Cisco Catalyst Middle Template Labs – DayN Templates, Half 4

Overview

On this episode of our ongoing Catalyst Middle Automation Collection, our focus is on DayN Automation using Templates for operations and establishing a lab or manufacturing setting to allow this functionality. The third and fourth labs within the collection goal to grasp the varied ideas required to help machine configuration after onboarding. The labs inside this collection permit to be used within the DCLOUD setting; nevertheless, you could equally make the most of them as a part of a Proof of Idea setup at a buyer’s lab. Chances are you’ll use these procedures to make sure that all the mandatory steps are full earlier than onboarding any units inside Catalyst Middle. These procedures can also assist kind a part of a deployment or implementation.

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 instances
4. Utility Policys – explores Utility 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

Every of the Labs builds on the ideas that we cowl within the collection. These labs have a prerequisite of finishing the earlier two labs. The main focus of the primary three labs is on establishing the setting and onboarding the machine utilizing plug and play into Catalyst Middle. The next two labs give attention to utilizing common and composite templates inside Catalyst Middle to configure community units in an ongoing method. These labs will undergo the movement surrounding constructing the supporting settings inside Catalyst Middle to help DayN configuration. The labs may also help you deploy a template for a Catalyst swap by means of Catalyst Middle utilizing DayN workflows as each common templates and composite to deploy intent. To organize the setting, be sure you full the steps outlined in our first, second, and third blogs within the collection.

What’s going to I study within the DayN Templates Labs?

Within the Wired Automation lab, prospects will begin by constructing utilizing each an everyday template and composite template. Common templates permit us to construct out advanced configurations for deployment. Composite templates permit for the reuse of a number of common templates, which is able to allow us to modularize our code for reuse. Composite templates additionally permit us one place to make adjustments that have an effect on a broader set of units. Thus, if we improve one common template utilized to a number of composite templates, we might impact change on a extra complete set of units. This additionally permits us to scale back the duplication of efforts and decrease the administrator’s quantity of effort.

Different concerns encompass the usage of the UI-centric method and the influence that it has on a typical configuration. For instance, a configuration might embrace some strains of code, which can be delivered by means of the UI-centric settings. If these Design elements are used, we have to perceive the influence that will have on simplifying our configuration and the way straightforward that will make the community preserve.

Composite Templates add the aptitude of monitoring sub-components for compliance, and the power to abort the automation if a failure happens.

Common Templates

As an everyday template might embrace the machine’s complete configuration, it’s important to understand that the extra configuration inside an everyday template, the tougher it might be to fault-find. Moreover, small, succinct configuration examples are simpler to reuse, and this aids us afterward in making small adjustments much less radical total. The Wired Automation lab within the collection, delves into the sensible utility of tips on how to arrange Catalyst Middle to arrange an everyday template for DayN supply. It additionally evenly explains a number of the numerous philosophies surrounding how we would deploy configuration.

Composite Templates

Whilst you would possibly suppose to incorporate the complete configuration for a standard community machine, there’s a higher manner. We’re higher served by composite templates for big configuration constructs. Once more, this permits for compliance monitoring,  modularization and reuse, and simplification of operations. As well as, whereas we make the most of common templates to use advanced configuration, conserving them small and making them reusable aids in making ongoing adjustments after preliminary deployment. Lastly, within the Wired Automation lab, by means of Composite Templates, we allow you with an instance of a composite template that reuses a number of common templates in its development.

As we study extra about constructing templates it is smart to start out making an attempt numerous ideas coated throughout the Tutorial sections about writing with templates with each Velocity and Jinja2 scripting languages. You will discover further assets throughout the GitHub repo right here:

Velocity Language

• Velocity Variables – This part explains Template Variables in depth, and the way and the place to make use of them
• Velocity Scripting – This part will dive into Velocity Language Template Scripting constructs and use instances
• Superior Velocity Scripting – This part will dive into Superior Velocity Language Template examples

Jinja2 Language

• Jinja2 Variables – This part explains Template Variables in depth, and the way and the place to make use of them
• Jinja2 Scripting – This part will dive into Jinja2 Language Template Scripting constructs and use instances
• Superior Jinja2 Scripting – This part will dive into Superior Jinja2 Language Template examples

Lab Matters

We’ll achieve a sensible understanding of the steps related to establishing Catalyst Middle and an setting to help DayN common templates to ship machine configuration throughout these labs. The labs goal to assist engineers in quickly starting utilizing Catalyst Middle automation and assist them work in direction of a template technique. Moreover, these labs will give prospects a everlasting place to check out the common and composite templates and embrace configurations for numerous use instances. Lastly, this setting will allow engineers to scale back the effort and time wanted to instantiate the community.

