Cisco Catalyst Middle Template Labs – Dynamic Automation, Half 8

Overview

On this episode of our ongoing Catalyst Middle Automation Sequence, our focus is on utilizing a number of dynamic approaches to automating the community. Now we have beforehand, within the collection, concentrated our efforts on particular ideas regarding automation. Nonetheless, on this Self-Paced Standalone Lab, we are going to begin to mix numerous concepts to offer you a extra in-depth take a look at what is feasible by way of automation offered by Catalyst Middle. We’ll automate the entry layer with Dynamic templates, which may auto-provision ports primarily based on PoE occasions. Throughout this lab, we are going to make the most of numerous velocity templates mentioned in Lab 7 to take care of particular use circumstances in order that Catalyst Middle provisioning can allow these use circumstances by way of automation. This permits you, the community administrator, with the aptitude to resolve extra varieties of configuration points from Catalyst Middle and to take care of the dynamics of an enterprise community.

In contrast to the earlier Labs within the collection, this lab is a self-contained lab and has no dependencies on any of the earlier labs. When you can add ideas from Labs 5 and 6 to this lab, it’s designed to don’t have any pre-configuration. It makes use of numerous automation methods to point out the entire artwork of the attainable in a non-Software program Outlined Entry method.

Inside this collection, we cowl the next;

1. PnP Preparation – explains the general Plug and Play arrange steps
2. Onboarding Templates – explains in-depth the best way to deploy Day 0 templates
3. Day N Templates – dives into Day N template constructs with each common and composite templates and use circumstances
4. Utility Policys – explores Utility Policys and SD-AVC in Catalyst Middle and their use
5. Telemetry – explains the best way to deploy Telemetry for assurance
6. Superior Automation – explores Superior Automation methods
7. Dynamic Automation – a deployment lab for dynamic automation

What’s going to I be taught within the Dynamic Automation Lab?

That is an enablement sort module inside the Wired Automation lab, and it permits clients to achieve past what they presently perceive by making an attempt new ideas, actually pushing the boundaries of automation. We’ll cowl numerous subjects about template logic to resolve a number of use circumstances throughout this lab. We cowl some earlier ideas with an in-depth give attention to broadening their capabilities.

The idea of this lab is so that you can construct the setting from Discovery and PnP by way of to deployment. Permitting a protected place so that you can attempt, modify, and get used to the varied ideas and approaches.

Strategy

Preparation

The Lab is constructed for minimal intervention making use of issues like Relaxation-API run by way of Postman inside a group runner to rapidly configure Catalyst Middle. This permits us to deploy Settings, Credentials, Uncover Gadgets, Construct Websites, Buildings, Flooring, and assign the gadgets to these websites. This can be a highly effective instance of what might be accomplished, as a result of it demonstrates how rapidly you may get Catalyst Middle up and working using Relaxation-API utilizing only one software.

For the Microsoft Home windows setting, DNS and DHCP providers are carried out utilizing a PowerShell script for pace of implementation. This permits us to rapidly add DHCP Scopes and DNS Entries for the required providers within the lab setting.

However wait there may be extra…

Templates

We use templates inside the lab to configure all of the {hardware} gear, in preparation for the Plug and Play onboarding of the entry swap, after which deploy the DayN Composite template to utterly configure the swap in essentially the most dynamic means attainable permitting for using low-impact mode depending on what sort of gadget is plugged into the swap. All templates and tasks for Catalyst Middle within the lab are downloaded as JSON recordsdata and imported permitting for minimal arrange time.

There are such a lot of superior configurations provided inside the lab that point ought to be spent after set as much as delve into and perceive all of them. Upon getting mastered all these ideas you ought to be on the level the place you may take care of most automation duties demanded in trendy enterprise networks.

