cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
cancel
52438
Views
25
Helpful
84
Comments
Leo Laohoo
Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame

Before we begin, I’ve segmented this document into three subnets.  They are: 

1) Introduction section  2) Troubleshooting section.  3) WTF section (I’ll explain later).

 

 

Introduction

What does this do?

Let’s say that you have a pile of switches you need to deploy soon-ish.  Now, your stack will “mostly” have the same configuration except the IP Addresses and Hostname.  Let’s say that your switch configurations are composed of two parts:  Dynamic (unique information such as IP Addresses) or Static (or fixed information).

 

Before the advent of Zero-Touch, one would sit down behind the pile switches and configure them one by one, very monotonous and very repetitive. 

 

With Zero-Touch, all one has to do is connect a new switch’s Ethernet or Management Port to the switch “Director” Ethernet port (explained later) using an Ethernet cable.  Power up  the new switch and once the boot-up process completes the new switch will receive a Static Configuration and an IOS upgrade/downgrade from the Director. 

 

Now, for safety reason, you have to manually configure what kind of switch you want to enable.  And when I say “what kind of switch”, I meant SPECIFIC models.  This feature will be able to determine if your switch is a 24- or 48-port, whether you switch has 2- or 4- SFP ports, etc.  For short, very platform-specific. 

 

Zero-Touch uses VLAN 1 and Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP).  Zero-Touch requires VLAN 1 because a new factory-fresh switch does not have any other VLANs other than VLAN 1.  Ok so far?

 

Zero-Touch also uses CDP to “interrogate” the client switch.  Zero-Touch takes the CDP value and pulls the “platform” information to know what kind of appliance wants “in” to the Zero-Touch and whether or not there are settings.   Because of this, the director will NOT push the IOS and/or the static configuration to, say a 2960 switch to a 3560 (unless you incorrectly configured it to do so).   If it’s not in the list, then the Director will not action. 

 

What appliances are supported?

 

Table 1 Supported Switches

 

Switch Director Client

Catalyst 3750-X                                               

Yes Yes

Catalyst 3750-E

Yes Yes
Cisco 3750 Yes Yes

Cisco 3560-X

Yes Yes

Cisco 3560-E

Yes Yes

Cisco 3560-C

No Yes

Cisco 3560

Yes Yes

Catalyst 2960-S

No Yes

Catalyst 2960-C

No Yes

Catalyst 2960

No Yes

Catalyst 2975

No Yes

SM-ES2-16-P

No Yes

SM-ES3 SKUs

No Yes

NME-16ES-1G-P

No yes

NM-16-ESW

Yes No

 

 

Table 2 Supported Routers

Router Director Client
Cisco 3900 Series Integrated Services Routers G2 Yes No
Cisco 2900 Series Integrated Services Routers G2 Yes No
Cisco 1900 Series Integrated Services Routers G2 Yes No
Cisco 3800 Series Integrated Services Routers Yes No
Cisco 2800 Series Integrated Services Routers Yes No
Cisco 1800 Series Integrated Services Routers Yes No

 

 

Note: If your switch appliance (like 3560CG or ME-3800X) is not in this list, boy, do I have a joke for you!  Read on!

 

So what do I need?

No biggie. You need a TFTP server of course.  A 3560 or 3750 switch running at least IOS version 12.2(55)SE1 IP Base which will act as a Director.  Cisco documentation will state that Zero-Touch SmartPort was introduced starting with IOS 12.2(55)SE but Cisco insiders recommend using the SE1 rebuild because of “improvements” (aka bug fixes).

 

Network Diagram

server-1.png

That’s simple. 

 

Anything else?

Of course you need the IOS TAR files of the switches involved.  You also need to create a few text files.  They are:

 

  • config template – The text file is the configuration template for a specific model of switch.   Syntax or naming convention would be anything of your choice.
  • imagelist  - This file contains only one string:  The complete IOS filename (example:  c2960s-universalk9-tar.122-58.SE1.tar).  The naming convention is a wee bit “strange”.  The naming convention is based on the built-in group (or profile) when configuring the VStack.  For example, for a 2960 LAN Lite the filename is “2960-24-8poe-lanlite-imagelist.txt”.  For a 2960S-24PD the filename is called “2960s-24-2sfp-poe-imagelist.txt” and for a 2960S-48LPS the filename is called “2960s-48-4sfp-poe-imagelist.txt”. 

 

Gotchas?

