Adding Device in NSO using NSO GUI Mode

In Lab 3: Adding Device in NSO using NSO GUI Mode, participants typically shift their focus to integrating network devices into the Cisco Network Services Orchestrator (NSO) environment through the Graphical User Interface (GUI) mode. This lab involves tasks such as accessing the NSO GUI, navigating through the interface to define device parameters, and configuring specific device settings using the visual representation provided by the GUI. Participants may utilize the graphical tools and features offered by NSO's GUI to streamline the process of adding and managing devices. The lab aims to provide hands-on experience in leveraging NSO's GUI mode for device integration, allowing participants to explore a more visual and intuitive approach to orchestrating network devices. Successful completion of Lab 3 equips participants with practical skills in adding and configuring devices within the NSO environment using the graphical interface, enhancing their capabilities in network automation and orchestration.

Lab:

Task 1: Adding the first device in NSO using GUI

Step 1: Access the web browser and type http://127.0.0.1:8080 to open the NSO GUI. Type username= admin and password= admin to log into the NSO GUI:

NSO GUI opens up an application hub from where we can configure and monitor, devices and services.

Click on Device Manager to open Device Manager Page. This page will show all configured devices and allow administrator to access the configuration data

The Device Manager page below is showing the previously added device RSTXR-1 (IOS-XR Router). Here we can run actions like ping, Connect, Sync-From, Sync-To, etc. on devices.

After trying out some of the actions click on the Cisco logo as seen below this will take you to the Application Hub for further choices:

Step 2: Click on configuration editor block to open up the configuration editor page:

This is where we can add new device using NSO GUI mode.

The configuration editor page lists all packages and Modules that are loaded in NSO. Let us use the devices module to add a new device.

Step 3: In the modules section click the ncs:devices module:

Note: We have multiple page view options viz Full model view or Configuration only view. Full model view will provide all configuration options and execution (Running) actions. Whereas the configuration only view will show the current configuration view. We can choose the view option located on the top-right corner of the page. let us choose configuration only as our view option.

Step 4: Create ‘authgroup’ and provide username and password for accessing the device to be added, Click on authgroups/

As seen below there is a pre-configured authgroup named ‘XR’ that was created in previous LAB. We can use the same authgroup parameters to access our new device. let us explore the configurations of XR authgroup.

Step 5: Select XR authgroup and explore the parameters configured in this authgroup:

Step 6: Click on default-map/

The ‘XR’ authgroup was previously created in LAB 2. We can see that NSO has stored all login credentials that were configured earlier. So there is no need to add any parameters now.

Navigate back to the devices section by clicking on devices as shown in the picture below:

In the ncs:devices, let us add a new device:

Step 7: Click the plus icon to add new device as seen below:

Add a new list item name RSTXR-2 and click confirm as seen below

Click on newly added device RSTXR-2

Click on top-right menu View options and select full model

Now let us define an authgroup for this device.

Step 8: Click the drop-down menu of authgroup and select group ‘XR’ as seen below:

Scroll down and configure IP address to access the device. Management IP address for RSTXR-2 is 10.0.0.2:

After configuring IP address let us forther scroll down and select device-type and network element driver for our device:

Step 9: Scroll down and click on device-type as seen below:

Now select ‘CLI’ to be our device-type as seen below:

Click on cli/ as shown below picture

Now the next step is to define NED-id and protocol for our device.

Step 10: Click the drop-down menu of ned-id* and select cisco-iosxr-cli-7.18 as seen below:

Now select cisco-iosxr-cli-7.18 as seen below:

Click on drop-down of protocol and select telnet as seen below:

Navigate back to device(RSTXR-2) for further configuration as seen below.

Now we should select admin state as unlocked for coding and Southbound API. Scroll down the RSTXR-2 device page and configure the state option.

Step 11: Click the the state/ option to configure the admin state for device:

Click the drop-down menu of admin-state and select unlocked as seen below:

Device is open for open coding and southbound traffic

Next step is to commit our configuration

Step 12: Go to commit manager to commit the changes as seen below:

Click on commit to save the configuration

Now let us verify if the device got added.

Click on Device Manager at the bottom of the page as seen below:

As seen below the RSTXR-2 device is now added. use Ping, Connect, Sync-From, Sync-To and Compare functions as seen below: