Topology

Topology Overview

Topologies can be viewed at three levels of detail: grouped, compact, and full. (Grouped and compact are new in AOS version 3.3.0.)

When a node is selected from the topology view (by clicking its element in the topology, or by selecting it from the Selected Nodes drop-down list), the node topology is shown. The selected node can be viewed in two different ways: neighbors view and links view.

From the blueprint, navigate to Staged / Physical / Topology.

Grouped

• To show servers, click the Show Servers check box.
• To show node name (and hostname as applicable) hover over an element (square).
• To show node details, select the node by either clicking its element or by selecting it from the Selected Node drop-down list.

Compact

• To show servers, click the Show Servers check box.
• To show node name (and hostname as applicable) hover over an element (square).
• To show node details, select the node by either clicking its element or by selecting it from the Selected Node drop-down list.

Full

• To make topology elements larger, click the Expand Nodes check box.
• To show the links between elements, click the Show Links check box.
• To show node name (and hostname as applicable) hover over an element.
• To change the labels (name, hostname, S/N) that are shown in the topology, select a different label from the Topology Label drop-down list.
• To show node details, select the node by either clicking its element or by selecting it from the Selected Node drop-down list.

Neighbors View

• Aggregated server-leaf links are encircled (new in AOS version 3.3.0).
• To show unused ports, click the Show Unused Ports check box (new in AOS version 3.3.0).
• To change the labels (name, hostname, S/N) that are shown in the topology, select a different label from the Topology Label drop-down list.
• