How to Duplicate a Device Using JSON Export and Import

Overview

When you have multiple identical devices — generators, RTUs, meters — configuring each from scratch is slow and error-prone. Mango by Radix IoT's JSON export/import lets you clone a fully configured data source with all its points, then change only what differs (IP address, device ID, tags). A 23-point device that took an hour to configure the first time can be duplicated in under two minutes.

Prerequisites

• A superadmin account — the Configuration import/export page and the REST import both require it
• A fully configured, working data source with all its data points
• A text editor that handles JSON (VS Code, Notepad++, or similar)
• Network/protocol details for the new device (IP address, unit ID, etc.)

The 7-Step Duplication Workflow

Step 1: Export the Source Device

Open Data integration > Data sources and select the source device. Its More options menu (⋮) has two downloads: Export, which is the data source alone, and Export with points, which is the one you want. The REST API draws the same line:

# Data source ONLY -- no points
GET /rest/latest/data-sources/export/{xid}
# Data source AND its points -- what you want for duplication
GET /rest/latest/data-sources/export/{xid}?includePoints=true

Save the exported JSON to a local file. The payload is shaped {"dataSources": [ … ], "dataPoints": [ … ]} — both are lists, even for a single device.

Step 2: Give the Data Source a New XID

In the exported JSON, find the data source's xid and change it to a new, unique value — for example DS_GEN_02. Do not simply delete it: Mango would then generate a random XID on import, and nothing in your file would refer to it. If you leave the original XID, the import will overwrite the existing device.

Step 3: Point Every Point at the New XID

Each point names its parent in dataSourceXid. Set it on every point to the new XID from Step 2 — that is how the points attach to the new data source. A point whose dataSourceXid is blank or matches no data source is skipped (“…references a data source that does not exist. Ignored.”), and one that still names the original XID is added to the original device.

Step 4: Remove Point XIDs

Delete or clear every individual point XID. Mango generates new unique XIDs on import. Leaving original XIDs would overwrite existing points.

Step 5: Find and Replace Device Identifiers

This is the critical step. Search the JSON for everything unique to the source device:

• IP address (e.g., 10.1.1.100 → 10.1.1.101)
• Device name/label
• Tags (e.g., deviceID=Gen-1 → deviceID=Gen-2)
• Protocol-specific ID — for Modbus this is slaveId on each point’s locator (default 1), not a single field on the data source, so a 23-point device has 23 of them
• Point names if they contain the device identifier

Step 6: Import the Modified JSON

Use Mango's Configuration import/export page (Data integration in the menu, or its button on the Utilities card of Admin home), or the REST API:

POST /rest/latest/json-emport

Mango creates the new data source under the XID you gave it, and every point with a newly generated XID. Importing reads data sources before points, so one file carrying both is fine. Over REST the import runs in the background: the response points at a status resource, GET /rest/latest/json-emport/import/{id}, that reports each item’s result.

Step 7: Verify

• Confirm the new data source appears in the Data Sources list
• Verify all points are created with correct configurations
• Check that tags are correct (not still referencing old device)
• Enable the data source and verify it polls successfully

Practical Example

Duplicating Generator 1 (23 data points) to create Generator 2:

After export, set the new data source XID on the source and on every point, clear the point XIDs, run four find-and-replace operations, import, and verify. Total time: roughly 2 minutes.

The One-Call Alternative: Copy

Before hand-editing JSON, know that Mango can duplicate a data source and its points in a single request:

PUT /rest/latest/data-sources/copy/{xid}?copyXid=DS_GEN_02&copyName=Generator%202&copyDeviceName=Gen-2&copyPoints=true&enabled=false

The copy takes copyXid (or a generated XID if you leave it out) and every copied point gets a fresh XID, so this sidesteps every XID pitfall below, and copyDeviceName sets the new points’ device name — which is also what populates the device tag. Use the JSON route when you need to change protocol details in bulk (IP address, slaveId) that copy does not take parameters for; use copy when the new device differs only by identity.

Scripted Bulk Duplication (10+ Devices)

For large deployments, automate with the REST API and a script:

# Pseudo-code for bulk device duplication
import requests, json, copy
# includePoints=true is required -- without it there are no points to clone
template = requests.get(BASE + "/rest/latest/data-sources/export/DS_GEN_01",
                        params={"includePoints": "true"}, headers=AUTH).json()
devices = [
    {"xid": "DS_GEN_02", "ip": "10.1.5.11", "name": "Gen-2", "slave_id": 2},
    {"xid": "DS_GEN_03", "ip": "10.1.5.12", "name": "Gen-3", "slave_id": 3},
    {"xid": "DS_GEN_04", "ip": "10.1.5.13", "name": "Gen-4", "slave_id": 4},
]
for dev in devices:
    clone = copy.deepcopy(template)
    # The export payload is {"dataSources": [...], "dataPoints": [...]} -- both lists
    for ds in clone.get("dataSources", []):
        ds["xid"] = dev["xid"]        # a NEW xid -- not deleted, or the points cannot find it
        ds["enabled"] = False          # verify before it starts polling
    for pt in clone.get("dataPoints", []):
        pt.pop("xid", None)            # blank point xid -> Mango generates one
        pt["dataSourceXid"] = dev["xid"]  # attach every point to the new source
        # Modbus slaveId lives on each point's locator, not on the data source
        if "pointLocator" in pt:
            pt["pointLocator"]["slaveId"] = dev["slave_id"]
    raw = json.dumps(clone)
    raw = raw.replace("10.1.5.10", dev["ip"])   # full, unique strings only
    raw = raw.replace("Gen-1", dev["name"])
    # Runs in the background: poll the status URL it returns before trusting it
    requests.post(BASE + "/rest/latest/json-emport",
                  headers=AUTH, json=json.loads(raw))

Critical Pitfalls

Troubleshooting

Summary

JSON export/import is the fastest way to duplicate devices in Mango. The key steps: export with points, give the data source a new XID and point every point at it, clear the point XIDs, replace device-specific identifiers, import, and verify. For large-scale deployments, script the process against the REST API. Get the XIDs right and always use precise find-and-replace.