Template Introduction
The template editor is a standalone application that can be used to Build your Day-0 (PnP) or Day-N configurations.
•Day-0 (PnP) : Is your PnP/Onboarding Template . This is a one-time Template that used while you onboard your network devices, this template are Pushed to the Network devices as once (Bulk Template) .Usually we recommend to Push all your Major Connectivity config using This Template.
Note:If DNAC Management interface need to be changed from the PnP discovery interface to any other interface, make sure to use : “ip http client source-interface”. **Managed I interface need to be reachable via DNAC.
•Day-N: Is your Provisioning Template. This is the template that you can use to change any Configuration after your device is Managed by DNAC, this template are Push to the Network device in a line by line cli basis , make sure to not touch any basic connectivity or you will lose connectivity to the device.
Template Tool
•Click ‘+’ and select Create Template
•Enter Template variables
- Regular Template or Composite Sequence
- Name
- Project Name
- Description
- Tags
- Device Type (List)
- Software Type
- Software Version
•After Add a New Template is completed the Template Editor is opened
•The following basic Actions are available
- Check for errors
- Show history
- Save
- Commit
•The following basic Edit options are available
- Undo
- Redo
- Copy
- Paste
- Find and Replace
Template Type
Template Type Comparison
|
Description |
Regular Template |
Composit Template |
|
Number of Template |
One Template |
One or more regualr template |
|
Apply To |
Day0/DayN |
DayN only |
|
Easy to Manage/Troublshoot |
Ok |
Easier |
Configuration Mode
All commands are entered in conf t mode. As commands are delivered a prompt is expected after each command. This complicates thing, here you can find use cases and solutions to address the need :
- Enter multiple lines without a prompt being returned after each line of configuration. A banner would be an example of this.
- It can be address using ## ! Multiple Commands Tag.
- Questions Prompt, when you configure things which also doesn’t show the regular prompt. Generating an SSH key pair could be an example of this.
- It can be address using ## ! Interactive Tag.
- Exec Mode Config, Sometimes you might need to enter stuff in exec mode
- It can be address using #MODE_ENABLE Tag.
Note: All the commands executed via templates are always in conf t mode. So there is no need to specify the enable / conf t command explicitly in the template.
Adding Enable Mode Commands
Use this syntax to add enable mode commands to your CLI templates:
Note: You need to specify #MODE_ENABLE if you want to execute any command outside the conf t.
Adding interactive Mode Commands
An interactive command contains the expected cli query and input that must be entered following the execution of a command.
To enter interactive command mode
To enter an interactive command in the CLI Content area, use the following syntax:
CLI Command<IQ>interactive question 1<R>command response 1 <IQ>interactive question 2<R>command response 2
Where Interactive Question <IQ> and Response <R> tags are case-sensitive and must be entered in uppercase.
For example:
Note: You need to specify #MODE_ENABLE if you want to execute any command outside the conf t.
Combining Interactive Enable Mode Commands
Use this syntax to combine interactive Enable Mode commands:
#MODE_ENABLE
#INTERACTIVE
commands<IQ>interactive question<R>response
#ENDS_INTERACTIVE
#MODE_END_ENABLE
For example:
Note: All the templates in the PI system will work here also, except the multi line tag<MLTD>.
Input Form Editor variables
•Variable Form option can be either Text Field, Single select or multiple select .
•Variables Value can Be validated against different format ( String ,IP ,integer, etc..)
•Variable Value can Bind to source – I don’t recommend as its not reliable •sometimes its not working.unless you are sure and you test this option against your •Hardware running release don't go with this approach.
•Commit will prompt you to save , no need to save and Commit
Template Sample
Templates are a composite of Cisco CLI, and velocity
•Configure hostname
hostname $name
•Configure Macro
Split the comma delimited Text string into a string list..
Example :
$data_vlanids = 200,300
$vlans list = [200,300]
Replace function is very useful to trim any spaces in an input variable
Template Form Export/ Import
•On multiple device on-boarding scenario, rather than selecting each device and fill their variables , you can export Form variable into *.csv file,Fill it in excel and import it back.
•On testing/troubleshooting scenario , it will reduce your time by importing the excel rather than fill in the variable every trial.
Note: Excel sheet Column will be head of device serial number.
Lesson Learned. Tips && Tricks