 

  • During the entire process, if you do anything, like hit any keyboard while consoled into the client switch (accidentally) the process will stop (hence the term Zero-Touch).
  • VLAN 1 is mandatory.  This is because when you get a switch out of the box VLAN 1 is the only VLAN available.  
  • This feature does NOT like the “/” or “\” symbols.  For example, when you are specifying where the IOS image and/or config template file is located it will only accept this form of syntax:  tftp://IP Address of TFTP server/IOS file.tar

    The syntax of tftp://IP Address of TFTP server/subdirectory/IOS file.tar  is going to cause issues and best be avoided.

  • The three files (IOS TAR file, config template.txt file and imagelist.txt file) must be located in the default folder of the TFTP server. 
  • If your switch has a Management Port you can use this as well as any switch port. 

 

Configuration time!

It’s simple. 

 

  1. Interface configuration for the clients AND the TFTP server:

    interface GigabitEthernet <BLAH>
    description Build LAN
    switchport mode access
    switchport access VLAN 1    [IMPORTANT]
    load-interval 30        [OPTIONAL]
    spanning-tree portfast

  2. Enable VLAN 1:

    Director# configure terminal
    Director(config)# interface vlan 1
    Director(config)# no shutdown
    Director(config)# ip address 1.1.1.254 255.0.0.0

  3. Enable SmartInstall on the Director:

    Director(config)# vstack director 1.1.1.254
    Director(config)# vstack basic

  4. Configure a DHCP scope for client switches:
    Note:  TFTP server IP address is 1.1.1.1/8 for the sake of the demonstration

    Director(config)#  vstack dhcp-localserver badda-bing
    Director(config)#  address-pool 1.1.1.0 255.0.0.0
    Director(config)#  file-server 1.1.1.1
    Director(config)#  default-router 1.1.1.254

    Connect the link between your Director and the TFTP server into a port configured as VLAN 1.

  5. Configure Built-In Groups (or profiles) and specify the location of the IOS image and the config template file:

    Director(config)# vstack group built-in 2960 24-8poe-lanlite
    Director(config)# image tftp://1.1.1.1/c2960-lanlitek9-tar.122-58.SE1.tar
    Director(config)# config tftp://1.1.1.1/2960lite_config.txt

    Optional:  What if I want to create a few more of these so-called built-in groups because I have a number of different models, for example, 2960S-24-PLD:

    Director(config)# vstack group built-in 2960s 24-2sfp-poe
    Director(config)# image tftp://1.1.1.1/c2960s-universalk9-tar.122-58.SE1.tar
    Director(config)# config tftp://1.1.1.1/2960s_config.txt

  6. Connect a new switch to the Director port configured as VLAN 1.  Make sure the switch does not have any config.  If unsure, console into the switch and erase the configuration (wr erase) and reboot (reload).

 

 

How does it look like?

 

Press RETURN to get started!

 

*Mar  1 00:00:44.048: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Vlan1,
changed state to downAuth Manager registration failed

 

*Mar  1 00:00:45.231: %SPANTREE-5-EXTENDED_SYSID: Extended SysId enabled
for type vlan

*Mar  1 00:01:06.756: %SYS-5-RESTART: System restarted --

Cisco IOS Software, C2960 Software (C2960-LANLITEK9-M), Version 12.2(58)SE1,
RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)

Technical Support: http://www.cisco.com/techsupport

Copyright (c) 1986-2011 by Cisco Systems, Inc.

Compiled Thu 05-May-11 02:53 by prod_rel_team

*Mar  1 00:01:13.677: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface GigabitEthernet0/2,
changed state to up

*Mar  1 00:01:14.683: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface
GigabitEthernet0/2, changed state to up

*Mar  1 00:01:41.703: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface
Vlan1, changed state to up

 

!!!! Gets a valid IP Address

 

*Mar  1 00:01:59.764: AUTOINSTALL: Vlan1 is assigned 1.0.0.9 got vend id
vend spec. info ret: succeed got vend id vend spec. info ret: succeed

 

!!!! Don’t worry about the word “Aborted” because the “AUTOINSTALL” is part of the feature.

*Mar  1 00:02:20.416: %SMI-6-AUTOINSTALL: Aborted AUTOINSTALL

*Mar  1 00:02:20.416: AUTOINSTALL: Aborted

 

 

!!!! Downloads the config template file into the startup-config.

 

*Mar  1 00:02:20.416: %SMI-6-UPGRD_STARTED: Device (IP address: 1.0.0.9)
startup-config upgrade has started

Loading 2960lite_config.txt from 1.1.1.1 (via Vlan1): !

