topic Re: SDA LAN Automation and Site Assignment in Software-Defined Access (SD-Access)

SDA LAN Automation and Site Assignment

packet2020 — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 16:15:28 GMT

HI All,

I'm currently starting to rollout some fabric edge switches in a new site using LAN automation. I noticed that when deploying LAN-A, that you have the option to assign the discovered device to the building or floor level of the network hierarchy but I cant see what the pros/cons are to each approach. Is there a need to assign switches to the floor level or is the building level acceptable?

Re: SDA LAN Automation and Site Assignment

balaji.bandi — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 16:29:28 GMT

Depends on requirement, if the buling have different Floors, i suggest to allocate deviec each floor.

this is very usefull for the AP installation for MAPS

Re: SDA LAN Automation and Site Assignment

dm2020 — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 16:32:20 GMT

For APs yes and understood, however I'm not sure if there are any benefits of assigning switches at the floor level, unless its for more granual configuration and policy management?

Re: SDA LAN Automation and Site Assignment

balaji.bandi — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 16:51:37 GMT

May be if you have different templates for floor based kinda deep thinking.

Re: SDA LAN Automation and Site Assignment

dm2020 — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 20:18:13 GMT

Ok thanks. Have you deployed SDA? If so, do you assign your switches to the building or floor level? Same question for anyone else that has deployed SDA as will be interested to hear.

Re: SDA LAN Automation and Site Assignment

balaji.bandi — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 07:10:59 GMT

Yes, we do have SDA deployments in different buildings and floors, so we assign the floor where the edge switch is located.

https://www.balajibandi.com/?p=1148

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/cloud-systems-management/network-automation-and-management/catalyst-center/2-3-7/user_guide/b_cisco_catalyst_center_user_guide_237/m_design-the-network-hierarchy.html#concept_vjd_zwv_vy

Re: SDA LAN Automation and Site Assignment

jedolphi — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 08:56:19 GMT

In some scenarios some customers add buildings without floors and assign switches to the buildings because that's their only option.

If you have floors then either option is acceptable, but as a general rule I like to keep the switch assignments truthful to reduce confusion later, so I personally put switches on floors instead of the building level.