cisco Nexus Insights Cloud Connector Application User Guide

cisco Nexus Insights Cloud Connector Application

First Published: 2022-01-28
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Cisco Nexus Insights Cloud Connector Application User Guide, Release

2.0.x – For Cisco DCNM

New and Changed Information
The following table provides an overview of the significant changes up to the current release. The table does not provide an exhaustive list of all changes or of the new features up to this release.

New Features and Changed Behavior in the Cisco NI Cloud Connector application.

Connector app gets onboarded and configured automatically when device connector is configured.| 2.0.30| About Cisco Nexus Insights Cloud Connector Application

Cisco Nexus Insights Cloud Connector App Installation

About Cisco Nexus Insights Cloud Connector

Application
Cisco Nexus Insights Cloud Connector (Cisco NI Cloud Connector) application is pre-packaged with Cisco Data Center Network Manager (Cisco DCNM). Cisco NI Cloud Connector app monitors utilities that can be added to the Cisco DCNM. The Cisco NI Cloud Connector application uses the Device Connector available on the platform to communicate with the services running in Cisco Intersight Cloud.
Device Connector provides a secure way for the connected devices to send information and receive control instructions from the Cisco Intersight portal, using a secure Internet connection. See About Device Connector.

Cisco Intersight is a management platform delivered as a service. Cisco DCNM platform has a Device Connector that is packaged with the software that connects to Cisco Intersight Cloud. Device Connector is used to provide Cisco NI Cloud Connector cloud connectivity feature sets.
Cisco DCNM Release 11.5(4), packages Cisco NI Cloud Connector app, Release 1.0.3 and 2.0.30. If you start Cisco NI Cloud Connector 2.0.30 then Cisco NI Cloud Connector 1.0.3 detects the latest application and disables its functionality.

Cisco NI Cloud Connector 1.0.3 app auto starts in clustered and unclustered modes of operation. Cisco NI Cloud Connector 2.0.30 app does not auto start.
Cisco NI Cloud Connector 2.0.30 app works only in clustered mode. It does not work in unclustered mode.
Cisco NI Cloud Connector 2.0.30 app auto onboards the fabrics so that the application automatically enables telemetry, when Device Connector is configured. Cisco NI Cloud Connector functionality is supported by Device Connector plugins that enable communication with the Cisco Intersight Cloud. See About Cisco Nexus Insights Cloud Connector on Cisco DCNM for specific telemetry details.
Starting with Cisco DCNM Release 11.4(1), Cisco NI Cloud Connector app queries for smart license information on Cisco DCNM. If the Proxy details are configured, then Device Connector inherits this configuration and attempts to connect with Cisco Intersight Cloud. If the information is modified in smart license configuration or removed, Device Connector is not updated. However, Cisco NI Cloud Connector app UI alerts you that the Device Connector is disconnected and lets you update the smart license. See Configuring Smart Licensing for details. For a more detailed overview on Cisco Licensing, go to cisco.com/go/licensingguide.
All product usage telemetry data is transmitted securely through an encrypted channel. The data collected is limited to product usage, and no personally identifiable information or network traffic data is collected or processed. For more information, see Cisco Nexus Insights Data Sheet.

Cisco Nexus Insights Cloud Connector App Upgrade

Cisco NI Cloud Connector Pre-packaged App on Cisco DCNM

App Version| 1.0.1| 1.0.3| 2.0.1| 2.0.23| 2.0.27| 2.0.30
---|---|---|---|---|---|---
Cisco NI Cloud Connector Auto Start| Yes| Yes| No| No| No| No
Cisco NI Cloud Connector Auto Onboard Fabric| Yes| Yes| No| Yes| Yes| Yes
Cisco DCNM Unclustered Mode| Yes| Yes| No| No| No| No
Cisco DCNM Clustered Mode| Yes| Yes| Yes| Yes| Yes| Yes
Cisco DCNM Version| 11.3(1),

11.4(1)

| 11.5(1)| 11.3(1)| 11.3(1),

11.4(1)

| 11.5(1),

11.5(2),

11.5(3)

| 11.5(4)
Upgrade Cisco DCNM| Yes| Yes| No| Yes

•         Cisco NI Cloud Connecto r       2.0.1

app     left running with    an upgrade available in UI.

| Yes

•         Cisco NI Cloud Connecto r     2.0.23 app left running with    an upgrade available in UI.

| Yes

•         Cisco NI Cloud Connecto r     2.0.27 app left running with    an upgrade available in UI.

App Version| 1.0.1| 1.0.3| 2.0.1| 2.0.23| 2.0.27| 2.0.30
---|---|---|---|---|---|---
Upgrade Cisco         NI Cloud Connector App| Yes

•         1.0.1     to

2.0.1

•         1.0.1     to

2.0.23

•         1.0.1 app in UI is inactive and 2.0.1

or  2.0.23

app       is enabled.

| Yes

•         2.0.1     to

2.0.23

•         2.0.1 app in UI is inactive and 2.0.23

app       is enabled.

| N/A| N/A| N/A| N/A

Upgrading Cisco Nexus Insights Cloud Connector App

• Every Cisco DCNM release pre-packages Cisco NI Cloud Connector app. Only one instance of Cisco NI Cloud Connector app is supported on Cisco DCNM.
• When Device Connector is connected to the Cisco Intersight Cloud, on upgrading Cisco DCNM to the latest release or on installing Cisco DCNM, you are prompted to configure the Device Connector. Until you configure the Device Connector there is an alert present on the bell icon.
• After upgrading Cisco DCNM to a newer version, the Device Connector inherits the smart license configuration that was configured in the older version.
• To upgrade Cisco NI Cloud Connector pre-packaged app running on Cisco DCNM, you will see an option in the application tab to upgrade. The arrow indicates that you have an explicit action to upgrade the app. Cisco DCNM can be running while you upgrade Cisco NI Cloud Connector. The older version of Cisco NI Cloud Connector app shuts down and newer version is enabled.
• When you upgrade Cisco DCNM, Release 11.5(1) in clustered mode with Cisco NI Cloud Connector 2.0.27 app enabled, then Cisco DCNM is upgraded to Release 11.5(4) and Cisco NI Cloud Connector 2.0.27 app stays running. You will see an option in the applications tab to upgrade the Cisco NI Cloud Connector 2.0.27 app to the newly packaged Cisco NI Cloud Connector 2.0.30 app.

Cisco Nexus Insights Cloud Connector App Setup and Settings

About Cisco Nexus Insights Cloud Connector on Cisco DCNM

The Cisco Nexus Insights Cloud Connector (Cisco NI Cloud Connector) application provides TAC Assist functionalities and collection of logs which are useful when working with Cisco TAC.

Cisco NI Cloud Connector app consists of the following components:

• Devices
• TAC Assist
  • Log Collection
  • Technical Support to Cloud
  • Enhanced TAC Assist

The Cisco NI Cloud Connector app collects the telemetry data. See Table 2 and Table 3 for telemetry data collected.

The Cisco NI Cloud Connector app provides a way for Cisco customers to collect technical support across multiple devices and upload those technical supports to Cisco Intersight Cloud. This technical support information are accessible to Cisco TAC teams when helping customers through a resolution of a Service Request. Additionally, it enables capability for Cisco TAC teams to collect technical support on-demand for a particular device.

Cisco NI Cloud Connector Settings

Displayed across the top of the work pane is a group of icons and a list menu comprising the Cisco NI Cloud Connector app settings. The following table describes each:

NI Cloud Connector application.
Property| Description
---|---
| Device Connector Status : Identifies the current connection status of the Cisco NI Cloud Connector application to the Cisco Intersight Cloud and the device connector claim condition. Possible connection statuses are:

•  Not Connected : The Cisco NI Cloud Connector application is not connected to the Cisco Intersight Cloud.

• Connected / Not Claimed : The Cisco NI Cloud Connector application is connected to the Cisco Intersight Cloud but the device connector has not been claimed by the customer. Cisco NI Cloud Connector app collects telemetry data.

• Connected / Claimed : The Cisco NI Cloud Connector application is connected to the Cisco Intersight Cloud and the device connector has been claimed  by  the customer. Cisco NI Cloud Connector app uses TAC Assist functionality.

For more information, see Configuring the Intersight Device Connector.

| Clicking on this icon invokes a list menu  allowing you to make changes to the following:

• About Network Insights —Displays an information dialog identifying the version number of the Cisco Nexus Insights Cloud Connector application.

• Rerun Setup —Allows you to edit the Data Collection Setup by adding or removing fabrics.

| Displays the user guide for Cisco Nexus Insights Cloud Connector application on Cisco DCNM.

Setting Up the Device Connector

About Device Connector
Devices are connected to the Intersight portal through a Device Connector that is embedded in the management controller of each system. Device Connector provides a secure way for the connected devices to send information and receive control instructions from the Cisco Intersight portal, using a secure Internet connection.
All device connectors must properly resolve svc.intersight.com and allow outbound initiated HTTPS connections on port 443. To resolve svc.intersight.com, you must configure DNS on the managed devices. If a proxy is required for an HTTPS connection to svc.intersight.com, the proxy can be configured in the device connector user interface.

