit.
- Subscriptions and types
- Filter subscriptions and Filter types work as in Snapshot mode.
Changing these filters keeps your dragged positions unless the set of visible resources changes.
A changes-only diagram for review
Turn off Show Unchanged for a focused view of what changed, then export it to draw.io for a change review. The export keeps the rings and dimming.
How changes are determined
Statuses come from the same scan comparison the Changes page uses, with the same Resource Type Ignore rules applied (as with Show Ignored off there). Ignored resources render as unchanged.
Counts match the Changes page, except timestamps
The Changes page's Show Timestamps filter isn't applied here, so a resource whose only changes are timestamps can show as Modified in Compare while the Changes page hides it.
Subnets and gateway parts (listeners, pools, probes) aren't compared on their own. They show as added or removed when they appear or disappear, and a subnet property change shows as its VNet being modified.
Links and route tracing
In Compare mode, View in Changes opens the Changes page on exactly this scan pair. View in Explorer opens the newer scan, or the older scan for a resource that was removed.
Route tracing needs Snapshot mode
Route tracing works on one scan at a time, so Trace Route is disabled in Compare. Switch to Snapshot to trace. Switching modes closes any open trace and deselects the node.
Troubleshooting
A resource shows Modified but the Changes page shows nothing interesting
Answer
The only changes may be timestamps. Turn on Show Timestamps on the Changes page to see them.
A change I expected is not ringed
Answer
Check three things: a Resource Type Ignore rule may cover the resource type; the change type may be off in Filter changes; or the resource type may be filtered out in Filter types.
The diagram is mostly empty
Answer
Show Unchanged is off, so only changes and their direct neighbours show. Turn it on for full context.
The canvas says "Unable to compare snapshots"
Answer
You picked the same scan in both pickers. Choose a different older or newer scan. If you pick a scan for older that is newer than the current newer scan, the newer picker resets; pick it again.