Cisco Catalyst Heart Template Labs – DayN Templates, Half 4

Overview

On this episode of our ongoing Catalyst Heart Automation Collection, our focus is on DayN Automation using Templates for operations and establishing a lab or manufacturing atmosphere to allow this functionality. The third and fourth labs within the collection intention to grasp the assorted ideas required to help gadget configuration after onboarding. The labs inside this collection enable to be used within the DCLOUD atmosphere; nevertheless, you might equally make the most of them as a part of a Proof of Idea setup at a buyer’s lab. You might use these procedures to make sure that all the mandatory steps are full earlier than onboarding any units inside Catalyst Heart. These procedures may additionally assist kind a part of a deployment or implementation.

Inside this collection, we cowl the next;

1. PnP Preparation – explains the general Plug and Play arrange steps
2. Onboarding Templates – explains in-depth find out how 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 find out how to deploy Telemetry for assurance
6. Superior Automation – explores Superior Automation methods
7. Dynamic Automation – a deployment lab for dynamic automation

Every of the Labs builds on the ideas that we cowl within the collection. These labs have a prerequisite of finishing the earlier two labs. The main focus of the primary three labs is on establishing the atmosphere and onboarding the gadget utilizing plug and play into Catalyst Heart. The next two labs deal with utilizing common and composite templates inside Catalyst Heart to configure community units in an ongoing method. These labs will undergo the circulate surrounding constructing the supporting settings inside Catalyst Heart to help DayN configuration. The labs can even will let you deploy a template for a Catalyst change by way of Catalyst Heart utilizing DayN workflows as each common templates and composite to deploy intent. To arrange the atmosphere, be sure to full the steps outlined in our first, second, and third blogs within the collection.

What’s going to I study within the DayN Templates Labs?

Within the Wired Automation lab, prospects will begin by constructing utilizing each a daily template and composite template. Common templates enable us to construct out complicated configurations for deployment. Composite templates enable for the reuse of a number of common templates, which can allow us to modularize our code for reuse. Composite templates additionally enable us one place to make adjustments that have an effect on a broader set of units. Thus, if we improve one common template utilized to a number of composite templates, we might impact change on a extra complete set of units. This additionally permits us to scale back the duplication of efforts and reduce the administrator’s quantity of effort.

Different concerns encompass using the UI-centric method and the impression that it has on a typical configuration. For instance, a configuration may embrace some traces of code, which can be delivered by way of the UI-centric settings. If these Design parts are used, we have to perceive the impression that will have on simplifying our configuration and the way straightforward that will make the community preserve.

Composite Templates add the potential of monitoring sub-components for compliance, and the flexibility to abort the automation if a failure happens.

Common Templates

As a daily template might embrace the gadget’s whole configuration, it’s important to understand that the extra configuration inside a daily template, the more durable it could be to fault-find. Moreover, small, succinct configuration examples are simpler to reuse, and this aids us in a while in making small adjustments much less radical general. The Wired Automation lab within the collection, delves into the sensible utility of find out how to arrange Catalyst Heart to organize a daily template for DayN supply. It additionally flippantly explains a number of the numerous philosophies surrounding how we’d deploy configuration.

Composite Templates

When you would possibly assume to incorporate the whole configuration for a conventional community gadget, there’s a higher method. We’re higher served by composite templates for big configuration constructs. Once more, this permits for compliance monitoring,  modularization and reuse, and simplification of operations. As well as, whereas we make the most of common templates to use complicated configuration, retaining them small and making them reusable aids in making ongoing adjustments after preliminary deployment. Lastly, within the Wired Automation lab, by way of Composite Templates, we allow you with an instance of a composite template that reuses a number of common templates in its building.

As we study extra about constructing templates it is smart to start out making an attempt numerous ideas lined throughout the Tutorial sections about writing with templates with each Velocity and Jinja2 scripting languages. You will discover further assets throughout the GitHub repo right here:

Velocity Language

• Velocity Variables – This part explains Template Variables in depth, and the way and the place to make use of them
• Velocity Scripting – This part will dive into Velocity Language Template Scripting constructs and use circumstances
• Superior Velocity Scripting – This part will dive into Superior Velocity Language Template examples

Jinja2 Language

• Jinja2 Variables – This part explains Template Variables in depth, and the way and the place to make use of them
• Jinja2 Scripting – This part will dive into Jinja2 Language Template Scripting constructs and use circumstances
• Superior Jinja2 Scripting – This part will dive into Superior Jinja2 Language Template examples

Lab Matters

We’ll acquire a sensible understanding of the steps related to establishing Catalyst Heart and an atmosphere to help DayN common templates to ship gadget configuration throughout these labs. The labs intention to help engineers in quickly starting utilizing Catalyst Heart automation and assist them work in the direction of a 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 circumstances. Lastly, this atmosphere will allow engineers to scale back the effort and time wanted to instantiate the community.

1. Making a DayN Template by importing a JSON file
2. Constructing a Challenge by importing a JSON file
3. Designing and modifying a Composite Template sequence.
4. Modifying a Community Profile
5. Provisioning the gadget
6. Resyncing the gadget

Template Import and Export

In these labs, we’ll use JSON information to Import and Export templates to Catalyst Heart to scale back the time required to deploy. This functionality additionally consists of all the weather edited within the kind editor, so all the assorted settings are despatched with the logical cli constructs. This leads to a helpful software for transferring templates from take a look at environments to manufacturing.