Note: Security appliances that terminate outbound device connector HTTPS connections are not supported at this time.
When an Intersight-enabled device or application starts, the Device Connector starts at boot by default, and attempts to connect to the cloud service. If the Auto Update option is enabled, the Device Connector is automatically updated to the latest version through a refresh by the Intersight service when you connect to Intersight. For more information on the Auto Update option, see Configuring the Intersight Device Connector.

Configuring Smart Licensing
Configuring the smart licensing on Cisco DCNM can be done using the following methods:

• Cisco Smart Software Manager (CSSM).
• Cisco Smart Licensing Satellite.
• Http Proxy.

When you configure Device Connector, Cisco NI Cloud Connector app adds the Proxy details for configuring the smart licensing.
Once the Proxy is enabled with the smart license configuration on Cisco DCNM, the Device Connector inherits this configuration and attempts to connect with Cisco Intersight Cloud. If the information is modified in smart license configuration or removed, Device Connector is not updated. However, Cisco NI Cloud Connector app UI alerts you that the Device Connector is disconnected and lets you update the smart license.
Cisco NI Cloud Connector app starts collecting telemetry data from your network using the Proxy details while configuring Device Connector. For a more detailed overview on Cisco Licensing, go to cisco.com/go/licensingguide.

Configuring the Intersight Device Connector
Cisco NI Cloud Connector application is connected to the Cisco Intersight Cloud portal through a Device Connector which is embedded in the management controller of the Cisco DCNM platform.
Cisco Intersight is a management platform delivered as a service. Cisco DCNM platform has a Device Connector that is packaged with the software that connects to Cisco Intersight Cloud. Device Connector is used to provide Cisco NI Cloud Connector cloud connectivity feature sets.
The Device Connector provides a secure way for connected Cisco DCNM to send and receive information from the Cisco Intersight portal, using a secure Internet connection.

To setup the Device Connector, follow these steps:

1. On the Cisco DCNM navigation pane, click Administration.

2. Under the Cisco DCNM Server list, click Device Connector. The Device Connector work pane appears:

3. At the far right of the screen, click Settings.
   The Settings – General dialog appears:
   Device Connector (switch)
   This is the main switch for the Device Connector communication with Cisco Intersight. When the switch is on (green highlight), the system is claimed and the capabilities of the Cisco Intersight can be leveraged. If the switch is off (gray highlight), no communication can occur between the platform and Cisco intersight.
   Access Mode
   

4. Read-only: This option ensures that no configuration changes are done by Cisco Intersight on Cisco DCNM. For example, actions such as upgrading firmware or a profile deployment will not be allowed in the Read-Only mode. However, the actions depend on the features available for a particular system.

5. Allow Control: This option (selected by default) enables you to perform full read/write operations from the appliance, based on the features available in Cisco Intersight. This function is not used for changes from Cisco Intersight Cloud to customer network.

6. Set the Device Connector to on (green highlight) and choose Allow Control.

7. Click Proxy Configuration.
   The Settings – Proxy Configuration dialog appears.
   
   Enable Proxy (switch)
   Enable HTTPS Proxy to configure the proxy settings.
   Proxy Hostname/IP ** and Proxy Port: Enter a proxy hostname or IP address, and a proxy port number.
   Authentication (switch)
   Enable proxy access through authentication. When the switch is on (green highlight), authentication to the proxy server is required. If the switch is off (gray highlight), no authentication is required.
   Username* and Password:** Enter a user name and password for authentication.
   Proxy settings are required for Network Insights.

8. Enable the proxy (green highlight) and enter a hostname and port number.

9. Optional: If proxy authentication is required, enable it (green highlight) and enter a username and password.

10. Click Save.

Target Claim

Before you begin
You have configured Intersight Device Connector in Cisco DCNM.

Procedure
See Target Claim for more information.

Troubleshooting
See Troubleshooting for more information.

Navigating Cisco Nexus Insights Cloud Connector App

The Cisco NI Cloud Connector application window is divided into two parts: the Navigation pane and the Work pane.

Navigation Pane
The Cisco NI Cloud Connector app navigation pane divides the collected data into the following categories:

1. Devices: Sorts devices by device name, serial number, IP address, version, and platform.
2. TAC Assist: Collects logs for specified devices that can be attached to service requests using the Cisco Intersight Cloud.

Devices
The Devices page displays the devices by device name, serial number, IP address, version, and platform.

