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

Overview

On this episode of our ongoing Catalyst Heart 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 way of Postman, a fantastic instrument to look at RESTful APIs in a single person 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 think about Catalyst Heart configuration and the way Catalyst Heart could be automated to carry out varied capabilities now we have already lined. The lab is meant to assist drive the adoption of Relaxation-API and contains a number of use circumstances to resolve widespread 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 the best way 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. Utility Policys – explores Utility Policys and SD-AVC in Catalyst Heart and their use
5. Telemetry – explains the best way 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, 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. “Generally seeing is believing.” We hope these new instruments assist clarify the best way to finest use the Relaxation-APIs and increase the knowledge from developer.cisco.com.

On this lab, we are going to frequently 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 In upcoming modules, we may even delve into printed and unpublished Relaxation-API and the best way to uncover and work with these to perform your orchestration wants.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. Gadget Discovery – orchestrating machine discovery
5. Template Deployment – automating template deployment
6. Configuration Archive – automating configuration archiving
7. Retrieving Community Stock – gathering a community stock
8. Operating 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 haven’t any pre-configuration. It makes use of varied automation strategies to indicate the whole artwork of the doable 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 presently perceive by attempting new ideas and pushing the boundaries of automation and orchestration. We are going to 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 deal with 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. Using DCLOUD or the DevNet Sandbox permits a protected place so that you can strive, modify, and get used to the varied 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 units to these websites. These are highly effective examples of what we are able to do, and so they display how shortly we are able to get Catalyst Heart up and working 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 obligatory.

You’ll be able to simply add the Public Workspace to Postman through the next hyperlink. This can 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 atmosphere, will likely be mechanically added. (see picture beneath)

Public Catalyst Heart Use-Case API Assortment

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 presently a number of collections and an atmosphere.

Use Circumstances

We are going to cowl varied matters in a number of use circumstances primarily based on lab modules to indicate the aptitude and suppleness 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 units
4. Automating the Provisioning of Common and Composite Templates to Units
5. Retrieving Gadget 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 are going to achieve a sensible understanding of the steps related to using Relaxation-API whereas organising a Catalyst Heart and an atmosphere to assist advanced, superior, common templates to ship machine configuration throughout these labs. The labs goal to assist 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 clients a everlasting place to check out the common and composite templates and embrace 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 can help you use them as you please throughout the time scheduled. As well as, this permits us a spot to begin practising varied ideas with out concern of impacting manufacturing environments.

Because of this, we hope to demystify a few of the complexities of organising automation and assist information clients by way of the caveats. Subsequently, to assist clients 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 provide examples you’ll be able to obtain and increase from. As well as, the pattern templates and JSON information 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 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 resolve varied use circumstances. Second, we offer solutions and explanations to lots 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 check and check out these labs?

DCLOUD Lab Setting

To assist clients succeed with Cisco Catalyst Heart 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 can help you run these labs and provides an atmosphere to strive the varied code samples. You could 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 gear, lead occasions, 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’s AnyConnect VPN shopper connectivity for individuals who choose 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 immediately work along with your Cisco or Accomplice Account Group. 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 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 offer 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 submit on Cisco Blogs about Catalyst Heart Templates earlier in Might 2021.

Further 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 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 gear 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 Heart workflows to apply deploying Onboarding, DayN Templates, and Utility 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 varied use circumstances. Lastly, this atmosphere will allow engineers to scale back the effort and time wanted to instantiate the community.

Because of this, 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 varied sections of this GitHub repository. Inside 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 take care of and contains ideas from the legacy labs in a more moderen extra modular format.

1. Lab 1 Wired Automation – Covers inexperienced and brown subject 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 Heart 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 extra labs and content material in an ongoing effort to meet all of your automation wants with Catalyst Heart.

In conclusion, in the event 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 depart a remark beneath.
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