Overview
On this episode of our ongoing Catalyst Middle Automation Sequence, 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 awesome instrument to look at RESTful APIs in a single person 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 focus on Catalyst Middle configuration and the way Catalyst Middle will be automated to carry out numerous features we’ve got already lined. The lab is meant to assist drive the adoption of Relaxation-API and consists of a number of use instances to resolve frequent orchestration wants when utilizing Catalyst Middle.
Inside this sequence, we cowl the next;
- PnP Preparation – explains the general Plug and Play arrange steps
- Onboarding Templates – explains in-depth methods to deploy Day 0 templates
- Day N Templates – dives into Day N template constructs with each common and composite templates and use instances
- Utility Policys – explores Utility Policys and SD-AVC in Catalyst Middle and their use
- Telemetry – explains methods to deploy Telemetry for assurance
- Superior Automation – explores Superior Automation strategies
- Dynamic Automation – a deployment lab for dynamic automation
Catalyst Middle Relaxation-API Collections
Moreover, we’ve got 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 methods to finest 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 could be analyzed and considered in operation for inclusion in no matter automation or orchestration system requires them. In upcoming modules, we may even delve into printed and unpublished Relaxation-API and methods to uncover and work with these to perform your orchestration wants.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
- Machine Discovery – orchestrating machine discovery
- Template Deployment – automating template deployment
- Configuration Archive – automating configuration archiving
- Retrieving Community Stock – amassing a community stock
- Operating Present Instructions – amassing 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 strategies to indicate the entire artwork of the potential from Software program-Outlined Networking.
What’s going to I study 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 attempting new ideas and pushing the boundaries of automation and orchestration. We’ll cowl numerous matters about Relaxation-API logic to resolve a number of use instances throughout this lab. We cowl some earlier ideas with an in-depth give attention to broadening their capabilities by means of the artwork of doing and inspecting.
The idea of this lab is so that you can construct the surroundings 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 attempt, modify, and get used to the varied 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 Middle. This enables 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 are able to do, they usually show how rapidly we are able to get Catalyst Middle up and operating using Relaxation-API utilizing only one instrument.
However wait, there may be extra…
We provisioned a comma-separated worth (CSV) file to be used with the Postman collections to make it simple to construct the design and deploy templates the place obligatory.
You’ll be able to simply add the Public Workspace to Postman by way of the next hyperlink. This can permit you to 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 surroundings, shall be robotically added. (see picture beneath)
Public Catalyst Middle Use-Case API Assortment
We preserve Postman Public Workspace updated with the lab in order that the lab helps doc the gathering, and the collections assist drive the lab. Inside the Workspace are at the moment a number of collections and an surroundings.
Use Instances
We’ll cowl numerous matters in a number of use instances primarily based on lab modules to indicate the potential and suppleness of the Relaxation-APIs with Catalyst Middle.
The assorted matters/use-cases we’ll contact on and deploy inside the lab encompass the next:
- Utilizing Relaxation-API to configure Catalyst Middle 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 Machine Stock info
- Orchestration of Configuration Archives
- Retrieving Present Command outcomes from Catalyst Facilities Command Runner
With that, the lab makes use of these matters…
We’ll achieve a sensible understanding of the steps related to using Relaxation-API whereas organising a Catalyst Middle and an surroundings to help complicated, superior, common templates to ship machine configuration throughout these labs. The labs goal to assist engineers in quickly starting to make use of Catalyst Middle automation and assist them work in direction of a worldwide template technique. Moreover, these labs will give clients a everlasting place to check out the common and composite templates and embrace configurations for numerous use instances. Lastly, this surroundings 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 permit you to use them as you please inside the time scheduled. As well as, this permits us a spot to start out working towards numerous ideas with out concern of impacting manufacturing environments.
In consequence, we hope to demystify a few of the complexities of organising automation and assist information clients by means of the caveats. Due to this fact, to assist clients within the transition towards automation, we’ve got 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 supply examples you possibly can obtain and develop from. As well as, the pattern templates and JSON information provided are for simple import into Catalyst Facilities’ template editor for faster adoption. Lastly, some scripts are ready-made excerpts of code that permit you to construct the surroundings 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 resolve numerous use instances. Second, we offer solutions and explanations to lots 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 Atmosphere
To assist clients 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:
- Cisco Enterprise Networks {Hardware} Sandbox West DC
- Cisco Enterprise Networks {Hardware} Sandbox East DC
The DCLOUD labs permit you to run these labs and provides an surroundings to attempt the varied code samples. Chances are you’ll develop and export your code to be used in manufacturing environments. Additionally, this provides you an surroundings the place you possibly can safely POC/POV strategies and steps with out harming your manufacturing environments. The DCLOUD surroundings additionally negates the necessity for delivery gear, lead instances, and licensing points wanted to maneuver quickly. Please adhere to the perfect practices for the DCLOUD surroundings when utilizing it.
Lab Connectivity
The surroundings permits for a web-based browser shopper for VPN-less connectivity. Moreover, there may be AnyConnect VPN shopper connectivity for individuals who favor it. Select the Cisco Enterprise Community Sandbox. Moreover, chances are you’ll select from our RTP Amenities labs by choosing US West. To entry this or different content material, demonstrations, and labs in DCLOUD, please instantly work together 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 surroundings.
Content material
The REST-API Orchestration lab content material is positioned inside the current DNAC-TEMPLATES repository to present 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 surroundings. The repository was featured in a earlier put up on Cisco Blogs about Catalyst Middle Templates earlier in Could 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 take a look at on gear inside the LAB surroundings. Further info inside the lab supplies a well-rounded clarification of Automation strategies with Templates. Lastly, the lab permits for patrons to make use of Catalyst Middle workflows to observe 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 direction of a deployment technique. Moreover, this lab will give clients a everlasting place to check out the configurations for numerous use instances. Lastly, this surroundings will allow engineers to cut back the effort and time wanted to instantiate the community.
In consequence, 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 could assist throughout faultfinding to find out what’s failing in a deployment.
New Catalyst Middle Lab Content material
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 are actually two units of labs, and these are being regularly expanded upon.
This newer and extra modular lab method is designed to take care of and consists of 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 Middle 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 satisfy all of your automation wants with Catalyst Middle.
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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