Matters

The assorted subjects we are going to contact on and deploy inside the lab encompass the next:

1. Integrating Catalyst Middle and Id Providers Engine by way of PxGrid
2. Utilizing Relaxation-API to configure Catalyst Middle by way of Postman Command Runner
3. Using Discovery to onboard community gadgets
4. Provisioning Common and Composite Templates to Found Gadgets
5. Pattern PowerShell scripts to simplify DHCP and DNS deployment
6. Plug and Play (PnP) Onboarding of Gadgets
7. Common and Composite Templates for Routers and Switches
8. Autoconf and Embedded Occasion Supervisor
9. IBNS 2.0 configuration
10. Working with  Id Service Engine (ISE) Profiling and Insurance policies

Use Circumstances

We’ll cowl the Matters above in a number of use circumstances to point out the aptitude and adaptability of the templating engine inside Catalyst Middle. On this lab we make the most of Velocity language. Equally, we are able to make the most of the Jinja2 language though not on this lab. These had been the subjects within the earlier lab we coated that are related:

1. Renaming interfaces
2. Constructing Stacks
3. Assigning port configuration
4. Autoconf port configuration
5. Non SDA IBNS 2.0 port configuration

With that, the lab makes use of these subjects;

We’ll achieve a sensible understanding of the steps related to organising a Catalyst Middle and an setting to help complicated, superior, common templates to ship gadget configuration throughout these labs. The labs intention to help engineers in quickly starting utilizing Catalyst Middle automation and assist them work in direction of a world template technique. Moreover, these labs will give clients a everlasting place to check out the common and composite templates and embody configurations for numerous use circumstances. Lastly, this setting will allow engineers to cut back the effort and time wanted to instantiate the community.

Extra issues coated within the lab;

Autoconf

In these labs, we use Autoconf, an answer that manages port configurations for information or voice VLAN, high quality of service (QoS) parameters, storm management, and MAC-based port safety on finish gadgets to deploy configuration in an automatic means within the entry layer of a community. Machine classification is enabled whenever you allow the Autoconf characteristic utilizing the autoconf allow world configuration mode command. The gadget detection acts as an occasion set off, which in flip applies the suitable computerized template to the interface. When the Autoconf characteristic is enabled utilizing the autoconf allow command, the default Autoconf service coverage is utilized to all of the interfaces. For extra details about Autoconf. Autoconf and service-policies presently can not co-exist on the identical interface and so for interfaces which have templates statically assigned to the interface with service-policy attachment for authentication we could make use of different strategies to make the interface Dynamic.

EEM scripts

EEM scripts use some sort of occasion to set off them. Inside the EEM script, you may reconfigure interfaces, ship occasion notifications by way of e-mail and rather more. On this lab we use EEM scripts to reconfigure interfaces on a down occasion to a base closed authentication template, and modify them to low impression mode when a PoE Energy up occasion is detected. The makes use of for such a script are quite a few, and this lab covers one particular use case however an imaginative thoughts can provide you with many different makes use of for such a characteristic.

Self-Destructing EEM scripts

Self-Destructing EEM scripts are people who delete themselves on termination. Inside the EEM script, code removes the EEM applet from the configuration, after which writes the configuration to NVRAM. The makes use of for such a script are quite a few, and this lab covers one particular use case however an imaginative thoughts can provide you with many different makes use of for such a characteristic.

IBNS 2.0 Configuration

Whereas not overlaying all of the features of IBNS 2.0, we cowl the configuration that we could implement with the intention to permit for automating host onboarding inside a non-SD-Entry campus community. These ideas whereas not constructed into a proper UI inside Catalyst Middle for legacy networks permit organizations that want to automate their infrastructure the prospect to automate.

The format of the code inside all these sections of the lab is in a straightforward copy-to-paste window permitting you to import them into Catalyst Middle just by pasting them into the editor.

Beginning…

Inside DCLOUD, a number of sandbox-type labs can be found. These self-contained environments are there to mean you can use them as you please inside the time scheduled. As well as, this enables us a spot to begin working towards numerous ideas with out concern of impacting manufacturing environments.

