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. We now have beforehand, within the sequence, concentrated our efforts on particular ideas regarding automation. Nonetheless, on this Self-Paced Standalone Lab, we’ll begin to mix numerous concepts to present you a extra in-depth have a look at what is feasible by way of automation supplied 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’ll make the most of numerous velocity templates mentioned in Lab 7 to cope with particular use circumstances in order that Catalyst Middle provisioning can allow these use circumstances through automation. This permits you, the community administrator, with the aptitude to resolve extra sorts of configuration points from Catalyst Middle and to cope with the dynamics of an enterprise community.

Not like the earlier Labs within the sequence, 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 haven’t any pre-configuration. It makes use of numerous automation methods to indicate the entire artwork of the doable in a non-Software program Outlined Entry strategy.

Inside this sequence, we cowl the next;

1. PnP Preparation – explains the general Plug and Play arrange steps
2. Onboarding Templates – explains in-depth 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 deploy Telemetry for assurance
6. Superior Automation – explores Superior Automation methods
7. Dynamic Automation – a deployment lab for dynamic automation

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

That is an enablement kind module inside the Wired Automation lab, and it permits prospects to succeed in past what they at the moment perceive by attempting 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 concentrate on broadening their capabilities.

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

Method

Preparation

The Lab is constructed for minimal intervention making use of issues like Relaxation-API run through Postman inside a set runner to rapidly configure Catalyst Middle. This enables us to deploy Settings, Credentials, Uncover Units, Construct Websites, Buildings, Flooring, and assign the gadgets to these websites. This can be a highly effective instance of what will be achieved, as a result of it demonstrates how rapidly you may get Catalyst Middle up and operating using Relaxation-API utilizing only one instrument.

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

However wait there may be extra…

Templates

We use templates throughout 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 fully configure the swap in essentially the most dynamic method doable permitting for using low-impact mode depending on what kind of gadget is plugged into the swap. All templates and initiatives for Catalyst Middle within the lab are downloaded as JSON information and imported permitting for minimal arrange time.

There are such a lot of superior configurations supplied throughout the lab that point must be spent after set as much as delve into and perceive all of them. After you have mastered all these ideas you ought to be on the level the place you may cope with most automation duties demanded in fashionable enterprise networks.

Subjects

The assorted subjects we’ll contact on and deploy throughout the lab include the next:

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

Use Circumstances

We’ll cowl the Subjects above in a number of use circumstances to indicate the aptitude and suppleness 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 have 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 acquire a sensible understanding of the steps related to establishing a Catalyst Middle and an atmosphere to help advanced, superior, common templates to ship gadget configuration throughout these labs. The labs goal to assist engineers in quickly starting utilizing Catalyst Middle automation and assist them work in the direction of a worldwide template technique. Moreover, these labs will give prospects a everlasting place to check out the common and composite templates and embody configurations for numerous use circumstances. Lastly, this atmosphere 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 knowledge 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 method within the entry layer of a community. Machine classification is enabled whenever you allow the Autoconf function utilizing the autoconf allow international 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 function 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 at the moment 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 might make use of different strategies to make the interface Dynamic.

EEM scripts

EEM scripts use some form of occasion to set off them. Inside the EEM script, you may reconfigure interfaces, ship occasion notifications through e mail and way 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 function.

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 function.

IBNS 2.0 Configuration

Whereas not overlaying all of the features of IBNS 2.0, we cowl the configuration that we might implement with a view 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 simple 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 help you use them as you please throughout the time scheduled. As well as, this enables us a spot to start out practising numerous ideas with out concern of impacting manufacturing environments.

Because of this, we hope to demystify among the complexities of establishing automation and assist information prospects by way of the caveats. Subsequently, to assist prospects within the transition towards automation, we have now put collectively a set of small useful labs inside a GitHub repository. On this method, these self-guided labs present a glimpse into the basics of constructing velocity templates and supply examples which you could obtain and broaden from. As well as, the pattern templates and JSON information equipped are for simple import into Catalyst Facilities’ template editor for faster adoption. Lastly, some scripts are ready-made excerpts of code that help you construct the atmosphere 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 most 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 prospects succeed with Cisco Catalyst Middle automation, chances are 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 help you run these labs and offers an atmosphere to strive the varied code samples. You might select to develop and export your code to be used in manufacturing environments. Additionally, this offers you an atmosphere the place you may safely POC/POV strategies and steps with out harming your manufacturing environments. The DCLOUD atmosphere additionally negates the necessity for transport gear, lead instances, and licensing points wanted to get transferring quickly. Please do adhere to one of the best practices for the DCLOUD atmosphere when utilizing it.

Lab Connectivity

The atmosphere permits for a web-based browser consumer for VPN-less connectivity. Moreover, there may be AnyConnect VPN consumer connectivity for many who desire it. Select the Cisco Enterprise Community Sandbox. Moreover, chances are you’ll select from our San Jose and RTP Services labs by both choosing US East or US West. To entry this or different content material, demonstrations, and labs in DCLOUD, please instantly work together with your Cisco or Companion 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 one of the best practices of the DCLOUD atmosphere.

Content material

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

Extra Data

Catalyst Middle Template Labs

The beforehand named DNAC Template LABS throughout 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 throughout the LAB atmosphere. Extra data throughout the lab offers a well-rounded clarification of Automation strategies with Templates. Lastly, the lab permits for patrons to make use of Catalyst Middle workflows to apply deploying Onboarding, DayN Templates, and Utility Coverage automation on each Wired and Wi-fi Platforms.

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

Because of this, you’ll acquire expertise in establishing Plug and Play onboarding and templates and using all options. Moreover, you’ll use superior templating strategies and troubleshooting instruments. These might 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 information for reference. There at the moment are two units of labs, and these are being regularly expanded upon.

In conclusion, for those who discovered this set of labs and repository useful,

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

We’d love to listen to what you assume. Ask a query or depart a remark beneath.
And keep linked with Cisco on social!

Take a look at our Cisco Networking video channel

Subscribe to the Networking weblog

Share: