Technical Documentation

Discovering and Assigning N-PE Devices with Exceptions

Preparing network devices for service activation is usually a simple process which directs the Ethernet Activator software to prepare your devices automatically. When you prestage devices, the Ethernet Activator software scans the database for devices that have already been discovered but have no MPLS role assigned, and recommends a role for each device it finds, based on the device configuration data and a set of predefined rules. You can then display those devices and their recommended settings for:

  • MPLS role for the device (PE only)
  • Loopback interface
  • UNI interfaces

The Ethernet Activator software allows you to exclude specific recommended devices from being assigned the N-PE role and to exclude interfaces from use as UNIs during service provisioning. You can also change the loopback address of a PE device.

For step-by-step instructions on how to prepare devices for network activation using all the recommendations for N-PE role assignment and UNI assignment that the Ethernet Activator software makes, see Discovering and Assigning All N-PE Devices. These topics describe how to prestage devices with exceptions:

  1. Discovering Device Roles
  2. Excluding Devices from N-PE Role Assignment
  3. Changing the Loopback Address of an N-PE Device
  4. Excluding Interfaces from UNI Role Assignments
  5. Committing Your Prestaging Choices

Discovering Device Roles

To discover unassigned PE devices, follow these steps:

  1. In the Ethernet Activator task ribbon, select the Prestage Devices workspace icon.
  2. In the task ribbon, select the Manage Device Roles task icon.
  3. In the task ribbon, select the Discover Roles task icon.

    The Role Discovery Status window shows the discovery of unassigned devices found in the database, as shown in the following example:

    Image s600355.gif

    The Targets Processed box contains a progress bar, which when finished, shows how many unassigned devices the Ethernet Activator software found in its database.

    The graph portion of this example shows how many of the unassigned devices the prestaging rules determined could be assigned the N-PE role and how many could be assigned the P role. The Discovered bar indicates devices that had no MPLS role assigned but for which the Ethernet Activator software was unable to recommend a role.

  4. To view the devices for which the Ethernet Activator software recommends the PE role, click on the blue bar.

    The Assign Roles screen appears, similar to the following example:

    Image s600356.gif

    The question mark on each icon indiactes that the device role has not yet been assigned.

  5. Choose your next step:

Excluding Devices from N-PE Role Assignment

The rules-driven process that the Ethernet Activator software uses to discover device roles recommends the correct roles in most cases. To exclude a device from N-PE role assignment, follow these steps:

  1. In the Ethernet Activator task ribbon, select the Prestage Devices workspace icon.
  2. In the task ribbon, select the Manage Device Roles task icon.
  3. In the task ribbon, select the Assign Roles task icon.

    The results of the most recent role discovery operation appear.

  4. In the Assign Roles screen, select the N-PE device that you want to exclude from role assignment. To exclude several N-PE devices, use the multiple selection capability.
  5. In the Actions panel, select Exclude from NPE Role.

    The Assign Roles screen refreshes. The excluded devices are no longer visible.

Changing the Loopback Address of an N-PE Device

The Ethernet Activator software allows you to change the loopback address of an N-PE device to that of a different loopback unit.

Note: Although Junos software allows you to assign multiple loopback addresses to the same loopback unit, the Junos Space software recognizes only the first address assigned to the loopback unit. Therefore, when you change the loopback address of an N-PE device, it must be to that of a different loopback unit.

To change the loopback address of an N-PE device, follow these steps:

  1. In the Ethernet Activator task ribbon, select the Prestage Devices workspace icon.
  2. In the task ribbon, select the Manage Device Roles task icon.
  3. In the task ribbon, select the Assign Roles task icon.

    The results of the most recent role discovery operation appear, including any changes you have subsequently made to your prestaging data.

    Repeat steps 4 through 7 for each device for which you want to change the loopback address:

  4. In the Assign Roles screen, select the device for which you want to change the loopback addess.
  5. In the Actions panel, select Modify Loopback Address.
  6. In the Modify Loopback Address window, select the loopback address you want to use.
  7. Click Modify.

    The quick look panel shows the new loopback address.

Excluding Interfaces from UNI Role Assignments

To exclude interfaces from the list of interfaces that the prestaging rules determined were suitable for use as UNIs, follow these steps:

  1. In the Ethernet Activator task ribbon, select the Prestage Devices workspace icon.
  2. In the task ribbon, select the Manage Device Roles task icon.
  3. In the task ribbon, select the Assign Roles task icon.

    The results of the most recent role discovery operation appear, including any changes you have subsequently made to your prestaging data.

    Repeat steps 4 through 9 for each device for which you want to exclude some recommended UNI selections:

  4. In the Assign Roles screen, select the device for which you want to manage UNIs.
  5. In the Actions panel, select Manage Device UNIs.

    The Manage Device UNIs screen shows all the device interfaces for the selected device and indicates those that the Ethernet Activator software recommends for use as UNIs. The following graphic provides an example:

    Image s600365.gif
  6. In the Manage Device UNIs screen, select the UNI you want to exclude.

    To exclude more than one UNI, use the multiple selection capability.

  7. In the Actions panel, select Exclude from UNI Role.
  8. In the Actions panel, click Return to Assign Roles to return to the Assign Roles screen.

Committing Your Prestaging Choices

This procedure provides instructions for assigning the N-PE role to selected devices and committing all device prestaging information to the database.

Before performing these steps, you must complete the following tasks:

  • Discover devices that have not yet been assigned an MPLS role.
  • Exclude from the list of discovered devices those devices that you do not want to assign the N-PE role to.
  • On each device, exclude the interfaces you do not want used as UNIs.

To commit your prestaging choices to the database, follow these steps:

  1. In the Ethernet Activator task ribbon, select the Prestage Devices workspace icon.
  2. In the task ribbon, select the Manage Device Roles task icon.
  3. In the task ribbon, select the Assign Roles task icon.
  4. Examine the list of devices to be sure these are the devices you want to assign the N-PE role.
  5. Use the multiple selection capability to select all devices. The quick look panel lists all selected devices.
  6. Click Assign NPE Role.
  7. In the confirmation screen, click Assign.
  8. To view the assignment status, in the Job Details screen, click the job ID of the assignment job.

    The Manage Jobs screen shows the progress and status of the role assignment job. See Viewing Scheduled Jobs for details.

    While the job is ongoing, you cannot make additional assignments from the Assign Roles screen. The Assign NPE Role action is dimmed to indicate you cannot select it.

Published: 2009-12-16