Overview

On this episode of our ongoing Catalyst Middle Automation Collection, our focus strikes to Relaxation-APIs and utilizing postman to automate the community. We’ll change our focus from templating to automation by Postman, a fantastic device to look at RESTful APIs in a single consumer interface. It is a Self-Paced Standalone Lab, the place we are going to construct upon the foundational information acquired within the earlier labs. For this lab, we are going to consider Catalyst Middle configuration and the way Catalyst Middle could be automated to carry out varied features we’ve already lined. The lab is meant to assist drive the adoption of Relaxation-API and consists of a number of use circumstances to resolve widespread orchestration wants when utilizing Catalyst Middle.

Inside this sequence, we cowl the next;

1. PnP Preparation – explains the general Plug and Play arrange steps
2. Onboarding Templates – explains in-depth the best way 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. Utility Policys – explores Utility Policys and SD-AVC in Catalyst Middle and their use
5. Telemetry – explains the best way to deploy Telemetry for assurance
6. Superior Automation – explores Superior Automation strategies
7. 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. “Typically seeing is believing.” We hope these new instruments assist clarify the best way to greatest use the Relaxation-APIs and increase the data from developer.cisco.com.

On this lab, we are going to frequently add extra use circumstances to reply particular orchestration wants, however all the time 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 In upcoming modules, we may also delve into revealed and unpublished Relaxation-API and the best way to uncover and work with these to perform your orchestration wants.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;

1. Postman Orientation – orientates you to Postman and helps put together the instruments
2. Constructing Hierarchy – the orchestration of constructing hierarchy
3. Assign Settings and Credentials – assigning settings and credentials
4. System Discovery – orchestrating machine discovery
5. Template Deployment – automating template deployment
6. Configuration Archive – automating configuration archiving
7. Retrieving Community Stock – accumulating a community stock
8. Working Present Instructions – accumulating present command outcomes

Not like 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 don’t have any pre-configuration. It makes use of varied automation strategies to indicate the whole artwork of the attainable from Software program-Outlined Networking.

What is going to I study 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 circumstances throughout this lab. We cowl some earlier ideas with an in-depth give attention to broadening their capabilities by the artwork of doing and analyzing.

The idea of this lab is so that you can construct the setting from the bottom up, from Design to Discovery to Template Deployment. The usage of DCLOUD or the DevNet Sandbox permits a protected 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 by way of Postman inside a group runner to rapidly configure Catalyst Middle. This enables us to deploy Settings, Credentials, Uncover Gadgets, Construct Websites, Buildings, Flooring, and assign the units to these websites. These are highly effective examples of what we will do, they usually reveal how rapidly we will get Catalyst Middle up and working using Relaxation-API utilizing only one device.

However wait, there may be extra…

We provisioned a comma-separated worth (CSV) file to be used with the Postman collections to make it straightforward to construct the design and deploy templates the place obligatory.

You possibly can simply add the Public Workspace to Postman by way of the next hyperlink. This may mean you can 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 setting, might 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.  Throughout the Workspace are presently a number of collections and an setting.

Use Instances

We’ll cowl varied subjects in a number of use circumstances based mostly on lab modules to indicate the aptitude and adaptability of the Relaxation-APIs with Catalyst Middle.

The assorted subjects/use-cases we are going to contact on and deploy inside the lab include the next:

1. Utilizing Relaxation-API to configure Catalyst Middle Design and Settings utilizing a CSV file
2. Automation of assigning Credentials throughout the community
3. Orchestrating Discovery to onboard community units
4. Automating the Provisioning of Common and Composite Templates to Gadgets
5. Retrieving System Stock info
6. Orchestration of Configuration Archives
7. Retrieving Present Command outcomes from Catalyst Facilities Command Runner

With that, the lab makes use of these subjects…

We’ll acquire a sensible understanding of the steps related to using Relaxation-API whereas establishing a Catalyst Middle and an setting to assist advanced, superior, common templates to ship machine configuration throughout these labs. The labs purpose to help engineers in quickly starting to make use of Catalyst Middle automation and assist them work in the direction of a worldwide 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 setting 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 mean you can use them as you please inside the time scheduled. As well as, this permits us a spot to start out training varied ideas with out concern of impacting manufacturing environments.

Because of this, we hope to demystify a few of the complexities of establishing automation and assist information prospects by 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 manner, these self-guided labs present a glimpse into the basics of constructing velocity templates and provide examples you possibly can obtain and broaden from. As well as, the pattern templates and JSON recordsdata equipped 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 setting 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 circumstances. Second, we offer solutions and explanations to most 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 take a look at and check out 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:

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 provides an setting to strive the varied code samples. You could 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 transport tools, lead instances, and licensing points wanted to maneuver quickly. Please adhere to the most effective practices for the DCLOUD setting when utilizing it.

Lab Connectivity

The setting permits for a web-based browser shopper for VPN-less connectivity. Moreover, there may be AnyConnect VPN shopper connectivity for many who choose it. Select the Cisco Enterprise Community Sandbox. Moreover, you could select from our RTP Amenities labs by deciding on US West. To entry this or different content material, demonstrations, and labs in DCLOUD, please instantly work along with your Cisco or Associate 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 most effective practices of the DCLOUD setting.

Content material

The REST-API Orchestration lab content material is positioned inside the current DNAC-TEMPLATES repository to offer 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 setting. The repository was featured in a earlier publish 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 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 tools inside the LAB setting. Further info 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 follow deploying Onboarding, DayN Templates, and Utility Coverage automation on each Wired and Wi-fi Platforms.

The aim 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 the 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 setting will allow engineers to cut 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 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 rationalization readme recordsdata for reference. There are actually two units of labs, and these are being frequently expanded upon.

This newer and extra modular lab strategy is designed to cope with and consists of ideas from the legacy labs in a more recent extra modular format.

1. Lab 1 Wired Automation – Covers inexperienced and brown subject use circumstances (permit 4.0 hrs)
2. Lab 2 Wi-fi Automation – Covers conventional wi-fi automation (permit 4.0 hrs)
3. Lab 4 Relaxation-API Orchestration – Covers automation of Cisco Catalyst Middle by way of Postman with Relaxation-API (permit 2.0 hrs)
4. Lab 7 CICD Orchestration – Covers Python with JENKINS orchestration by way of REST-API (permit 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, in case you 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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