1. Making a DayN Template by importing a JSON file
2. Constructing a Challenge by importing a JSON file
3. Designing and modifying a Composite Template sequence.
4. Modifying a Community Profile
5. Provisioning the machine
6. Resyncing the machine

Template Import and Export

In these labs, we are going to use JSON recordsdata to Import and Export templates to Catalyst Middle to scale back the time required to deploy. This functionality additionally consists of all the weather edited within the kind editor, so all the varied settings are despatched with the logical cli constructs. This ends in a beneficial device for shifting templates from take a look at environments to manufacturing.

Challenge Import and Export

In these labs, we are going to use JSON recordsdata to Import and Export complete tasks. This consists of common templates, composite templates, and settings to Catalyst Middle to scale back the time required to deploy. This functionality additionally consists of all the weather edited within the kind editor, so all the varied settings are despatched with the logical cli constructs. This ends in a useful device for shifting complete tasks from take a look at environments to manufacturing.

Making a Composite Template

In these labs, we are going to use JSON recordsdata to Import composite templates, after which we are going to modify it to incorporate a number of common templates for provisioning. Composite templates permit for the reuse of a number of common templates, which is able to allow us to modularize our code for reuse, thereby utilizing smaller chunks of configuration. Composite templates additionally permit us one place to make adjustments that have an effect on a broader set of units. Thus, if we improve one common template utilized to a number of composite templates, we might impact change on a broader set of units. This additionally permits us to scale back the duplication of efforts and decrease the administrator’s quantity of effort.

Template Examples

On this lab, we offer JSON recordsdata, examples of templates that you could be Import to Catalyst Middle to scale back the time required to deploy. This alleviates the guesswork concerned in determining how a variable may be arrange, as all the shape editor parts are additionally included throughout the JSON file.

Lab Flexibility

Whereas utilizing these labs you could modify them in any strategy to help your use case. We use a layer two trunk throughout a port-channel for connectivity inside our examples. Equally, you could possibly take a look at out different connectivity strategies for layer three routed entry. Additionally, please word that the examples given could also be used outdoors DCLOUD inside a buyer on-prem lab or manufacturing after person modification.

How can I get began?

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 permits us a spot to start out working towards numerous ideas with out worry of impacting manufacturing environments.

Consequently, 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’ve got put collectively a set of small useful labs inside a GitHub repository. On this manner, these self-guided labs present a glimpse into the basics of constructing velocity templates and supply examples which 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 help you construct the setting to check.

First, in a sensible lab information, we step-by-step delve into the ideas of constructing templates and methodologies for utilizing each Onboarding and DayN templates. Second, we offer solutions and explanations to lots of the questions that come up throughout automation workshops. Our hope is that you simply discover the knowledge each useful and informative. We hope to provide a well-rounded rationalization of automation strategies and ideas you possibly can increase upon for manufacturing functions. Lastly, the Wired Automation lab the DayN Template content material explains the general DayN machine configuration setup steps.

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

DCLOUD Lab Setting

To assist prospects 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 help you 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 provides you an setting the place you possibly can safely POC/POV strategies and steps with out harming your manufacturing environments. The DCLOUD setting additionally negates the necessity for delivery gear, lead instances, and licensing points wanted to get shifting quickly. Please do adhere to the most effective practices for the DCLOUD setting when utilizing it.

Lab Connectivity

The setting permits to be used with a web-based browser shopper for VPN-less connectivity, entry in addition to AnyConnect VPN shopper connectivity for many who desire it. Chances are you’ll select from labs hosted out of our San Jose Services by deciding on US West. Select the Cisco Enterprise Community Sandbox. To entry this or every other content material, together with demonstrations, labs, and coaching in DCLOUD please work along with your Cisco Account group or Cisco Accomplice Account Group immediately. 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 most effective practices of the DCLOUD setting.

Content material

The Wired Automation lab content material is positioned throughout the present DNAC-TEMPLATES repository to provide a one-stop-shop for all the mandatory instruments, scripts, templates, and code samples. Inside it are six modules, 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.

Further Info

Catalyst Middle Template Labs

The beforehand named DNAC Template LABS throughout the DNAC-TEMPLATES GitHub repository goal to information you thru the standard 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 will modify for our use and take a look at on gear throughout the LAB setting. Further data throughout the lab offers a well-rounded rationalization 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.

This lab’s aim is to be a sensible help for engineers creating a template technique. Secondarily, to assist these engineers in quickly adopting Catalyst Middle automation.  Moreover, prospects will achieve a everlasting place to check out the templates and embrace configurations for numerous use instances. Lastly, this setting will allow engineers to scale back the effort and time wanted to instantiate the community.

Consequently, you’ll achieve expertise in establishing Plug and Play onboarding and templates. 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. Throughout the a number of folders are examples and rationalization 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 may very well be improved.

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