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Get Started

To get started, you'll install and configure the Apstra software. Then you'll replace the SSL certificate and default passwords to increase security. You can then start building the elements of your physical network. Depending on the complexity of your design, other tasks may be required in addition to the ones included in this general workflow.

Install Apstra Software

Install and configure Apstra software on one of the supported hypervisors.

If you're installing on an ESXi hypervisor, check out the Installing Apstra Software Quick Start Guide, which focuses on ESXi only.

Design

  1. Logical devices (Design > Logical Devices) are abstractions of physical devices. They allow you to specify device capabilities before selecting specific vendor hardware. Check the logical device design (global) catalog for ones that meet your requirements; create them if needed.
  2. Interface maps (Design > Interface Maps) combine device profiles and logical devices. Check the interface map design (global) catalog for ones that meet your requirements; create them if needed.
  3. Rack types (Design > Rack Types) are logical representations of racks. Check the rack type design (global) catalog for ones that meet your requirements; create them if needed.
  4. Templates (Design > Templates) are used to build rack designs (blueprints). Check the template design (global) catalog for one that meets your requirements; create it if needed.

Resources

Create resource pools (ASNs, IPv4 addresses, and IPv6 addresses if needed) for your network. When you're ready to assign resources to your blueprint, you'll specify a resource pool, then the resources will automatically be assigned from that pool.

Devices

You can set up your devices anytime before you need to assign them in your blueprint.
Access the Apstra GUI and get your devices ready.
  1. Device profiles (Devices > Device Profiles) represent the physical devices in your network. Many device profiles are predefined for you. Check the list, and if one that you need is not included, you can create it.
  2. Add devices to be managed by the Apstra environment.
Check out the Onboarding Data Center Switches with Apstra Quick Start Guide for additional information.

Blueprints

  1. Create a blueprint from one of the templates in the Design catalog.
  2. Assign resources, device profiles, and devices (S/Ns) to build the network (Blueprints > <your_blueprint_name> > Staged > Physical > Build)
  3. Review the calculated cabling map (Blueprints > <blueprint_name> > Staged > Physical > Links), then cable up the physical devices according to the map. If you have a set of pre-cabled switches, ensure that you have configured interface maps according to the actual cabling so that calculated cabling matches actual cabling.
  4. When you've finished building your network, commit the blueprint (Blueprints > <your_blueprint_name> > Uncommitted). Committing a blueprint initiates work on the intent and pushes configuration changes on assigned devices to realize it on the network.
  5. Review the blueprint dashboard (Blueprints > Dashboard) for anomalies. If you have cabling anomalies, the likely reason is a mismatch in calculated cabling and actual cabling. Either re-cable the switches, recreate the blueprint with appropriate interface maps or use the Apstra-CLI utility to override the cabling in the blueprint with discovered cabling.

Next Steps

After your deployment is running, you can build the virtual environment with virtual networks and routing zones, as needed.