[OK - 1324 bytes]

 

*Mar  1 00:02:38.502: %SYS-5-CONFIG_NV_I: Nonvolatile storage configured
from tftp://1.1.1.1/2960lite_config.txt by console

*Mar  1 00:02:39.517: %SMI-6-UPGRD_SUCCESS: Device (IP address: 1.0.0.9)
startup-config has upgraded successfully

*Mar  1 00:02:39.526: %SMI-6-UPGRD_STARTED: Device (IP address: 1.0.0.9)
image upgrade has started

 

 

!!!! Next the IOS image list is being verified to know what file is to be used.

 

Loading 2960-24-8poe-lanlite-imagelist.txt from 1.1.1.1 (via Vlan1): !

[OK - 34 bytes]

 

 

!!!! Don’t worry about the “could not buffer”.  Happens all the time.


Could not buffer tarfile...using multiple downloads

examining image...

extracting info (107 bytes)

 

!!!! IOS is being downloaded and extracted to the new switch

 

System Type:             0x00000000

  Ios Image File Size:   0x009DFA00

  Total Image File Size: 0x00DC0200

  Minimum Dram required: 0x04000000

  Image Suffix:          lanlitek9-122-58.SE1

  Image Directory:       c2960-lanlitek9-mz.122-58.SE1

  Image Name:            c2960-lanlitek9-mz.122-58.SE1.bin

  Image Feature:         LAYER_2|SSH|3DES|MIN_DRAM_MEG=64

 

Old image for switch 1: same as image to overwrite

  Image to be installed already exists...will be removed before download.

 

Deleting `flash:c2960-lanlitek9-mz.122-58.SE1' to create required space

Extracting images from archive into flash...

c2960-lanlitek9-mz.122-58.SE1/ (directory)

c2960-lanlitek9-mz.122-58.SE1/html/ (directory)

 

 

--- CUT ---

 

extracting c2960-lanlitek9-mz.122-58.SE1/info (427 bytes)

extracting info (107 bytes)

 

Installing (renaming): `flash:update/c2960-lanlitek9-mz.122-58.SE1' ->

                                       `flash:/c2960-lanlitek9-mz.122-58.SE1'

New software image installed in flash:/c2960-lanlitek9-mz.122-58.SE1

 

!!!! Finish

 

All software images installed.

Requested system reload in progress...

*Mar  1 00:12:16.586: %SYS-5-RELOAD: Reload requested by SMI IBC client process.
Reload Reason: Switch upgraded through Smart Install.

 

 

How long does it take?

 

Depending on the model of your switch between 10 to 15 minutes from the time the “client” is seen by the VStack Director.

 

 

Troubleshooting Section

 

The most useful command I’ve used is the “sh vstack status”. 

 

SmartInstall:  ENABLED

 

Status: Device_type Health_status Join-window_status Upgrade_status

Device_type:  S - Smart install N - Non smart install P - Pending

Health_status:  A - Active I - Inactive

Join-window_Status:  a - Allowed  h - On-hold   d - Denied

Image Upgrade:   i - in progress     I - done           X - failed

Config Upgrade:  c - in progress     C - done           x - failed

Director Database:

DevNo  MAC Address     Product-ID         IP_addr          Hostname    Status

=====  ==============  =================  ===============  ==========  =========

0      001e.490e.7600  WS-C3750G-24PS     192.168.1.2      Director    Director

 

Pay close attention to the output under the “Status” section.  This will tell you the progress of the Zero-Touch based on each “DevNo” or Index Number (first column). 

 

There are two commands that the original Cisco documentation will tell you.  They are:

 

  • vstack download-config [tftp://<TFTP IP address> or DevNo] Client_IP_Address PASSWORD startup
    This command will tell the Director to manually push the Static configuration to the switch.

  • vstack download-image [tftp://<TFTP IP address> or DevNo] Client_IP_Address PASSWORD reload
    This command will tell the Director to manually push the IOS to the switch and overwrite previous version.

 

I have a 50% success rate when using these two commands.  Let me explain: 

 

The Zero-Touch works great.  Most of the time when I run into trouble, the most common issue I would see are is the switch would fail to download the config, download the IOS, reboot and attempt (but fail) to download the config.  Sometimes it won’t even download the IOS. 

 

Like I’ve mentioned before the two commands that Cisco recommends on using doesn’t work all the time.  I would resort to power down the offending client, count to five, and powering up the client.  Now THIS process works for me 100% of the time. 

 

WTF Section

This section is called the WTF section.  Why? 

