Cisco Data Center Automation Solutions
Donald Robb
JNCIE-ENT #898, JNCIE-DC #547, JNCIS-DevOps
CCNP Enterprise, Data Center, Security, Collaboration,
DevNet Professional, DevNet 500, Cisco Champion
Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Azure DevOps Engineer Expert
+ [email protected]
+ @PacketThrower
+ https://ca.linkedin.com/in/the-packet-thrower
Course Objectives + Cisco Nexus
+ Cisco ACI
+ Cisco UCS
+ Cisco Intersight
+ Terraform
Understanding Cisco Nexus
Part 1: Overview
Topic Overview
+ Cisco Nexus Overview
Nexus Overview
+ Cisco Data Center switches
+ Uses NXOS instead of IOS
+ Standardized Interface Names
+ Strict control over features and memory.
+ Supports Virtual Port Channel
+ Foundation for Application Centric Infrastructure
Understanding Cisco Nexus
Part 2: Automation
Topic Overview
+ Cisco Nexus Automation
Nexus Automation
+ REST API
+ SDK
+ Bash Shell
+ Guest Shell
+ EEM
+ Ansible
Understanding Cisco ACI
Part 1: Overview
Topic Overview
+ Cisco ACI
Application Centric Infrastructure
+ Data Center grade SDN
+ Fully managed with Application Policy Infrastructure Controller
+ Spine / Leaf Nexus Fabric
+ VXLAN Orchestrator
Application Centric
Understanding Cisco ACI
Part 2: Automation
Topic Overview
+ Cisco ACI Toolkit
ACI Automation
+ Visore
+ API Inspector
+ ACI Toolkit
Understanding Cisco UCS
Part 1: Overview
Topic Overview
+ Cisco UCS Manager
Unified Computing System
+ High-performance servers
+ Strong network virtualization
+ All Cisco physical appliances are UCS based
Unified Computing System
+ C – Series
+ Traditional “pizza box” servers
+ Central management is optional
+ Typical server configuration
Unified Computing System
+ B – Series
+ Chassis solution with blade servers
+ Central management is mandatory
+ Uses Fabric Interconnect
+ Profile based configuration
Unified Computing System
+ HyperFlex
+ Cisco’s Hyper-Converged Infrastructure
+ Provides SD-Storage
+ On its way out
Understanding Cisco UCS
Part 2: Automate
Topic Overview
+ Powershell
+ Python SDK
UCS PowerTool
+ Enables PowerShell administration
+ UCS Manager
+ UCS Central
+ IMC
+ Can record XML transactions to make cmdlets with Ctrl + Alt + Q
UCSM SDK
+ Different APIs for each CRUD operation
+ Create Object:
+ add_mo
+ Retrieve Object:
+ query_dn
+ query_classid
+ query_classids
+ query_dns
+ Update Object
+ set_mo
+ Delete Object
+ delete_mo
Understanding Cisco Intersight
Part 1: Overview
Topic Overview
+ Intersight
Intersight
+ Cloud-managed central management for UCS
+ Some enhancements include:
+ Analytics
+ Access from anywhere
+ Orchestration
+ Workload Optimizer
UCSM SDK
+ Different APIs for each CRUD operation
+ Create Object:
+ add_mo
+ Retrieve Object:
+ query_dn
+ query_classid
+ query_classids
+ query_dns
+ Update Object
+ set_mo
+ Delete Object
+ delete_mo
Understanding Cisco Intersight
Part 2: Using Terraform
Topic Overview
+ Terraform
Terraform
+ Provisioner vs Configuration Management
+ Helps create resources on targets
+ Maintains project state
Terraform Structure
+ A module is a collection of .tf or .tf.json files in a directory
+ Files are merged together and run as a single document
+ Sensitive information should go in terraform.tfvars
+ Best practice is to keep .tf files as on point as possible.
Terraform Structure
+ A module is a collection of .tf or .tf.json files in a directory
+ Files are merged together and run as a single document
+ Sensitive information should go in terraform.tfvars
+ Don’t add the file to repositories!
+ Best practice is to keep .tf files as on point as possible.
Hashicorp Configuration Language
+ Terraform primarily uses HCL for files
+ Can also use JSON if preferred
+ Straightforward block-based language
+ Very readable and predictable
+ Gets messy the more complex you get
Course Completion
Course Objectives + Cisco Nexus
+ Cisco ACI
+ Cisco UCS
+ Cisco Intersight
+ Terraform
