Cisco DNA Middle Template Labs – Dynamic Automation, Half 8

Overview

On this episode of our ongoing DNA Middle Automation Sequence, our focus is on utilizing a number of dynamic approaches to automating the community. We now have beforehand, within the collection, concentrated our efforts on particular ideas regarding automation. Nonetheless, on this Self-Paced Standalone Lab, we are going to begin to mix numerous concepts to provide you a extra in-depth take a look at what is feasible by automation supplied by DNA Middle. We are going to automate the entry layer with Dynamic templates, which may auto-provision ports primarily based on PoE occasions. Throughout this lab, we are going to make the most of numerous velocity templates mentioned in Lab 7 to cope with particular use instances in order that DNA Middle provisioning can allow these use instances by way of automation. This allows you, the community administrator, with the aptitude to resolve extra varieties of configuration points from DNA Middle and to cope with the dynamics of an enterprise community.

In contrast to the earlier Labs within the collection, this lab is a self-contained lab and has no dependencies on any of the 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 numerous automation strategies to indicate the whole artwork of the potential in a non-Software program Outlined Entry strategy.

Earlier subjects inside this collection, 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 instances
4. Utility Policys – explores Utility Policys and SD-AVC in DNAC and their use
5. Telemetry – explains the best way to deploy Telemetry for assurance
6. Superior Automation – Explores Superior Automation strategies

What is going to I be taught within the Dynamic Automation Lab?

That is an enablement-type lab, and it permits prospects to succeed in past what they presently perceive by attempting new ideas, actually pushing the boundaries of automation. We are going to cowl numerous subjects about template logic to resolve a number of use instances throughout this lab. We cowl some earlier ideas with an in-depth deal with broadening their capabilities.

The idea of this lab is so that you can construct the atmosphere from Discovery and PnP by to deployment. Permitting a secure place so that you can attempt, modify, and get used to the assorted ideas and approaches.

Method

Preparation

The Lab is constructed for minimal intervention making use of issues like Relaxation-API run by way of Postman inside a set runner to shortly configure DNA Middle. This enables us to deploy Settings, Credentials, Uncover Units, Construct Websites, Buildings, Flooring, and assign the gadgets to these websites. It is a highly effective instance of what could be finished, as a result of it demonstrates how shortly you may get DNA Middle up and operating using Relaxation-API utilizing only one instrument.

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

However wait there may be extra…

Templates

We use templates inside the lab to configure all of the {hardware} tools, in preparation for the Plug and Play onboarding of the entry change, after which deploy the DayN Composite template to fully configure the change in probably the most dynamic approach potential permitting for using low-impact mode depending on what sort of system is plugged in to the change. All templates and tasks for DNA 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 cope with most automation duties demanded in trendy enterprise networks.

Subjects

The varied subjects we are going to contact on and deploy inside the lab include the next:

1. Integrating DNA Middle and Identification Companies Engine by way of PxGrid
2. Utilizing Relaxation-API to configure DNA Middle by way of Postman Command Runner
3. Using Discovery to onboard community gadgets
4. Provisioning Common and Composite Templates to Found Units
5. Pattern PowerShell scripts to simplify DHCP and DNS deployment
6. Plug and Play (PnP) Onboarding of Units
7. Common and Composite Templates for Routers and Switches
8. Autoconf and Embedded Occasion Supervisor
9. IBNS 2.0 configuration
10. Working with  Identification Service Engine (ISE) Profiling and Insurance policies

Use Instances

We are going to cowl the Subjects above in a number of use instances to indicate the aptitude and adaptability of the templating engine inside DNA Middle. On this lab we make the most of Velocity language. Equally, we are able to make the most of the Jinja2 language though not on this lab.

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 subjects;

We are going to achieve a sensible understanding of the steps related to organising a DNA Middle and an atmosphere to assist complicated, superior, common templates to ship system configuration throughout these labs. The labs intention to help engineers in quickly starting utilizing DNA Middle automation and assist them work in direction of a worldwide 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 atmosphere will allow engineers to cut back the effort and time wanted to instantiate the community.

