Cisco Catalyst Middle Template Labs – Dynamic Automation, Half 8

Overview

On this episode of our ongoing Catalyst Middle Automation Collection, our focus is on utilizing a number of dynamic approaches to automating the community. We’ve beforehand, within the collection, concentrated our efforts on particular ideas regarding automation. Nonetheless, on this Self-Paced Standalone Lab, we’ll begin to mix varied concepts to present you a extra in-depth take a look at what is feasible by way of automation supplied by Catalyst Middle. We are going to automate the entry layer with Dynamic templates, which may auto-provision ports based mostly on PoE occasions. Throughout this lab, we’ll make the most of varied 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 allows you, the community administrator, with the potential to unravel extra sorts of configuration points from Catalyst Middle and to take care of the dynamics of an enterprise community.

Not like 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 haven’t any pre-configuration. It makes use of varied automation methods to indicate the whole artwork of the doable in a non-Software program Outlined Entry strategy.

Inside this collection, we cowl the next;

1. PnP Preparation – explains the general Plug and Play arrange steps
2. Onboarding Templates – explains in-depth tips on how 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. Software Policys – explores Software Policys and SD-AVC in Catalyst Middle and their use
5. Telemetry – explains tips on how to 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 study within the Dynamic Automation Lab?

That is an enablement kind module inside the Wired Automation lab, and it permits clients to succeed in past what they at present perceive by making an attempt new ideas, actually pushing the boundaries of automation. We are going to cowl varied subjects about template logic to unravel 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 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 set runner to rapidly configure Catalyst Middle. This permits us to deploy Settings, Credentials, Uncover Units, Construct Websites, Buildings, Flooring, and assign the units to these websites. It is a highly effective instance of what could be carried out, as a result of it demonstrates how rapidly you may get Catalyst Middle up and working using Relaxation-API utilizing only one device.

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

However wait there may be extra…

Templates

We use templates inside the lab to configure all of the {hardware} tools, 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 method doable permitting for the usage of low-impact mode depending on what kind of machine 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 supplied inside the lab that point needs to be spent after set as much as delve into and perceive all of them. After getting mastered all these ideas try 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’ll contact on and deploy inside the lab include the next:

1. Integrating Catalyst Middle and Id Companies 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 units
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  Id Service Engine (ISE) Profiling and Insurance policies

Use Instances

We are going to cowl the Matters above in a number of use circumstances to indicate the potential 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 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 are going to acquire a sensible understanding of the steps related to establishing a Catalyst Middle and an atmosphere to help complicated, superior, common templates to ship machine configuration throughout these labs. The labs goal 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 varied use circumstances. Lastly, this atmosphere will allow engineers to scale back the effort and time wanted to instantiate the community.

Further 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 units to deploy configuration in an automatic method within the entry layer of a community. System classification is enabled if you allow the Autoconf function utilizing the autoconf allow world configuration mode command. The machine 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 could make use of different strategies to make the interface Dynamic.

EEM scripts

EEM scripts use some form of occasion to set off them. Throughout 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 affect 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. Throughout 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 elements of IBNS 2.0, we cowl the configuration that we could implement to be able to enable 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 enable 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 start out practising varied ideas with out worry of impacting manufacturing environments.

Because of this, we hope to demystify a few of the complexities of establishing automation and assist information clients by way of the caveats. Due to this fact, to help clients within the transition towards automation, we now have 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 that you could obtain and increase 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 atmosphere to check.

Throughout 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 unravel varied use circumstances. Second, we offer solutions and explanations to lots of the questions that come up throughout automation workshops. We hope that you simply discover the knowledge each useful and informative.

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

DCLOUD Lab Surroundings

To assist clients succeed with Cisco Catalyst Middle automation, you could 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 offers an atmosphere 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 provides 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 tools, lead occasions, and licensing points wanted to get shifting quickly. Please do adhere to the perfect 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 individuals who choose it. Select the Cisco Enterprise Community Sandbox. Moreover, you could select from our San Jose and RTP Services labs by both deciding on US East or US West. To entry this or different content material, demonstrations, and labs in DCLOUD, please instantly work along with your Cisco or Companion Account Staff. 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 perfect practices of the DCLOUD atmosphere.

Content material

The Wired Automation labs, Superior Automation module content material is positioned inside the present DNAC-TEMPLATES repository to present 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 atmosphere. The repository was featured in a earlier publish on Cisco Blogs about Catalyst Middle Templates earlier in Might 2021.

Further Info

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 check on tools inside the LAB atmosphere. Further info inside the lab supplies a well-rounded rationalization 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 Software 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 varied use circumstances. Lastly, this atmosphere will allow engineers to scale 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 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. Throughout the a number of folders are examples and rationalization readme recordsdata for reference. There at the moment are 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 may very well be improved.

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