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 ideal software 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 Middle configuration and the way Catalyst Middle may be automated to carry out varied capabilities we’ve 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 collection, 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 methods
- Dynamic Automation – a deployment lab for dynamic automation
Catalyst Middle Relaxation-API Collections
Moreover, we’ve offered 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. “Generally seeing is believing.” We hope these new instruments assist clarify methods to greatest use the Relaxation-APIs and increase the knowledge from developer.cisco.com.
On this lab, we’ll regularly add extra use instances to reply particular orchestration wants, however at all times 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 In upcoming modules, we will even delve into printed and unpublished Relaxation-API and methods to uncover and work with these to perform your orchestration wants.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 system discovery
- Template Deployment – automating template deployment
- Configuration Archive – automating configuration archiving
- Retrieving Community Stock – amassing a community stock
- Working Present Instructions – amassing present command outcomes
In contrast to most earlier Labs within the collection, 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 varied automation methods to point out the whole artwork of the attainable 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 succeed in past what they presently perceive by attempting new ideas and pushing the boundaries of automation and orchestration. We’ll cowl varied subjects 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 atmosphere from the bottom up, from Design to Discovery to Template Deployment. The usage of DCLOUD or the DevNet Sandbox permits a secure place so that you can strive, modify, and get used to the varied ideas and approaches.
Strategy
The Lab is constructed for minimal intervention utilizing issues like Relaxation-API run through Postman inside a group runner to shortly configure Catalyst Middle. This permits us to deploy Settings, Credentials, Uncover Units, Construct Websites, Buildings, Flooring, and assign the units to these websites. These are highly effective examples of what we will do, they usually exhibit how shortly we will get Catalyst Middle up and working using Relaxation-API utilizing only one software.
However wait, there’s 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 essential.
You possibly can simply add the Public Workspace to Postman through the next hyperlink. This can assist 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 atmosphere, will probably be mechanically added. (see picture under)
Public Catalyst Middle 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 presently a number of collections and an atmosphere.
Use Instances
We’ll cowl varied subjects in a number of use instances primarily based on lab modules to point out the aptitude and suppleness of the Relaxation-APIs with Catalyst Middle.
The varied subjects/use-cases we’ll contact on and deploy throughout the lab include 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 units
- Automating the Provisioning of Common and Composite Templates to Units
- Retrieving Machine 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 Middle and an atmosphere to assist advanced, superior, common templates to ship system configuration throughout these labs. The labs goal to help engineers in quickly starting to make use of 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 embrace configurations for varied use instances. Lastly, this atmosphere 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 assist you to use them as you please throughout the time scheduled. As well as, this enables us a spot to begin practising varied ideas with out worry of impacting manufacturing environments.
In consequence, we hope to demystify a few of the complexities of establishing automation and assist information prospects by means of the caveats. Due to this fact, to help prospects within the transition towards automation, we’ve put collectively a set of small useful labs inside a GitHub repository. This fashion, these self-guided labs present a glimpse into the basics of constructing velocity templates and supply examples you’ll 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 assist you to construct the atmosphere 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 varied use instances. Second, we offer solutions and explanations to most 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 take a look at and take a look at these labs?
DCLOUD Lab Surroundings
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:
- Cisco Enterprise Networks {Hardware} Sandbox West DC
- Cisco Enterprise Networks {Hardware} Sandbox East DC
The DCLOUD labs assist you to run these labs and provides an atmosphere to strive the varied code samples. It’s possible you’ll develop and export your code to be used in manufacturing environments. Additionally, this provides you an atmosphere the place you’ll be able to safely POC/POV strategies and steps with out harming your manufacturing environments. The DCLOUD atmosphere additionally negates the necessity for transport gear, lead occasions, and licensing points wanted to maneuver quickly. Please adhere to the perfect practices for the DCLOUD atmosphere when utilizing it.
Lab Connectivity
The atmosphere 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, you could select from our RTP Services labs by deciding on US West. To entry this or different content material, demonstrations, and labs in DCLOUD, please straight work along 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, observe the information inside GitHub to finish the duties adhering to the perfect practices of the DCLOUD atmosphere.
Content material
The REST-API Orchestration lab content material is situated throughout the present DNAC-TEMPLATES repository to present a one-stop store 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 submit on Cisco Blogs about Catalyst Middle Templates earlier in Could 2021.
Extra Data
Catalyst Middle 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 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 atmosphere. Extra data throughout the lab gives a well-rounded clarification 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.
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 instances. Lastly, this atmosphere 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 might 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. Throughout the a number of folders are examples and clarification 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 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 through Postman with Relaxation-API (enable 2.0 hrs)
- Lab 7 CICD Orchestration – Covers Python with JENKINS orchestration through 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 Middle.
In conclusion, for those who 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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