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 Postman, an amazing software to look at RESTful APIs in a single consumer interface. It is 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 consider Catalyst Heart configuration and the way Catalyst Heart may be automated to carry out numerous features we have now already lined. The lab is meant to assist drive the adoption of Relaxation-API and consists of a number of use instances to resolve frequent orchestration wants when utilizing Catalyst Heart.

Inside this collection, we cowl the next;

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

Catalyst Heart Relaxation-API Collections

Moreover, we have now 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 methods to greatest use the Relaxation-APIs and increase the knowledge from developer.cisco.com.

On this lab, we are going to frequently add extra use instances to reply particular orchestration wants, however all the time in Postman, the place they might be analyzed and considered 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 In upcoming modules, we may also delve into printed and unpublished Relaxation-API and methods to uncover and work with these to perform your orchestration wants.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 the help of 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. Gadget Discovery – orchestrating system discovery
5. Template Deployment – automating template deployment
6. Configuration Archive – automating configuration archiving
7. Retrieving Community Stock – gathering a community stock
8. 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. 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 numerous automation methods to point out the entire artwork of the doable from Software program-Outlined Networking.

What is going to I study 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 attempting new ideas and pushing the boundaries of automation and orchestration. We’ll cowl numerous matters about Relaxation-API logic to resolve a number of use instances throughout this lab. We cowl some earlier ideas with an in-depth concentrate on broadening their capabilities by the artwork of doing and analyzing.

The idea of this lab is so that you can construct the setting 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 by way of Postman inside a set runner to rapidly configure Catalyst Heart. This permits us to deploy Settings, Credentials, Uncover Units, Construct Websites, Buildings, Flooring, and assign the units to these websites. These are highly effective examples of what we will do, and so they reveal how rapidly we will 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 needed.

You’ll be able to simply add the Public Workspace to Postman by way of the next hyperlink. This can 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 setting, shall 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 the moment a number of collections and an setting.

Use Instances

We’ll cowl numerous matters in a number of use instances based mostly on lab modules to point out the potential and suppleness of the Relaxation-APIs with Catalyst Heart.

The varied matters/use-cases we are going to contact on and deploy inside 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 units
4. Automating the Provisioning of Common and Composite Templates to Units
5. Retrieving Gadget Stock info
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 acquire a sensible understanding of the steps related to using Relaxation-API whereas establishing a Catalyst Heart and an setting to help complicated, 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 direction of a world template technique. Moreover, these labs will give clients a everlasting place to check out the common and composite templates and embrace configurations for numerous use instances. Lastly, this setting 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 inside the time scheduled. As well as, this enables us a spot to begin training numerous ideas with out worry of impacting manufacturing environments.

In consequence, we hope to demystify among the complexities of establishing automation and assist information clients by the caveats. Subsequently, to assist clients within the transition towards automation, we have now 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’ll be able to obtain and develop from. As well as, the pattern templates and JSON information equipped 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 setting 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 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 take a look at and check out these labs?

DCLOUD Lab Atmosphere

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 will let you run these labs and provides an setting to attempt the assorted code samples. You could develop and export your code to be used in manufacturing environments. Additionally, this provides you an setting the place you’ll be able to safely POC/POV strategies and steps with out harming your manufacturing environments. The DCLOUD setting additionally negates the necessity for transport gear, lead instances, and licensing points wanted to maneuver quickly. Please adhere to the most effective practices for the DCLOUD setting when utilizing it.

Lab Connectivity

The setting permits for a web-based browser consumer for VPN-less connectivity. Moreover, there may be AnyConnect VPN consumer connectivity for many who want it. Select the Cisco Enterprise Community Sandbox. Moreover, you could select from our RTP Services 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 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 setting.

Content material

The REST-API Orchestration lab content material is positioned inside the present DNAC-TEMPLATES repository to provide 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 setting. The repository was featured in a earlier publish on Cisco Blogs about Catalyst Heart Templates earlier in Could 2021.

Further Info

Catalyst Heart Template Labs

The beforehand named DNAC Template LABS inside 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 will modify for our use and take a look at on gear inside the LAB setting. Further info inside the lab offers a well-rounded clarification of Automation strategies with Templates. Lastly, the lab permits for purchasers to make use of Catalyst Heart workflows to follow 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 assist engineers to quickly start utilizing Catalyst Heart 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 numerous use instances. Lastly, this setting will allow engineers to scale back the effort and time wanted to instantiate the community.

In consequence, you’ll acquire expertise in establishing Plug and Play onboarding and templates and using all options. Moreover, you’ll use superior templating strategies and troubleshooting instruments. These might 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 clarification readme information for reference. There are actually two units of labs, and these are being frequently expanded upon.

This newer and extra modular lab method 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 instances (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 extra labs and content material in an ongoing effort to satisfy all of your automation wants with Catalyst Heart.

In conclusion, in case 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 assume. Ask a query or go away a remark under.
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