Because of this, we hope to demystify a number of the complexities of organising automation and assist information clients by way of the caveats. Due to this fact, to help clients within the transition towards automation, now we have put collectively a set of small useful labs inside a GitHub repository. On this means, these self-guided labs present a glimpse into the basics of constructing velocity templates and supply examples you can obtain and broaden from. As well as, the pattern templates and JSON recordsdata provided are for straightforward import into Catalyst Facilities’ template editor for faster adoption. Lastly, some scripts are ready-made excerpts of code that mean you can construct the setting to check.

Inside the Wired Automation lab, within the Superior Automation module, we step-by-step delve into superior automation strategies and methods to make the most of them to resolve numerous use circumstances. Second, we offer solutions and explanations to lots of the questions that come up throughout automation workshops. We hope that you just discover the data each useful and informative.

The place can I take a look at and take a look at these labs?

DCLOUD Lab Surroundings

To assist clients succeed with Cisco Catalyst Middle automation, it’s possible you’ll make the most of the above labs as they’ve been designed to work inside DCLOUD’s Cisco Enterprise Networks {Hardware} Sandbox Labs in both:

1. Cisco Enterprise Networks {Hardware} Sandbox West DC
2. Cisco Enterprise Networks {Hardware} Sandbox East DC

The DCLOUD labs mean you can run these labs and provides an setting to attempt the varied code samples. Chances are you’ll select to develop and export your code to be used in manufacturing environments. Additionally, this offers you an setting the place you may safely POC/POV strategies and steps with out harming your manufacturing environments. The DCLOUD setting additionally negates the necessity for transport gear, lead occasions, and licensing points wanted to get shifting quickly. Please do adhere to the very best practices for the DCLOUD setting when utilizing it.

Lab Connectivity

The setting permits for a web-based browser consumer for VPN-less connectivity. Moreover, there may be AnyConnect VPN consumer connectivity for many who want it. Select the Cisco Enterprise Community Sandbox. Moreover, it’s possible you’ll select from our San Jose and RTP Amenities labs by both deciding on US East or US West. To entry this or different content material, demonstrations, and labs in DCLOUD, please immediately work together with your Cisco or Associate Account Group. Your Account groups will schedule the session and share it so that you can use. As soon as booked, comply with the information inside GitHub to finish the duties adhering to the very best practices of the DCLOUD setting.

Content material

The Wired Automation labs, Superior Automation module content material is positioned inside the present DNAC-TEMPLATES repository to offer a one-stop-shop for all the required instruments, scripts, templates, and code samples. Inside it are seven labs, which construct upon the tutorials to check the strategies in a lab setting. The repository was featured in a earlier submit on Cisco Blogs about Catalyst Middle Templates earlier in Could 2021.

Extra Data

Catalyst Middle Template Labs

The beforehand named DNAC Template LABS inside the DNAC-TEMPLATES GitHub repository goals to information you thru the everyday steps required to allow the varied automation duties delivered by Catalyst Middle. This lab will give examples of templates utilized in Catalyst Middle that we are able to modify for our use and take a look at on gear inside the LAB setting. Extra data inside the lab supplies a well-rounded clarification of Automation strategies with Templates. Lastly, the lab permits for purchasers to make use of Catalyst Middle workflows to follow deploying Onboarding, DayN Templates, and Utility Coverage automation on each Wired and Wi-fi Platforms.

The purpose of this lab is for it to be a sensible information to help engineers to quickly start utilizing Catalyst Middle automation and assist them work in direction of a deployment technique. Moreover, this lab will give clients a everlasting place to check out the configurations for numerous use circumstances. Lastly, this setting will allow engineers to cut back the effort and time wanted to instantiate the community.

Because of this, you’ll achieve expertise in organising Plug and Play onboarding and templates and using all options. Moreover, you’ll use superior templating strategies and troubleshooting instruments. These could assist throughout faultfinding to find out what’s failing in a deployment.

Catalyst Middle Labs

Please use this menu to navigate the varied sections of this GitHub repository. Inside the a number of folders are examples and clarification readme recordsdata for reference. There are actually two units of labs, and these are being regularly expanded upon.

In conclusion, if you happen to discovered this set of labs and repository useful,

please fill in feedback and suggestions on the way it could possibly be improved.

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