Cisco Catalyst Middle Template Labs – Relaxation-APIs – Half 9

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 are going to change our focus from templating to automation by Postman, an ideal device 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 may be automated to carry out varied capabilities we’ve got already lined. The lab is meant to assist drive the adoption of Relaxation-API and consists of a number of use circumstances to unravel widespread orchestration wants when utilizing Catalyst Middle.

Inside this collection, we cowl the next;

1. PnP Preparation – explains the general Plug and Play arrange steps
2. Onboarding Templates – explains in-depth easy methods 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. Software Policys – explores Software Policys and SD-AVC in Catalyst Middle and their use
5. Telemetry – explains easy methods to deploy Telemetry for assurance
6. Superior Automation – explores Superior Automation methods
7. Dynamic Automation – a deployment lab for dynamic automation

Catalyst Middle Relaxation-API Collections

Moreover, we’ve got 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 easy methods to finest use the Relaxation-APIs and increase the knowledge from developer.cisco.com.

On this lab, we’ll regularly add extra use circumstances 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 In upcoming modules, we may even delve into printed and unpublished Relaxation-API and easy methods to uncover and work with these to perform your orchestration wants.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;

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 gadget discovery
5. Template Deployment – automating template deployment
6. Configuration Archive – automating configuration archiving
7. Retrieving Community Stock – amassing a community stock
8. Operating 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. Whilst 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 doable 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 achieve past what they at the moment perceive by making an attempt new ideas and pushing the boundaries of automation and orchestration. We are going to cowl varied subjects about Relaxation-API logic to unravel a number of use circumstances throughout this lab. We cowl some earlier ideas with an in-depth deal with broadening their capabilities by the artwork of doing and analyzing.

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 assorted ideas and approaches.

Method

The Lab is constructed for minimal intervention utilizing issues like Relaxation-API run through Postman inside a group runner to rapidly configure Catalyst Middle. This permits us to deploy Settings, Credentials, Uncover Gadgets, Construct Websites, Buildings, Flooring, and assign the gadgets to these websites. These are highly effective examples of what we are able to do, and so they display how rapidly we are able to get Catalyst Middle up and working using Relaxation-API utilizing only one device.

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 needed.

You may simply add the Public Workspace to Postman through the next hyperlink. This may help 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 atmosphere, will probably be robotically added. (see picture under)

Public Catalyst Middle Use-Case API Assortment

We hold 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 atmosphere.

Use Circumstances

We are going to cowl varied subjects in a number of use circumstances primarily based on lab modules to point out the aptitude and adaptability of the Relaxation-APIs with Catalyst Middle.

The varied subjects/use-cases we’ll contact on and deploy throughout the lab encompass 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 gadgets
4. Automating the Provisioning of Common and Composite Templates to Gadgets
5. Retrieving System Stock data
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 are going to acquire a sensible understanding of the steps related to using Relaxation-API whereas organising a Catalyst Middle and an atmosphere 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 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 embody configurations for varied use circumstances. Lastly, this atmosphere 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 help you use them as you please throughout the time scheduled. As well as, this enables us a spot to start out practising varied ideas with out worry of impacting manufacturing environments.

In consequence, we hope to demystify a number of the complexities of organising automation and assist information clients by the caveats. Subsequently, to help 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 provide examples you’ll be able to obtain and increase from. As well as, the pattern templates and JSON recordsdata equipped are for simple import into Catalyst Facilities’ template editor for faster adoption. Lastly, some scripts are ready-made excerpts of code that help you 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 unravel 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 knowledge each useful and informative.

The place can I take a look at and take a look at these labs?

DCLOUD Lab Setting

To assist clients succeed with Cisco Catalyst Middle automation, it’s possible 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:

1. Cisco Enterprise Networks {Hardware} Sandbox West DC
2. Cisco Enterprise Networks {Hardware} Sandbox East DC

The DCLOUD labs help you run these labs and provides an atmosphere to strive the assorted code samples. You might 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 tools, lead instances, and licensing points wanted to maneuver quickly. Please adhere to the very best practices for the DCLOUD atmosphere when utilizing it.

Lab Connectivity

The atmosphere permits for a web-based browser consumer for VPN-less connectivity. Moreover, there’s AnyConnect VPN consumer connectivity for many who desire it. Select the Cisco Enterprise Community Sandbox. Moreover, it’s possible 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 along 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 the very best practices of the DCLOUD atmosphere.

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 atmosphere. 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 throughout the DNAC-TEMPLATES GitHub repository goals to information you thru the everyday steps required to allow the assorted 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 tools throughout the LAB atmosphere. Further data throughout 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 observe deploying Onboarding, DayN Templates, and Software 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 direction of a deployment technique. Moreover, this lab will give clients a everlasting place to check out the configurations for varied use circumstances. Lastly, this atmosphere will allow engineers to scale back the effort and time wanted to instantiate the community.

In consequence, 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 Middle Lab Content material

Please use this menu to navigate the assorted sections of this GitHub repository. Inside the a number of folders are examples and rationalization readme recordsdata for reference. There are actually two units of labs, and these are being regularly 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 moderen extra modular format.

1. Lab 1 Wired Automation – Covers inexperienced and brown area use circumstances (enable 4.0 hrs)
2. Lab 2 Wi-fi Automation – Covers conventional wi-fi automation (enable 4.0 hrs)
3. Lab 4 Relaxation-API Orchestration – Covers automation of Cisco Catalyst Middle through Postman with Relaxation-API (enable 2.0 hrs)
4. Lab 7 CICD Orchestration – Covers Python with JENKINS orchestration through REST-API (enable 4.0 hrs)

We are going to 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 may very well be improved.

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