Installation of DNA-center

[trondaker]

Hi,

We have just started our sd-access journey, and i have a couple of questions regarding the DNA-cluster. I followed the pre-flight checks and installation flows from the documentation, and NTP/gateway-checks worked out fine. I can now log into the maglev account, but the https-access is nowhere to be found. I only configured one interface (first tengig) with an IP-address, as this is a simple setup. The CIMC also has a DHCP-acquired address. Am i missing something here, the appliance has been standing there for a couple of days now, just to see if it was downloading new software, but not much action.

Question is, how do i do a reset back to "blank" appliance? Seems to be some factory resets under the CIMC, but i dont want to remove the whole image? Or do i have to? I tried to change the boot order, but still couldnt get to the first text-based menu.

Br,

Trond

[Tomas de Leon · Accepted solution]

Trond,

Unfortunately, there is no reset to factory defaults or erase configuration script for the DNAC at this time.  The appropriate steps would be to rebuild the DNAC from scratch using the DNAC ISO Image.  To get the ISO image for recovery and the STEPS to follow, you will need to open a Cisco TAC Case for help.

Also, here is a worksheet that I created that will help with IP addressing and making layer1 connections.  With the DNAC, you always want to look forward when setting up the appliance.  So even if you are setting up a lab or POC, make the connections that would be in a "production" install so that all functions and features are covered.  I hope this helps.

T.

https://community.cisco.com/t5/network-architecture-documents/totd-dnac-ip-address-planning-worksheet/ta-p/3695458

[trondaker]

Wish i had that cheatsheet a little bit earlier - if its not already part of the doc i suggest you get it in there, because it was lacking quite a lot of details regarding the different interfaces. Thanks for the sheet though, guess ill just need the ISO now :)

[Patrick Colbeck]

If you are reinstalling DNAC from scratch a couple of things:

you need to use Etcher to write the ISO to a USB thumb drive.

https://etcher.io/

Other utilities may work but I tried several and it wouldn't install. TAC recommended Etcher and it worked fine. Note the Windows version of Etcher created a USB image that didnt work but the Linux version did the trick. TAC said they us eteh MAC version but I have no MAC to try that on. Don't worry that once you write teh USB you wont be able to read it on Windows or Linux - that's a feature according to TAC.

You are supposed to be able to do the install across the LAN just using the OVA and the virtual CD/DVD drive on the CIMC but this is very flaky. Just kept bombing out for me. USB is more reliable.

[Patrick Colbeck]

If you are reinstalling DNAC from scratch a couple of things:

you need to use Etcher to write the ISO to a USB thumb drive.

https://etcher.io/

Other utilities may work but I tried several and it wouldn't install. TAC recommended Etcher and it worked fine. Note the Windows version of Etcher created a USB image that didnt work but the Linux version did the trick. TAC said they use the MAC version but I have no MAC to try that on. Don't worry that once you write teh USB you wont be able to read it on Windows or Linux - that's a feature according to TAC.

You are supposed to be able to do the install across the LAN just using the OVA and the virtual CD/DVD drive on the CIMC but this is very flaky. Just kept bombing out for me. USB is more reliable.