Cisco Catalyst Heart Template Labs - Relaxation-APIs

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, an incredible device to look at RESTful APIs in a single person interface. This can be a Self-Paced Standalone Lab, the place we’ll construct upon the foundational information acquired within the earlier labs. For this lab, we’ll focus on Catalyst Heart configuration and the way Catalyst Heart might be automated to carry out varied capabilities we’ve already lined. The lab is meant to assist drive the adoption of Relaxation-API and contains a number of use instances to unravel 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 strategies
Dynamic Automation – a deployment lab for dynamic automation

Catalyst Heart Relaxation-API Collections

Moreover, we’ve 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 how one can finest use the Relaxation-APIs and increase the knowledge 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 might be analyzed and seen in operation for inclusion in no matter automation or orchestration system requires them. In upcoming modules, we can even delve into revealed and unpublished Relaxation-API and how one can uncover and work with these to perform your orchestration wants.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 assistance from 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
System Discovery – orchestrating machine discovery
Template Deployment – automating template deployment
Configuration Archive – automating configuration archiving
Retrieving Community Stock – accumulating a community stock
Operating Present Instructions – accumulating present command outcomes

Not like most earlier Labs within the sequence, 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 potential 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 succeed in past what they at the moment perceive by attempting new ideas and pushing the boundaries of automation and orchestration. We’ll cowl varied subjects about Relaxation-API logic to unravel a number of use instances 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 inspecting.

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 through 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 units to these websites. These are highly effective examples of what we will do, they usually reveal how shortly we will get Catalyst Heart up and operating using Relaxation-API utilizing only one device.

However wait, there may be extra…

We provisioned a comma-separated worth (CSV) file to be used with the Postman collections to make it simple to construct the design and deploy templates the place mandatory.

You’ll be able to simply add the Public Workspace to Postman through the next hyperlink. This may 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, 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. Throughout the Workspace are at the moment a number of collections and an setting.

Use Instances

We’ll cowl varied subjects in a number of use instances based mostly on lab modules to indicate the aptitude and adaptability of the Relaxation-APIs with Catalyst Heart.

The assorted subjects/use-cases we’ll contact on and deploy inside the lab include 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 units
Automating the Provisioning of Common and Composite Templates to Gadgets
Retrieving System Stock info
Orchestration of Configuration Archives
Retrieving Present Command outcomes from Catalyst Facilities Command Runner

With that, the lab makes use of these subjects…

We’ll achieve a sensible understanding of the steps related to using Relaxation-API whereas organising a Catalyst Heart and an setting to assist advanced, superior, common templates to ship machine configuration throughout these labs. The labs purpose 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 varied 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 will let you use them as you please inside the time scheduled. As well as, this permits us a spot to begin working towards varied 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 way of the caveats. Due to this fact, to assist clients within the transition towards automation, we’ve 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 possibly can obtain and broaden from. As well as, the pattern templates and JSON recordsdata 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 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 unravel varied 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 check and take a look at these labs?

DCLOUD Lab Surroundings

To assist clients 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:

The DCLOUD labs will let you run these labs and provides an setting to attempt the assorted code samples. You might develop and export your code to be used in manufacturing environments. Additionally, this provides you an setting the place you possibly can safely POC/POV strategies and steps with out harming your manufacturing environments. The DCLOUD setting additionally negates the necessity for transport tools, lead occasions, and licensing points wanted to maneuver quickly. Please adhere to the very best 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 individuals who choose it. Select the Cisco Enterprise Community Sandbox. Moreover, chances are you’ll select from our RTP Services labs by deciding on US West. To entry this or different content material, demonstrations, and labs in DCLOUD, please straight work along with your Cisco or Associate 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 very best practices of the DCLOUD setting.

Content material

The REST-API Orchestration lab content material is positioned inside 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 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 check on tools inside the LAB setting. Further info inside the lab gives a well-rounded clarification of Automation strategies with Templates. Lastly, the lab permits for patrons to make use of Catalyst Heart workflows to follow 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 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 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 assorted sections of this GitHub repository. Throughout the a number of folders are examples and clarification readme recordsdata 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.

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 extra labs and content material in an ongoing effort to satisfy 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 suppose. Ask a query or go away a remark under.
And keep linked with Cisco on social!

Try our Cisco Networking video channel

Subscribe to the Networking Weblog

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