How to read SonicWall .exp export configuration files
Following these procedures will also allow you to read SonicWall exported backup files & compare text based configurations across firewalls if you so desire.
Steps:
1. Download backup of firewall (.exp) to computer c:\temp
2. To decode the backup file (base64) you need to open the file in Notepad++ and remove the two ampersands (&) at the end of the file.
3. Save file (.xps) and exit
4. at cmd (as admin) go to directory C:\temp
5. Type "certutil -decode filename.exp filename.txt
6. Review the output of the command looking for "decode command completed successfully".
7. with Notepad++ open the newly created .txt file (filename.txt)
8. The output will be one large character string. You need to use the Notepad++ find and replace tool to make this text readable. Click on "Search" menu option & select "Replace".
9. Make sure the search mode is set to "Extended".
10. in the "Find what:" field type in "&"
11. in the "Replace with:" field type in "\n"
12. Click "Replace All"
13. Save your file with a new name in the location that you'd prefer.
14. If you'd like to compare two different files against each other simply use the Notepad++, install the plugin "Compare" from the Plugin Manager.