 

Let’s say that you read Table 1 and saw that you have a number of switch models that are NOT in the table, for example a Cisco 3560CG-8PC (in the list but this model is not available in the configuration) or Cisco ME-3800X-24FS.   Well, in the back of your mind, you’d probably thinking that if you are reading this section, then something can be done to enable these unsupported models to work with Zero-Touch.  Well?  Can you?

 

And the short answer is?  YES (if you use the magic word). 

 

WTF, How-Did-You-Get-This-To-Work Section

     a)    Same rules apply for the Switch Director: 

    • 3560/G/E/X or 3750/G/E/X;
    • Minimum IOS 12.2(55)SE1 or later; and
    • VLAN 1 only to the clients and to the TFTP server
    • CDP must be enabled.

 

b)    You need the IOS TAR file of the switches

c)    You need to create a Static Configuration file per switch; and

d)    You need to create an image file

 

In my case, I had to deploy 3560CG-8PC and ME-3800X-24FS.  So my image filename has to be exact.   For the 3560CG-8PC has to be exact “3560CG-8PC-imagelist.txt” and the ME-3800 is called “ME3800X-imagelist.txt”.

 

 

3560CG-8PC Configuration

 

Director(config)#  vstack group custom <Enter any value> product-id

Director(config)#  image tftp://<TFTP IP Address>/<IOS_filename>.TAR

Director(config)#  config tftp://<TFTP IP Address>/<Config_filename>.txt

 

!!!! The magic word is “match”.

 

Director(config)#  match WS-C3560CG-8PC-S

 

 

ME-3800X-24FS Configuration

 

Director(config)#  vstack group custom <Enter any value> product-id

Director(config)#  image tftp://<TFTP IP Address>/<IOS_filename>.TAR

Director(config)#  config tftp://<TFTP IP Address>/<Config_filename>.txt

 

!!!! The magic word is “match”.

 

Director(config)#  match ME-3800X-24FS-M

 

 

The value after the “match” statement is very specific.  The value comes out of the client’s Product ID (PID) and must be entered in ALL-CAPS.   The Zero-Touch function will not work if this value is expressed in any other mean. 

 

 

So all un-supported appliance now supported?

Unfortunately, the answer is NO. 

 

I’ve tried using a 2950 and it won’t work.  I don’t have the resources to test but if a switch (like the 3550 or the 2970) can run IOS version 12.2 then it could work using the “match” statement. 

Comments
Leo Laohoo
Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame

Image filename syntax for ME-3800X-24FS-M is "ME3800X-imagelist.txt".

Image filename syntax for WS-C3560CG-8PC is "3560CG-8PC-imagelist.txt".

Leo Laohoo
Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame

Update (28-August 2012)

I've just upgraded the IOS of my VStack Director to 15.0(2)SE.

Guess what?  Someone's built some SMARTS!

Unlike previous versions where when a new "client" is connected to the VStack, the IOS is pushed to the new client regardless if the IOS is EQUAL to the specified IOS version in the configuration.

With 15.0(2)SE, when a new client is plugged in the VStack Director will evaluate and compare the IOS version of the client and the version that's in the configuration. If the IOS version is the same, the VStack Director will "skip" this process. 

Leo Laohoo
Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame

ZeroTouch (Director only) is now supported on the Sup2T running IOS version 15.1(1)SY.

Unfortunately, the documentation is very vague about VS-Sup720 (as you can load this IOS into the VS-Sup720). 

Ping Zhou
Level 8
Level 8

Great info. Thanks a lot.

badelson
Level 1
Level 1

Do you know if it is possible to have two clients inline utilizing Zero touch (i dont want to create reservations of hard code the switch configurations).  For example:

The topopgraphy would be:  Cisco 2951 (Director) -> Cisco 2960 (Switch1) -> Cisco 2960 (Switch2).

Both of the switches would be identical models, but also will have different configurations.  The switches would be daisy chained off each other. 

I believe this would work utilizing the "vstack group match" if I was able to specify the IP address of Switch1 and the interface that connects switch2, but since Switch1 is a Zero touch client as well, I wont have this to start, and I didnt want to make IP reservations. 

thanks in advance...

Leo Laohoo
Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame

Now I haven't tried that scenario.  But I believe this is possible as long as the link between the two switches have VLAN 1 enabled and the ports where you want to hang switches off have VLAN 1 enabled.

The reason why I say that this is possible because this is another feature that some clients have discovered.