Challenge Import and Export

In these labs, we’ll use JSON information to Import and Export whole initiatives. This consists of common templates, composite templates, and settings to Catalyst Heart to scale back the time required to deploy. This functionality additionally consists of all the weather edited within the kind editor, so all the assorted settings are despatched with the logical cli constructs. This leads to a useful software for transferring whole initiatives from take a look at environments to manufacturing.

Making a Composite Template

In these labs, we’ll use JSON information to Import composite templates, after which we’ll modify it to incorporate a number of common templates for provisioning. Composite templates enable for the reuse of a number of common templates, which can allow us to modularize our code for reuse, thereby utilizing smaller chunks of configuration. Composite templates additionally enable us one place to make adjustments that have an effect on a broader set of units. Thus, if we improve one common template utilized to a number of composite templates, we might impact change on a broader set of units. This additionally permits us to scale back the duplication of efforts and reduce the administrator’s quantity of effort.

Template Examples

On this lab, we offer JSON information, examples of templates that you could be Import to Catalyst Heart to scale back the time required to deploy. This alleviates the guesswork concerned in determining how a variable may be arrange, as all the shape editor components are additionally included throughout the JSON file.

Lab Flexibility

Whereas utilizing these labs you might modify them in any technique to help your use case. We use a layer two trunk throughout a port-channel for connectivity inside our examples. Equally, you may take a look at out different connectivity strategies for layer three routed entry. Additionally, please be aware that the examples given could also be used exterior DCLOUD inside a buyer on-prem lab or manufacturing after person modification.

How can I get began?

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 throughout the time scheduled. As well as, this permits us a spot to start out working towards numerous ideas with out concern of impacting manufacturing environments.

Because of this, we hope to demystify a number of the complexities of establishing automation and assist information prospects by way of the caveats. Due to this fact, to help prospects within the transition towards automation, now we have put collectively a set of small useful labs inside a GitHub repository. On this method, these self-guided labs present a glimpse into the basics of constructing velocity templates and provide examples that you may obtain and broaden from. As well as, the pattern templates and JSON information provided are for simple import into Catalyst Facilities’ template editor for faster adoption. Lastly, some scripts are ready-made excerpts of code that will let you construct the atmosphere to check.

First, in a sensible lab information, we step-by-step delve into the ideas of constructing templates and methodologies for utilizing each Onboarding and DayN templates. Second, we offer solutions and explanations to lots of the questions that come up throughout automation workshops. Our hope is that you just discover the data each useful and informative. We hope to provide a well-rounded clarification of automation strategies and ideas you’ll be able to broaden upon for manufacturing functions. Lastly, the Wired Automation lab the DayN Template content material explains the general DayN gadget configuration setup steps.

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

DCLOUD Lab Atmosphere

To assist prospects succeed with Cisco Catalyst Heart automation, you might 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 offers an atmosphere to strive the assorted code samples. You might select to 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 instances, and licensing points wanted to get transferring quickly. Please do adhere to one of the best practices for the DCLOUD atmosphere when utilizing it.

Lab Connectivity

The atmosphere permits to be used with a web-based browser consumer for VPN-less connectivity, entry in addition to AnyConnect VPN consumer connectivity for individuals who desire it. You might select from labs hosted out of our San Jose Services by choosing US West. Select the Cisco Enterprise Community Sandbox. To entry this or every other content material, together with demonstrations, labs, and coaching in DCLOUD please work along with your Cisco Account staff or Cisco Accomplice Account Staff instantly. 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 one of the best practices of the DCLOUD atmosphere.

Content material

The Wired Automation lab content material is situated throughout the present DNAC-TEMPLATES repository to provide a one-stop-shop for all the mandatory instruments, scripts, templates, and code samples. Inside it are six modules, 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 Might 2021.

Extra Info

Catalyst Heart Template Labs

The beforehand named DNAC Template LABS throughout the DNAC-TEMPLATES GitHub repository intention 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 take a look at on gear throughout the LAB atmosphere. Extra data throughout the lab offers a well-rounded clarification of Automation strategies with Templates. Lastly, the lab permits for patrons to make use of Catalyst Heart workflows to observe deploying Onboarding, DayN Templates, and Software Coverage automation on each Wired and Wi-fi Platforms.

This lab’s aim is to be a sensible help for engineers growing a template technique. Secondarily, to help these engineers in quickly adopting Catalyst Heart automation.  Moreover, prospects will acquire a everlasting place to check out the templates and embrace configurations for numerous 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 acquire expertise in establishing Plug and Play onboarding and templates. Moreover, you’ll use superior templating strategies and troubleshooting instruments. These might assist throughout faultfinding to find out what’s failing in a deployment.

Catalyst Heart Labs

Please use this menu to navigate the assorted sections of this GitHub repository. Throughout the a number of folders are examples and clarification readme information for reference. There at the moment are two units of labs, and these are being frequently expanded upon.

In conclusion, for those who 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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