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’ve beforehand, within the sequence, concentrated our efforts on particular ideas regarding automation. Nonetheless, on this Self-Paced Standalone Lab, we’ll begin to mix varied concepts to provide you a extra in-depth have a look at what is feasible by way of automation offered by Catalyst Middle. We are going to automate the entry layer with Dynamic templates, which might auto-provision ports primarily based 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 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 sequence, this lab is a self-contained lab and has no dependencies on any of the earlier labs. Whilst 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 strategies to point out the whole artwork of the attainable 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 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 strategies
7. Dynamic Automation – a deployment lab for dynamic automation

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

That is an enablement sort 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 are going to cowl varied matters 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 surroundings from Discovery and PnP by way of to deployment. Permitting a protected place so that you can strive, modify, and get used to the assorted 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 shortly configure Catalyst Middle. This permits us to deploy Settings, Credentials, Uncover Gadgets, Construct Websites, Buildings, Flooring, and assign the units to these websites. This can be a highly effective instance of what could be executed, as a result of it demonstrates how shortly you will get Catalyst Middle up and working using Relaxation-API utilizing only one device.

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

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 fully configure the swap in probably the most dynamic approach attainable permitting for the usage of low-impact mode depending on what sort of system is plugged into the swap. All templates and tasks 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 provided 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 you have to be on the level the place you’ll be able to take care of most automation duties demanded in trendy enterprise networks.

Matters

The varied matters 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 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 are going to cowl the Matters above in a number of use circumstances to point out the potential and adaptability of the templating engine inside Catalyst Middle. On this lab we make the most of Velocity language. Equally, we will make the most of the Jinja2 language though not on this lab. These have been the matters 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 matters;

We are going to achieve a sensible understanding of the steps related to organising a Catalyst Middle and an surroundings to help complicated, superior, common templates to ship system 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 prospects a everlasting place to check out the common and composite templates and embody configurations for varied use circumstances. Lastly, this surroundings will allow engineers to cut 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 information 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 approach 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 system detection acts as an occasion set off, which in flip applies the suitable automated 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 presently can’t 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 sort of occasion to set off them. Throughout the EEM script, you’ll be able to 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 influence 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 those 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 facets of IBNS 2.0, we cowl the configuration that we might implement with a purpose 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 help you use them as you please inside the time scheduled. As well as, this enables us a spot to start out working towards varied ideas with out concern of impacting manufacturing environments.

Consequently, we hope to demystify a number of the complexities of organising automation and assist information prospects by way of the caveats. Subsequently, to help prospects within the transition towards automation, we’ve put collectively a set of small useful labs inside a GitHub repository. On this approach, these self-guided labs present a glimpse into the basics of constructing velocity templates and supply examples that you would be able to obtain and develop 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 surroundings 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 data each useful and informative.

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

DCLOUD Lab Atmosphere

To assist prospects succeed with Cisco Catalyst Middle automation, you might 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 surroundings to strive the assorted code samples. You might select to develop and export your code to be used in manufacturing environments. Additionally, this provides you an surroundings the place you’ll be able to safely POC/POV strategies and steps with out harming your manufacturing environments. The DCLOUD surroundings additionally negates the necessity for transport gear, lead occasions, and licensing points wanted to get shifting quickly. Please do adhere to one of the best practices for the DCLOUD surroundings when utilizing it.

Lab Connectivity

The surroundings 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 might 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 straight 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 one of the best practices of the DCLOUD surroundings.

Content material

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

Further 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 assorted 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 check on gear inside the LAB surroundings. Further data inside the lab offers a well-rounded rationalization of Automation strategies with Templates. Lastly, the lab permits for purchasers to make use of Catalyst Middle workflows to observe 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 prospects a everlasting place to check out the configurations for varied use circumstances. Lastly, this surroundings will allow engineers to cut back the effort and time wanted to instantiate the community.

Consequently, 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 might assist throughout faultfinding to find out what’s failing in a deployment.

Catalyst Middle Labs

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 are actually two units of labs, and these are being regularly expanded upon.

In conclusion, in case you discovered this set of labs and repository useful,

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

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