Integration with CloudVision

In CloudVision's multi-switch tap aggregation, a datacenter network feeds taps into a layer of switches. These switches forward their traffic to an aggregation layer which subsequently sends traffic to tool ports. Thereby in CloudVision Portal (CVP), you can monitor and manage clusters of switches working in concert.

Figure 1. Multi-Switch Tap Aggregation Topology

CloudVision assigns a unique VLAN ID to each external tap port. It tags the traffic arriving on each external tap port with the appropriate VLAN ID and forwards it to each tool-facing device. The traffic arrived on the tool-facing switch passes through a large policy map that matches the VLAN ID of the packet and then sent to the default groups configured on the original tap port. Tool ports that are configured as members of that group receives the packet and forwards it to the external tool device.

You can access the tap aggregation screen for each switch. The CVP multi-switch tap aggregation provides the following functionalities:
  • Configures an interface's switchport mode as either tap port or tool port.
  • Configures default groups on an external tap port
  • Configures the group membership on an external tool port
  • Automatically manages policy-maps to correctly steer packets from external tap ports to external tool ports
  • Provides built-in verification and reconciliation tools to ensure consistent and valid configuration in devices
  • Instinctively monitors details of traffic throughput, interface status, and tap aggregation
  • Integrates with CloudVision's other telemetry features including events, notifications, device and interface detail views, and metric comparisons.

Initial Setup for Multi-Switch Tap Aggregation

Initial setup for multi-switch tap aggregation includes the following tasks:

  1. Prerequisites
  2. Creating a Tap Aggregation Cluster
  3. Setting Up Tap and Tool Devices
  4. Configuring Internal Fabric

Prerequisites

The prerequisites to create a multi-switch tap aggregation cluster are provided below:

  • CVP version 2019.1.0 and above

  • Ensure that devices are:

    • In tap aggregation mode

      See the Tap Aggregation Configuration section in the EOS Configuration Guide.

    • Streaming via TerminAttr agent to a CVP node or cluster

    • Provisioned

    • Physically connected

    • Have Port-Channels configured (if they are being used)

  • Advanced login options for device provisioning and Multi-switch tap aggregation options are enabled in CVP. See Enabling Multi-Switch Tap Aggregation .

Note: When prerequisite conditions are met, CVP displays the list the configured tap aggregation devices on the Tap Aggregation screen. See Configuring Tap Aggregation Devices .

Creating a Tap Aggregation Cluster

Perform the following steps to create a tap aggregation cluster:
  1. On CVP, click Provisioning > Tags.

    The system displays the Device Tags screen.

    Figure 2. Device Tags Screen
    Note: To assign tags to interfaces, click the Interface tab.
  2. On the main panel, select device(s) of your tap aggregation cluster that you want to create a tag for.

    The system displays the Assigned tags panel.

    Note:
    • In general, tags should be of the form <label>: <value>.
    • (Optional) Use the search bar for searching required devices.
  3. Under User Tags > Add or create tags, type tapAggCluster: <clusterName> in the text box.
    Note:
    • To create and assign tap and tool tags, add tags of tapAggType: tap or tapAggType: tool to appropriate devices.
    • The System Tags panel displays tags automatically created by CVP.
  4. Click Create and Assign.
    The new tag is displayed under Manage assigned tags.
    Figure 3. Create and Assign
    Note: To delete a tag, click on the inessential tag > the minus sign > Save edits.

Setting Up Tap and Tool Devices

Devices are classified as either tap devices or tool devices by using tags with the tapAggType type. Perform the following steps to classify devices with ports:
  1. On the CloudVision Portal, click Provisioning > Tags.
  2. Click Interface to open the interface tags panel.
  3. Select desired tap interfaces.
    The system displays the Assigned tags panel.
    Figure 4. Assigned Tags Panel
  4. Under User Tags > Add or create tags, type tapAggType: tap in the text box.
  5. Click Create and Assign.
  6. Select desired tool interfaces.
    The system displays the Assigned tags panel.
  7. Under User Tags > Add or create tags, type tapAggType: tool in the text box.
  8. Click Create and Assign.

Configuring Internal Fabric

We must manually specify all connections between the devices in our tap aggregation cluster’s internal fabric so that CVP can determine the cluster’s topology, which will later be used for generating the cluster policy.

Perform the following steps to configure internal fabric:

  1. On the CloudVision Portal, click TapAgg.
    The system displays the tap aggregation screen.
    Note:If you are configuring internal fabric for the first time, CVP displays the ‘You do not have exactly one connection between each of your cluster devices. Update internal connections warning.
  2. Select the desired cluster from the Cluster drop-down menu at the upper left corner.
  3. Select Internal Fabric from the Table drop-down menu.
    The system displays the internal fabric screen.
    Figure 5. Internal Fabric Screen
  4. Provide the following information in corresponding fields to add a connection:
    • Source Device
    • Source Interface
    • Destination Device
    • Destination Interface
  5. Click Add Connection.
    The system automatically configures the source and destination interface as tool and tap ports respectively.