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

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 means of Postman, an amazing instrument to look at RESTful APIs in a single consumer interface. This can be a Self-Paced Standalone Lab, the place we are going to construct upon the foundational data acquired within the earlier labs. For this lab, we are going to think about Catalyst Heart configuration and the way Catalyst Heart will be automated to carry out varied capabilities we’ve got already coated. 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 Heart.

Inside this sequence, 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 Heart and their use
5. Telemetry – explains easy methods to deploy Telemetry for assurance
6. Superior Automation – explores Superior Automation strategies
7. Dynamic Automation – a deployment lab for dynamic automation

Catalyst Heart 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 are going to regularly add extra use circumstances to reply particular orchestration wants, however all the time in Postman, the place they could 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 In upcoming modules, we may also delve into printed and unpublished Relaxation-API and easy methods to uncover and work with these to perform your orchestration wants.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. Machine Discovery – orchestrating system 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. Whilst 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 entire artwork of the attainable from Software program-Outlined Networking.

What is 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 present perceive by making an attempt new ideas and pushing the boundaries of automation and orchestration. We’ll cowl varied matters 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 means 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. The usage of DCLOUD or the DevNet Sandbox permits a secure place so that you can attempt, modify, and get used to the assorted ideas and approaches.

Strategy

The Lab is constructed for minimal intervention utilizing issues like Relaxation-API run by way of Postman inside a set runner to rapidly configure Catalyst Heart. 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 Heart up and operating using Relaxation-API utilizing only one instrument.

However wait, there may be 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 obligatory.

You possibly can simply add the Public Workspace to Postman by way of the next hyperlink. It will can 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 surroundings, can be robotically added. (see picture under)

Public Catalyst Heart 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 present a number of collections and an surroundings.

Use Instances

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

The assorted matters/use-cases we are going to contact on and deploy throughout the lab encompass the next:

1. Utilizing Relaxation-API to configure Catalyst Heart 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 Machine 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 matters…

We’ll achieve a sensible understanding of the steps related to using Relaxation-API whereas organising a Catalyst Heart and an surroundings to help advanced, superior, common templates to ship system configuration throughout these labs. The labs intention to assist engineers in quickly starting to make use of Catalyst Heart automation and assist them work in the direction of a worldwide template technique. Moreover, these labs will give clients a everlasting place to check out the common and composite templates and embrace configurations for varied use circumstances. Lastly, this surroundings 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 can help you use them as you please throughout the time scheduled. As well as, this enables us a spot to start out working towards varied ideas with out concern of impacting manufacturing environments.

Consequently, we hope to demystify among the complexities of organising automation and assist information clients by means of the caveats. Subsequently, to assist 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 supply examples you may obtain and increase 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 can help 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 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 just 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 Heart 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 can help you run these labs and provides an surroundings to attempt the assorted code samples. You might develop and export your code to be used in manufacturing environments. Additionally, this provides you an surroundings the place you may safely POC/POV strategies and steps with out harming your manufacturing environments. The DCLOUD surroundings additionally negates the necessity for delivery tools, lead instances, 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 consumer for VPN-less connectivity. Moreover, there may be AnyConnect VPN consumer connectivity for individuals who favor it. Select the Cisco Enterprise Community Sandbox. Moreover, you could 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 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 one of the best practices of the DCLOUD surroundings.

Content material

The REST-API Orchestration lab content material is positioned throughout the present DNAC-TEMPLATES repository to present 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 surroundings. The repository was featured in a earlier put up on Cisco Blogs about Catalyst Heart Templates earlier in Could 2021.

Extra Data

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 assorted 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 take a look at on tools throughout the LAB surroundings. Extra data throughout the lab gives a well-rounded rationalization of Automation strategies with Templates. Lastly, the lab permits for purchasers to make use of Catalyst Heart workflows to apply deploying Onboarding, DayN Templates, and Software Coverage automation on each Wired and Wi-fi Platforms.

The objective of this lab is for it to be a sensible information to assist engineers to quickly start utilizing Catalyst Heart automation and assist them work in the 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 surroundings will allow engineers to cut back the effort and time wanted to instantiate the community.

Consequently, you’ll achieve 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 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 method is designed to take care of and consists of ideas from the legacy labs in a more moderen 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 Heart 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 meet all of your automation wants with Catalyst Heart.

In conclusion, should you discovered this set of labs and repository useful,

please fill in feedback and suggestions on the way it could possibly be improved.

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