Overview
On this episode of our ongoing Catalyst Heart Automation Collection, our focus strikes to Relaxation-APIs and utilizing postman to automate the community. We’ll change our focus from templating to automation by means of Postman, an excellent instrument to look at RESTful APIs in a single consumer interface. This can be a Self-Paced Standalone Lab, the place we’ll construct upon the foundational data acquired within the earlier labs. For this lab, we’ll think about Catalyst Heart configuration and the way Catalyst Heart may be automated to carry out numerous features we now have already lined. The lab is meant to assist drive the adoption of Relaxation-API and contains a number of use instances to unravel widespread orchestration wants when utilizing Catalyst Heart.
Inside this sequence, we cowl the next;
- PnP Preparation – explains the general Plug and Play arrange steps
- Onboarding Templates – explains in-depth how you can deploy Day 0 templates
- Day N Templates – dives into Day N template constructs with each common and composite templates and use instances
- Software Policys – explores Software Policys and SD-AVC in Catalyst Heart and their use
- Telemetry – explains how you can deploy Telemetry for assurance
- Superior Automation – explores Superior Automation methods
- Dynamic Automation – a deployment lab for dynamic automation
Catalyst Heart Relaxation-API Collections
Moreover, we now have supplied a Postman Public Workspace the place all of the Relaxation-API Collections are included in order that engineers can quickly entry and arrange their environments. “Typically seeing is believing.” We hope these new instruments assist clarify how you can greatest use the Relaxation-APIs and increase the data from developer.cisco.com.
On this lab, we’ll regularly add extra use instances to reply particular orchestration wants, however all the time in Postman, the place they might be analyzed and seen in operation for inclusion in no matter automation or orchestration system requires them. In upcoming modules, we can even delve into printed and unpublished Relaxation-API and how you can uncover and work with these to perform your orchestration wants.
Inside this lab modules, we cowl the next using collections for orchestration with assistance from a comma-separated values (CSV) file;
- Postman Orientation – orientates you to Postman and helps put together the instruments
- Constructing Hierarchy – the orchestration of constructing hierarchy
- Assign Settings and Credentials – assigning settings and credentials
- System Discovery – orchestrating machine discovery
- Template Deployment – automating template deployment
- Configuration Archive – automating configuration archiving
- Retrieving Community Stock – gathering a community stock
- Working Present Instructions – gathering present command outcomes
In contrast to most earlier Labs within the sequence, this lab is self-contained and has no dependencies on any 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 potential from Software program-Outlined Networking.
What’s going to I be taught within the Relaxation-API Orchestration Lab?
That is an enablement-type lab, permitting engineers and designers to achieve past what they at the moment perceive by making an attempt new ideas and pushing the boundaries of automation and orchestration. We’ll cowl numerous subjects about Relaxation-API logic to unravel a number of use instances throughout this lab. We cowl some earlier ideas with an in-depth deal with broadening their capabilities by means of the artwork of doing and inspecting.
The idea of this lab is so that you can construct the setting from the bottom up, from Design to Discovery to Template Deployment. Using DCLOUD or the DevNet Sandbox permits a secure place so that you can strive, modify, and get used to the assorted ideas and approaches.
Strategy
The Lab is constructed for minimal intervention utilizing issues like Relaxation-API run by way of Postman inside a group runner to rapidly configure Catalyst Heart. This permits us to deploy Settings, Credentials, Uncover Units, Construct Websites, Buildings, Flooring, and assign the gadgets to these websites. These are highly effective examples of what we will do, they usually reveal how rapidly we will get Catalyst Heart up and operating using Relaxation-API utilizing only one instrument.
However wait, there’s extra…
We provisioned a comma-separated worth (CSV) file to be used with the Postman collections to make it straightforward to construct the design and deploy templates the place vital.
You’ll be able to simply add the Public Workspace to Postman by way of the next hyperlink. This may can help you quickly begin utilizing the Relaxation-API suite created for this lab. Click on the next hyperlink and log into your Postman account, and the workspace, together with the collections and the setting, might be mechanically added. (see picture beneath)
Public Catalyst Heart Use-Case API Assortment
We maintain Postman Public Workspace updated with the lab in order that the lab helps doc the gathering, and the collections assist drive the lab. Throughout the Workspace are at the moment a number of collections and an setting.
Use Circumstances
We’ll cowl numerous subjects in a number of use instances primarily based on lab modules to indicate the aptitude and adaptability of the Relaxation-APIs with Catalyst Heart.