TAC Assist
The TAC Assist work pane lets you collect logs for specified devices that can be attached to service requests using the Cisco Intersight Cloud. It lets you select the device(s) for which you can collect logs to assist TAC.
The Log Collection section displays the new job triggered for TAC Assist. The Job Details page lists the TAC Assist logs.
All information about TAC Assist job including, status, devices, fabric, start time, job id, device name, log location, and Cloud upload appear in the work pane.

Cisco Nexus Insights Cloud Connector App Dashboard

Cisco NI Cloud Connector Dashboard
The Cisco NI Cloud Connector application main dashboard provides immediate access to a high-level view of Devices and access to TAC Assist logs in your network.

version, and platform in your network.
TAC Assist| Displays the total number of TAC assist logs currently being collected or finished being collected.

Devices Dashboard
The Devices dashboard displays devices by serial numbers, software versions, and hardware platforms. You can sort devices by device name, serial number, IP address, software version, and hardware platform.

TAC Assist Dashboard
The TAC Assist dashboard allows you to collect logs for devices in your network. These logs can be attached to Service Requests (SRs) for further analysis.
You can choose to download the collected logs to a device and use it for further debugging or make them available to Cisco TAC as part of SR to analyze any traffic or service disruption.

1. Click Begin to initiate the log collection process.
2. To display specific devices in the list, use the filter utility:
   • Operators – display devices using an operator. Valid operators are:
   • == – display devices with an exact match. This operator must be followed by text and/or symbols that are the exact software version, product ID, device name, or assigned IP address of the device.
   • contains – display device names or platform identifiers containing entered text or symbols. This operator must be followed by text and/or symbols.
   • Version – display devices that are running a specific software version.
   • Platform – display devices that are a specific type defined by the platform ID.
   • Device Name – display devices that are specifically named.
   • Serial Number – display devices that are running a specific serial number.
   • IP Address – display devices that are assigned a specific IP address.
3. Place a check in the checkbox next to the device for which you want to collect logs. If you want to choose all of the devices in the list, place a check in the checkbox next to the Device Name column title.
4. Click Collect Logs.
   The Collect Logs dialog appears on the TAC Assist dashboard. Once the logs are collected, Cisco NI Cloud Connector app lets you view the collected log details. The TAC Assist detailed page displays the location where the logs are collected and lets you upload to the Cisco Intersight Cloud.

The following table describes the status messages for TAC Assist.

Status Messages for Log Collection in TAC Assist.

pending.
Collection in Progress| Displays when collecting the logs locally to Intersight Device Connector is in progress.
Collection Complete| Displays when collecting the logs locally to Intersight Device Connector is complete.
Retry Upload| Displays when there is a failure to collect logs.
Upload Pending| Displays when uploading the logs from Intersight Device Connector to Cisco Intersight Cloud is pending.
Upload in Progress| Displays when uploading the logs from Intersight Device Connector to Cisco Intersight Cloud is in progress.
Complete| Displays when upload to Cisco Intersight Cloud is complete.

TAC Assist – Upload to Cloud

Before you begin:
Before you upload the collected logs to Cisco Intersight Cloud, make sure the fabric is connected to Cisco Intersight Cloud. See Configuring the Intersight Device Connector for details.

Procedure
This section contains the steps required for you to trigger a TAC Assist job to collect logs for specified devices and upload the logs to Cisco Intersight Cloud. The collected logs for specified devices then can be attached to the service requests (SRs).

1. Click TAC Assist in the Cisco DCNM navigation pane.

2. Click Begin to choose the fabric device(s).

3. From the Collect Logs page check the device(s) for which to collect logs to assist TAC. The Log Collection section displays the new job triggered for TAC Assist.

4. Click View Details from the list of logs to display the Job Details page.
   All information about TAC Assist job including, status, devices, fabric, start time, job id, device name, log location, and Cloud upload appear in the work pane.

5. Click Upload to upload the collected logs to Cisco Intersight Cloud.

The Cloud status shows Complete when the upload of collected logs to Cisco Intersight Cloud is complete.

Enhanced TAC Assist
Cisco NI Cloud Connector app enables Cisco TAC to send a request to collect and upload logs for an SR on Cisco DCNM. Cisco TAC relies on the telemetry information available from the network to see a list of managed devices and then based on your SR request sends a trigger for collection of logs on the device to Cisco NI Cloud Connector.
The Enhanced TAC Assist feature triggered by TAC enables collection of logs for specified devices and uploads the logs to Cloud without any user explicit action. Click View Details from list of logs to display the job details page.

The View Details page shows a message that the job is triggered by Cisco TAC and hence no subsequent actions can be invoked on this job.

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