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Overview
On this episode of our ongoing Catalyst Heart 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 way of Postman, an important 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 information acquired within the earlier labs. For this lab, we’ll focus on Catalyst Heart configuration and the way Catalyst Heart might be automated to carry out numerous capabilities now we have already coated. The lab is meant to assist drive the adoption of Relaxation-API and contains a number of use instances to unravel frequent orchestration wants when utilizing Catalyst Heart.
Inside this sequence, we cowl the next;
PnP Preparation – explains the general Plug and Play arrange steps
Onboarding Templates – explains in-depth tips on how to deploy Day 0 templates
Day N Templates – dives into Day N template constructs with each common and composite templates and use instances
Software Policys – explores Software Policys and SD-AVC in Catalyst Heart and their use
Telemetry – explains tips on how to deploy Telemetry for assurance
Superior Automation – explores Superior Automation strategies
Dynamic Automation – a deployment lab for dynamic automation
Catalyst Heart Relaxation-API Collections
Moreover, now we have 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 tips on how to finest use the Relaxation-APIs and increase the knowledge from developer.cisco.com.
On this lab, we’ll frequently 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 In upcoming modules, we can even delve into printed and unpublished Relaxation-API and tips on how to uncover and work with these to perform your orchestration wants.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
System Discovery – orchestrating gadget discovery
Template Deployment – automating template deployment
Configuration Archive – automating configuration archiving
Retrieving Community Stock – gathering a community stock
Working Present Instructions – gathering 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 don’t have any pre-configuration. It makes use of numerous automation strategies to indicate the entire artwork of the doable 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 succeed in past what they at the moment perceive by attempting new ideas and pushing the boundaries of automation and orchestration. We’ll cowl numerous subjects about Relaxation-API logic to unravel a number of use instances throughout this lab. We cowl some earlier ideas with an in-depth concentrate on broadening their capabilities by way of the artwork of doing and analyzing.
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 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 set runner to shortly configure Catalyst Heart. This permits 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 reveal how shortly we are able to get Catalyst Heart up and operating using Relaxation-API utilizing only one instrument.
However wait, there’s 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 vital.
Determine 1. CSV File
You may simply add the Public Workspace to Postman through the next hyperlink. This may will let you 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, can be routinely added. (see picture beneath)
Public Catalyst Heart Use-Case API Assortment
Determine 2. Postman Public Workspace
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 Circumstances
We’ll cowl numerous subjects in a number of use instances based mostly on lab modules to indicate the potential and adaptability of the Relaxation-APIs with Catalyst Heart.
The varied subjects/use-cases we’ll contact on and deploy throughout the lab encompass the next:
Utilizing Relaxation-API to configure Catalyst Heart 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 System 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 acquire a sensible understanding of the steps related to using Relaxation-API whereas organising a Catalyst Heart and an surroundings to assist advanced, superior, common templates to ship gadget configuration throughout these labs. The labs purpose to help engineers in quickly starting to make use of Catalyst Heart 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 numerous use instances. Lastly, this surroundings will allow engineers to scale 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 will let you use them as you please throughout the time scheduled. As well as, this enables us a spot to begin working towards numerous ideas with out worry of impacting manufacturing environments.
Consequently, we hope to demystify a few of the complexities of organising automation and assist information prospects by way of the caveats. Due to this fact, to help prospects within the transition towards automation, now we have 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 possibly can obtain and develop from. As well as, the pattern templates and JSON recordsdata provided are for straightforward import into Catalyst Facilities’ template editor for faster adoption. Lastly, some scripts are ready-made excerpts of code that will let you 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 unravel numerous use instances. Second, we offer solutions and explanations to lots 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 check and take a look at these labs?
DCLOUD Lab Setting
To assist prospects succeed with Cisco Catalyst Heart 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 will let you run these labs and provides an surroundings to strive the varied code samples. You could 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 transport tools, lead occasions, and licensing points wanted to maneuver quickly. Please adhere to one of the best 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’s AnyConnect VPN shopper connectivity for many who choose 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 straight work together with your Cisco or Companion Account Crew. 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 REST-API Orchestration lab content material is positioned throughout the current 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 surroundings. The repository was featured in a earlier put up on Cisco Blogs about Catalyst Heart Templates earlier in Might 2021.
Further Info
Catalyst Heart 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 Heart. This lab will give examples of templates utilized in Catalyst Heart that we are able to modify for our use and check on tools throughout the LAB surroundings. Further data throughout the lab supplies a well-rounded clarification of Automation strategies with Templates. Lastly, the lab permits for patrons to make use of Catalyst Heart 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 Heart 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 numerous use instances. Lastly, this surroundings will allow engineers to scale back the effort and time wanted to instantiate the community.
Consequently, you’ll acquire 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 Heart 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 recordsdata for reference. There at the moment are two units of labs, and these are being frequently expanded upon.
This newer and extra modular lab method is designed to cope with and contains ideas from the legacy labs in a more moderen 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 Heart 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 extra labs and content material in an ongoing effort to satisfy all of your automation wants with Catalyst Heart.
In conclusion, when 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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