Extra 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 gadgets to deploy configuration in an automatic approach within the entry layer of a community. Machine classification is enabled while you allow the Autoconf characteristic utilizing the autoconf allow world 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 characteristic 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 could make use of different strategies to make the interface Dynamic.

EEM scripts

EEM scripts use some form of occasion to set off them. Inside 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 impression 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 give you many different makes use of for such a characteristic.

Self-Destructing EEM scripts

Self-Destructing EEM scripts are those who delete themselves on termination. Inside 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 give you many different makes use of for such a characteristic.

IBNS 2.0 Configuration

Whereas not protecting all of the facets of IBNS 2.0, we cowl the configuration that we could implement with the intention to permit for automating host onboarding inside a non-SD-Entry campus community. These ideas whereas not constructed into a proper UI inside DNA Middle for legacy networks permit organizations that want to automate their infrastructure the possibility 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 DNA 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 mean you can use them as you please inside the time scheduled. As well as, this enables us a spot to begin practising numerous ideas with out worry of impacting manufacturing environments.

In consequence, we hope to demystify a few of the complexities of organising automation and assist information prospects by 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 provide examples that you would be able to obtain and increase from. As well as, the pattern templates and JSON information provided are for simple import into DNA Facilities’ template editor for faster adoption. Lastly, some scripts are ready-made excerpts of code that mean you can construct the atmosphere to check.

On this sensible lab, Dynamic Automation, 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 check out these labs?

dCLOUD Lab Surroundings

To assist prospects succeed with Cisco DNA 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. The dCLOUD labs mean you can run these labs and offers an atmosphere to attempt the assorted code samples. Chances are you’ll select to 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 delivery tools, lead occasions, and licensing points wanted to get shifting quickly. Please do adhere to the most effective 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 may be AnyConnect VPN shopper connectivity for individuals who choose it. Select the Cisco Enterprise Community Sandbox. Moreover, chances are you’ll 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 instantly work together with your Cisco or Accomplice Account Crew. 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 most effective practices of the dCLOUD atmosphere.

Content material

The  Dynamic Automation, lab content material is situated inside the present DNAC-TEMPLATES repository to provide a one-stop-shop 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 put up on Cisco Blogs about DNA Middle Templates earlier in Might 2021.

Extra Data

Extra labs intention to information you thru the everyday steps required to allow the assorted automation duties. This lab delves into the ideas of constructing and deploying superior automation templates to cope with particular use instances. In consequence, it additionally provides us entry to appropriate testing tools inside the LAB atmosphere. Moreover, info inside the lab supplies a well-rounded rationalization of Automation strategies inside Templates. Lastly, the lab permits prospects capability to make use of DNA Middle workflows. This lab provides an atmosphere for patrons to observe deploying superior automation on each Wired and Wi-fi Platforms.

This lab’s purpose is to be a sensible help for engineers growing a QoS automation technique. Moreover, prospects will achieve a everlasting place to check out the insurance policies for numerous use instances. Lastly, this atmosphere will allow engineers to cut back the effort and time wanted to instantiate the community.

Extra Labs

Please use this menu to navigate the assorted sections of this Github repository. Inside the a number of folders are examples, rationalization readme information for reference.

• PnP Preparation – The lab covers setup for Plug and Play (permit 1.5 hrs)
• Onboarding Templates – The lab covers in depth the best way to deploy Day 0 templates (permit 1.5 hrs)
• Day N Templates – The lab covers Day N template constructs and use instances (permit 0.5 hrs)
• Composite Templates – This lab covers constructing a composite template on DNA Middle (permit 0.5 hrs)
• Utility Policys – This lab covers Utility Policys & SDAVC in DNAC (permit 1.0 hrs)
• Telemetry – This lab explains the best way to deploy Telemetry for assurance (permit 0.5 hrs)
• Superior Automation – This lab will discover Superior Automation examples (permit 1.5 hrs)
• Dynamic Automation – This lab will use many Superior Automation strategies mentioned beforehand (permit 2.0 hrs)

We are going to share further labs and content material in an ongoing effort to meet all of your automation wants with DNA Middle.

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.

We’d love to listen to what you assume. Ask a query or depart a remark beneath.
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