DNAC - Network Hierarchy recommendations

[daveald]

Hi All,

I am configuring a brand new deployment of DNAC 2.1.2! Exciting times ahead. I'm looking for a little guidance on how to define the hierarchy of my network.

Some notes:

- We have multiple campuses, with multiple buildings at each

- Remote campus' connect to main campus via EVPLS

- At main campus, we have

 - VSS core with C6800's in two different buildings

 - two sets of WLC 9800-80's, running in HA

My first thought was:

Area: Global

- Area: My org

-- Area: City 1

--- Building: Building A

------ Routing core assigned here

------ WLC's assigned here

--- Building: Building B

------ Some APs here

-- Area: City 2

--- Building: Building A

------ Some APs here

Main questions:

- How would you assign a VSS pair to a site when the shelves are in different buildings?

- How would you assign the WLC HA pair when the shelves are in different buildings?

- How do you provision APs anywhere other than Building A in City 1? 

-- I just tried a test run and I was unable to provision an AP in Building A City 2 because "There are no WLC's assigned to this site"

Thanks in advance!

[kristoff1]

Hi,

I would place your devices that are spread over 2 buildings in the same city on the city level and not in a building level.

You can off course do it like you and place the device in the building where the main device is located.

If you want to use a WLC for multiple buildings you must select the sites in the provisioning of the WLC. After the provisioning you will be able to assign AP's to all the different sites.

I hope this helps you out.

Kind regards,

[willwetherman · Accepted solution]

Hi @daveald 

Just to add to @kristoff1 answer

Main questions:

- How would you assign a VSS pair to a site when the shelves are in different buildings? 

- How would you assign the WLC HA pair when the shelves are in different buildings?

Devices can only be assigned to a single building/floor, including logical devices that are formed of multiple chassis and that can be physically distributed across multiple locations (such as VSS, SWV, 9800-WLCs in HA SSO etc.) My approach for these devices so far has been to assign the logical device to the building where the primary/active unit resides. For example - if SWV chassis 1 is located in building 1, then assign the logical device to building 1. I've also tagged these devices to make it a little clearer that these devices are in HA and split between physical locations. Example tag 'Area1-Bld1-Bld2-HA'.  This is working ok for me so far.

Also just a note that you cannot assign a device to the Area level of the network hierarchy so assigning to the City 1 area will not work. You will receive an error if you attempt to do this. 

Hope this helps

[daveald]

Thanks for the replies.

I went with the approach of assigning the logical devices to whichever building houses the primary shelf.