The assorted subjects/use-cases we’ll contact on and deploy throughout the lab encompass the next:
- Utilizing Relaxation-API to configure Catalyst Heart Design and Settings utilizing a CSV file
- Automation of assigning Credentials throughout the community
- Orchestrating Discovery to onboard community gadgets
- Automating the Provisioning of Common and Composite Templates to Units
- Retrieving System Stock data
- Orchestration of Configuration Archives
- Retrieving Present Command outcomes from Catalyst Facilities Command Runner
With that, the lab makes use of these subjects…
We’ll achieve a sensible understanding of the steps related to using Relaxation-API whereas establishing a Catalyst Heart and an setting to assist advanced, superior, common templates to ship machine configuration throughout these labs. The labs intention to assist engineers in quickly starting to make use of Catalyst Heart automation and assist them work in 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 instances. Lastly, this setting will allow engineers to cut back the effort and time wanted to instantiate the community.
Beginning…
Inside DCLOUD, a number of sandbox-type labs can be found. These self-contained environments are there to can help you use them as you please throughout the time scheduled. As well as, this enables us a spot to begin practising numerous ideas with out worry of impacting manufacturing environments.
In consequence, we hope to demystify a number of the complexities of establishing automation and assist information prospects by means of the caveats. Subsequently, to assist prospects within the transition towards automation, we now have put collectively a set of small useful labs inside a GitHub repository. This manner, these self-guided labs present a glimpse into the basics of constructing velocity templates and provide examples you’ll be able to obtain and increase 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 can help you construct the setting to check.
On this sensible lab, REST-API Orchestration, we step-by-step delve into superior automation strategies and methods to make the most of them to unravel numerous use instances. Second, we offer solutions and explanations to lots of the questions that come up throughout automation workshops. We hope that you simply discover the data each useful and informative.
The place can I take a look at and check out these labs?
DCLOUD Lab Setting
To assist prospects succeed with Cisco Catalyst Heart 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:
- Cisco Enterprise Networks {Hardware} Sandbox West DC
- Cisco Enterprise Networks {Hardware} Sandbox East DC
The DCLOUD labs can help you run these labs and provides an setting to strive the assorted code samples. It’s possible you’ll develop and export your code to be used in manufacturing environments. Additionally, this offers you an setting the place you’ll be able to safely POC/POV strategies and steps with out harming your manufacturing environments. The DCLOUD setting additionally negates the necessity for transport tools, lead instances, and licensing points wanted to maneuver quickly. Please adhere to the most effective practices for the DCLOUD setting when utilizing it.
Lab Connectivity
The setting permits for a web-based browser shopper for VPN-less connectivity. Moreover, there’s AnyConnect VPN shopper connectivity for individuals who choose it. Select the Cisco Enterprise Community Sandbox. Moreover, chances are you’ll select from our RTP Services labs by choosing US West. To entry this or different content material, demonstrations, and labs in DCLOUD, please immediately work along with your Cisco or Companion Account Workforce. Your Account groups will schedule the session and share it so that you can use. As soon as booked, observe the information inside GitHub to finish the duties adhering to the most effective practices of the DCLOUD setting.
Content material
The REST-API Orchestration lab content material is positioned throughout the current DNAC-TEMPLATES repository to offer a one-stop store 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 setting. The repository was featured in a earlier put up on Cisco Blogs about Catalyst Heart Templates earlier in Might 2021.
Extra Data
Catalyst Heart 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 assorted automation duties delivered by Catalyst Heart. This lab will give examples of templates utilized in Catalyst Heart that we will modify for our use and take a look at on tools throughout the LAB setting. Extra data throughout the lab gives a well-rounded rationalization of Automation strategies with Templates. Lastly, the lab permits for purchasers to make use of Catalyst Heart workflows to follow deploying Onboarding, DayN Templates, and Software 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 Heart automation and assist them work in direction of a deployment technique. Moreover, this lab will give prospects a everlasting place to check out the configurations for numerous use instances. Lastly, this setting will allow engineers to cut back the effort and time wanted to instantiate the community.
In consequence, you’ll achieve expertise in establishing 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.
New Catalyst Heart Lab Content material
Please use this menu to navigate the assorted sections of this GitHub repository. Throughout the a number of folders are examples and rationalization readme information for reference. There at the moment are two units of labs, and these are being regularly expanded upon.
This newer and extra modular lab method is designed to cope with and contains ideas from the legacy labs in a more recent extra modular format.
- Lab 1 Wired Automation – Covers inexperienced and brown subject use instances (enable 4.0 hrs)
- Lab 2 Wi-fi Automation – Covers conventional wi-fi automation (enable 4.0 hrs)
- Lab 4 Relaxation-API Orchestration – Covers automation of Cisco Catalyst Heart by way of Postman with Relaxation-API (enable 2.0 hrs)
- Lab 7 CICD Orchestration – Covers Python with JENKINS orchestration by way of REST-API (enable 4.0 hrs)
We’ll share further labs and content material in an ongoing effort to meet all of your automation wants with Catalyst Heart.
In conclusion, for those who 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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