2020.1

NSO Manager

On this page:

User Guide

NSO Manager includes a Commit Queue Manager and NED Validator. The NED Validator is designed to verify configurations on Network Element Drivers (NEDs). The Commit Queue Manager helps to visualize the NSO Commit Queue and it allows users to manage items in the queue.

NED Validator

The NED Validator accepts device configurations for various supported NEDs that are part of Cisco NSO (Network Services Orchestration). You can verify a configuration using the NED Validator before applying the configuration to your network devices.

From the Itential Automation Platform (IAP) home page menu, click the NED Validator card to open the application (Figure 1).

Figure 1 - IAP Home Page

IAP Home Page

From the main page of the NED Validator (Figure 2), tools are available to check the validity of the user's device configuration. Refer to the table below for a basic overview of the application and its functionalities.

Figure 2 - NED Validator View

NED Validator View

Label UI Element Function
1 Adapter Select the adapter that holds the device information.
2 NED ID Select the name and version of the NED.
3 File Import Select a configuration file for import.
4 Configuration Field Enter and edit the device configuration.
5 Clear Configuration Delete any configuration entered in the Configuration Field.
6 Verify Configuration Run verification of the configuration for the selected NED.
7 Validation Results Output of the verification.
8 Export Report Export the verification results in a text file.

Verifying Cisco IOS Configuration

Use the following steps to verify configuration for Cisco-IOS.

  1. Open the NED Validator application.

  2. Click the Select Adapter field and select Local NSO.

  3. Click the Select NED field and select the Cisco-IOS NED.

    Figure 3 - Select NED

    Select NED

  4. Click in the Configuration field and type your configuration. A sample configuration is provided below if you do not have one readily available.

    Sample Configuration (Cisco-IOS)

    interface Loopback 0
    description Hello. Enter a string here.
    ip address 1.1.1.1 255.255.255.255
    no shut
!
router ospf 10
    network 1.1.0.0 0.0.255.255 area 0
!

  5. Click the VERIFY CONFIG button. The NED Validator will check the configuration to verify its validity and display the output in the Validation Results field.

    Figure 4 - Valid Configuration Result

    Valid Configuration Result

Verifying Cisco IOSXR Configuration

To confirm the NED Validator works for multiple NEDs, you can verify device configuration for the Cisco IOS XR NED.

  1. Click the CLEAR CONFIG button to erase the configuration in the Configuration field.

    Figure 5 - Clear Configuration

    Clear Configuration

  2. Click the Select NED field and select the Cisco IOS XR NED.

  3. Type your device configuration in the Configuration field. A sample configuration is provided below if you do not have one readily available.

    Sample Configuration (Cisco IOS XR NED)

    interface Loopback 0
    description Hello. Enter a string here.
    no shut
!

  4. Click the VERIFY CONFIG button. The NED Validator will check the configuration to verify its validity and display the output in the Validation Results field.

    Figure 6 - Cisco IOSXR Configuration Result

    Cisco IOSXR Configuration Result

Exporting Configuration Results

In addition to viewing the output in the Validation Results field, you can also export the results to a text file.

  1. Click the EXPORT REPORT button. A report is generated and downloaded to your computer.

    Figure 7 - Download Export Report

    Export Report

Invalid Device Configuration

This section provides an example of an error in device configuration when checked against the Cisco-IOS NED. When such an error occurs, the NED Validator displays an error message.

  1. Click the CLEAR CONFIG button to erase the configuration in the Configuration field.

  2. Click the Select NED field and select the Cisco-IOS NED.

  3. Type the following device configuration in the Configuration field.

    Sample Invalid Configuration (Cisco-IOS)

    interface Loopback 0
    description Loopback address is our OSPF router ID
    ip address 1.1.1.1 255.255.255.255
    no shut
!
interface Fast 1/0
    ipv4 address 10.10.10.10 255.255.255.0
    no shut
!
router ospf 10
    router-id 1.1.1.1
    network 1.1.0.0 0.0.255.255 area 0
!

  4. Click the VERIFY CONFIG button. Notice the configuration output and error message in the Validation Results field.

    Figure 8 - Validation Result with Error Message

    Validation Error Message

Correcting Invalid Cisco IOS Configuration

In the previous section, the output message in the Validation Results field indicates there is a syntax error on line 2 of the configuration.

Figure 9 - Syntax Error on Line 2

Syntax Error

  1. Replace the incorrect line in the Configuration Field with the correct line of configuration shown below.

    Correct Line of Configuration

    ip address 10.10.10.10 255.255.255.0

  2. Click the VERIFY CONFIG button. Notice the configuration output is now valid.

    Figure 10 - Validation result with Corrected Configuration

    Validation Result