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 are going to change our focus from templating to automation by Postman, an ideal device 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 information 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 numerous capabilities we have now already coated. The lab is meant to assist drive the adoption of Relaxation-API and contains a number of use instances to resolve frequent orchestration wants when utilizing Catalyst Heart.

Inside this sequence, we cowl the next;

PnP Preparation – explains the general Plug and Play arrange steps
Onboarding Templates – explains in-depth how one can 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 how one can deploy Telemetry for assurance
Superior Automation – explores Superior Automation methods
Dynamic Automation – a deployment lab for dynamic automation

Catalyst Heart Relaxation-API Collections

Moreover, we have now supplied 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 how one can finest use the Relaxation-APIs and increase the data from developer.cisco.com.

On this lab, we are going to frequently add extra use instances to reply particular orchestration wants, however at all times 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 In upcoming modules, we may even delve into revealed and unpublished Relaxation-API and how one can uncover and work with these to perform your orchestration wants.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
Machine Discovery – orchestrating machine discovery
Template Deployment – automating template deployment
Configuration Archive – automating configuration archiving
Retrieving Community Stock – gathering a community stock
Operating Present Instructions – gathering present command outcomes

In contrast to most earlier Labs within the sequence, 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 haven’t 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 are going to 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 deal with 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 strive, modify, and get used to the varied 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 shortly 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 will do, and so they show how shortly we will get Catalyst Heart 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 straightforward to construct the design and deploy templates the place mandatory.

You’ll be able to simply add the Public Workspace to Postman by way of the next hyperlink. This may permit you to 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, might 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 presently a number of collections and an setting.

Use Instances

We are going to 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 assorted matters/use-cases we are going to 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 Gadgets
Retrieving Machine 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 are going to achieve a sensible understanding of the steps related to using Relaxation-API whereas organising a Catalyst Heart and an setting to help 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 world template technique. Moreover, these labs will give clients a everlasting place to check out the common and composite templates and embody configurations for numerous use instances. Lastly, this setting 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 permit you to use them as you please throughout the time scheduled. As well as, this permits us a spot to begin practising numerous ideas with out concern of impacting manufacturing environments.

Consequently, we hope to demystify a number of the complexities of organising automation and assist information clients by the caveats. Due to this fact, 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 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 permit you to 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 just discover the data each useful and informative.

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

DCLOUD Lab Surroundings

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:

The DCLOUD labs permit you to run these labs and provides an setting to strive the varied code samples. Chances are you’ll develop and export your code to be used in manufacturing environments. Additionally, this offers 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 occasions, and licensing points wanted to maneuver quickly. Please adhere to the perfect 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’s AnyConnect VPN consumer connectivity for individuals who want it. Select the Cisco Enterprise Community Sandbox. Moreover, it’s possible 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 instantly work along with your Cisco or Companion Account Workforce. 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 perfect practices of the DCLOUD setting.

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 mandatory 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 Might 2021.

Further Info

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 varied 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 check on gear throughout the LAB setting. Further info throughout 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 apply deploying Onboarding, DayN Templates, and Utility Coverage automation on each Wired and Wi-fi Platforms.

The aim 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 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 varied 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 strategy is designed to cope with and contains ideas from the legacy labs in a more recent 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 by way of Postman with Relaxation-API (enable 2.0 hrs)
Lab 7 CICD Orchestration – Covers Python with JENKINS orchestration by way of REST-API (enable 4.0 hrs)

We are going to 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.

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