Let's say that you have a remote site and one switch there has failed.  Traditionally, you would get the replacement unit shipped to your Head Office (1 day), configure and ship (1 day) and when it arrives there, organize someone to install the switch (1 day).  All in all, you've wasted about 3 days.

With ZeroTouch, you get the replacement shipped to the remote site (1 day) and then you "drop" the enable ZeroTouch at the remote site (you do not want to do ZeroTouch from across the WAN.  Trust me, you don't), copy the three files mentioned and get your on-site tech to connect the replacement appliance to the port of your choosing (VLAN 1 enabled and nothing else).  The IOS get's upgraded and the config gets transferred without any intervention.  Once this is done, the tech can install the switch.  All done and you've used up less than 1 day.

badelson
Level 1
Level 1

I agree. I guess the question is if you have all the same models, from day one is this practical, or are you just bringing up the first switch, waiting for it to fully come online.  Getting the IP address, putting it in the director with the match and port and then connecting the 2nd switch. I see the benefits, but I am also looking at using this for a greenfield deployment with unskilled labor :)

Leo Laohoo
Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame

If you have two switches to "build" then don't let them hang one over the other.  Plug both of them to the an etherswitch module, if possible.

Otherwise you can do this:  Router (Director) --- Production Switch -- FastEthernet 1 (VLAN 1 ONLY) --- Switch 1

                                                                                                  -- FastEthernet 2 (VLAN 2 ONLY) --- Switch 2.

Unskilled labor?  No problem.  As long as they plug they know how to connect the switches together.

badelson
Level 1
Level 1

Thanks. The physical layout of the buildings won't allow for direct connections to the routers. Thanks anyway.

It looks promising, but might not be a fit for what I need.

Leo Laohoo
Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame

Ok.  No it won't as it may complicate matters.  Let me explain ...

I haven't tried that scenario but I don't think it will work properly because the first switch will be undergoing ZT and the second one will be too.  But when the first switch reboots, the second switch may not be finish and the ZT download may get interrupted.

Is there a place in your remote site to plug the switches directly to another switch?

henrik-stryhn
Level 1
Level 1

What if the switch boots in VLAN1 and receives it's default configuration where the management Vlan is VLAN2, how does that work? Connection is lost and the switch where it is connected, must be reconfigured to match VLAN2? Or?

Leo Laohoo
Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame

Hi Henrik,

Yes.  This is possible.  Y'know why?

How does the switch know about other VLANs?  It is through the configuration templates.

Ok, let's say that the switch boots in VLAN 1, because it's default.  The switch then listens out for ZeroTouch to load.  You have the right configuration to push the IOS but it also pushes the configuration templates that you have specified.  And in this template, you will say that your management VLAN is VLAN 2.  You can also say that VLAN 2 will have an IP address based off DHCP.

So yes, this scenario can be done.  As a matter of fact, I've been building switches this way.

henrik-stryhn
Level 1
Level 1

I know how VLANs work and I have tried the same scenario as you, booting in VLAN1 with the Smart Install DHCP configuration, which works fine. But when the switch boots with new config where VLAN1 is shutdown and VLAN2 is active, also set to use DHCP addressing, the switch never gets an IP address. Interfaces is configured as trunks, all VLANs is created and active with DHCP, but nothing never gets to the switch. The only IP that gets served, is from the Smart Install pool during the first boot.

Leo Laohoo
Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame

Somethings not right here.

My config template dictates that upon the completion of the ZeroTouch, VLAN 1 is "shutdown".

So if your switch downloads the config template and IOS, reboots and cannot get an IP address for VLAN 2, then in your configuration template, does VLAN 2 look like this:

interface VLAN 2

ip address dhcp

nickmorra
Community Member

Hi There,

First of all, very well written thread. So thank you for taking your time to share your "Smart Install Journey"

I am a little confused here, I haven't been using Vlan 1 as the management Vlan as in my workplace, The default native Vlan is not in use. As such, in my tests, I created a new management Vlan and have had no issues. Well other than the million I had getting everything working, Vlan aside.

A quick question, have you successfully been able to get a 2950 to work as the Client as of yet?

I know in your first post, you mentioned that you had no luck with the 2950. I'm wondering if a later version of IOS has

releaved that problem?

I have been tasked with getting a 2950 working as a client and was thinking you might have some useful input?

If not, no problem.

Thanks again!

Getting Started

Find answers to your questions by entering keywords or phrases in the Search bar above. New here? Use these resources to familiarize yourself with the community:

Innovations in Cisco Full Stack Observability - A new webinar from Cisco