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, a terrific software to look at RESTful APIs in a single person interface. It is a Self-Paced Standalone Lab, the place we’ll construct upon the foundational information acquired within the earlier labs. For this lab, we’ll consider Catalyst Heart configuration and the way Catalyst Heart will 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 consists of a number of use instances to unravel frequent orchestration wants when utilizing Catalyst Heart.
Inside this collection, we cowl the next;
- PnP Preparation – explains the general Plug and Play arrange steps
- Onboarding Templates – explains in-depth find out how to deploy Day 0 templates
- Day N Templates – dives into Day N template constructs with each common and composite templates and use instances
- Utility Policys – explores Utility Policys and SD-AVC in Catalyst Heart and their use
- Telemetry – explains find out how to deploy Telemetry for assurance
- Superior Automation – explores Superior Automation methods
- Dynamic Automation – a deployment lab for dynamic automation
Catalyst Heart Relaxation-API Collections
Moreover, now we have 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 find out how to finest use the Relaxation-APIs and increase the data 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 seen in operation for inclusion in no matter automation or orchestration system requires them. In upcoming modules, we may even delve into revealed and unpublished Relaxation-API and find out how to uncover and work with these to perform your orchestration wants.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 the help of 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
- Gadget Discovery – orchestrating machine 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 collection, 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 methods to point out the whole artwork of the potential 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 succeed in past what they presently perceive by making an attempt new ideas and pushing the boundaries of automation and orchestration. We’ll cowl numerous matters about Relaxation-API logic to unravel a number of use instances throughout this lab. We cowl some earlier ideas with an in-depth give attention to broadening their capabilities by way of 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 attempt, 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 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, and so they reveal how shortly we are able to get Catalyst Heart up and operating using Relaxation-API utilizing only one software.
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 vital.
You may simply add the Public Workspace to Postman through the next hyperlink. It 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 atmosphere, might be mechanically added. (see picture beneath)
Public Catalyst Heart Use-Case API Assortment
We maintain 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 atmosphere.
Use Circumstances
We’ll cowl numerous matters in a number of use instances primarily based on lab modules to point out the potential and adaptability of the Relaxation-APIs with Catalyst Heart.
The varied matters/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 Gadget Stock info
- Orchestration of Configuration Archives
- Retrieving Present Command outcomes from Catalyst Facilities Command Runner
With that, the lab makes use of these matters…
We’ll acquire a sensible understanding of the steps related to using Relaxation-API whereas organising a Catalyst Heart and an atmosphere to assist complicated, superior, common templates to ship machine 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 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 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 let you use them as you please throughout the time scheduled. As well as, this permits us a spot to begin practising numerous ideas with out worry of impacting manufacturing environments.
Because of this, we hope to demystify among the complexities of organising automation and assist information prospects by way of the caveats. Subsequently, to help prospects within the transition towards automation, now we have 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 possibly can obtain and develop from. As well as, the pattern templates and JSON information equipped are for simple import into Catalyst Facilities’ template editor for faster adoption. Lastly, some scripts are ready-made excerpts of code that let 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 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 data each useful and informative.
The place can I check and take a look at these labs?
DCLOUD Lab Atmosphere
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 let you run these labs and provides an atmosphere to attempt the assorted code samples. You might develop and export your code to be used in manufacturing environments. Additionally, this offers you an atmosphere the place you possibly can safely POC/POV strategies and steps with out harming your manufacturing environments. The DCLOUD atmosphere additionally negates the necessity for delivery gear, lead instances, and licensing points wanted to maneuver quickly. Please 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 many who want it. Select the Cisco Enterprise Community Sandbox. Moreover, chances are you’ll select from our RTP Services labs by choosing US West. To entry this or different content material, demonstrations, and labs in DCLOUD, please immediately work along with your Cisco or Companion Account Group. 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 REST-API Orchestration lab content material is situated throughout the current 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 atmosphere. The repository was featured in a earlier publish 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 standard 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 check on gear throughout the LAB atmosphere. Extra info throughout the lab offers a well-rounded rationalization of Automation strategies with Templates. Lastly, the lab permits for patrons to make use of Catalyst Heart workflows to apply deploying Onboarding, DayN Templates, and Utility Coverage automation on each Wired and Wi-fi Platforms.
The objective 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 atmosphere will allow engineers to scale back the effort and time wanted to instantiate the community.
Because of this, 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 assorted sections of this GitHub repository. Throughout the a number of folders are examples and rationalization readme information for reference. There at the moment are 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 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 further labs and content material in an ongoing effort to meet all of your automation wants with Catalyst Heart.
In conclusion, if you happen to discovered this set of labs and repository useful,
please fill in feedback and suggestions on the way it may very well be improved.
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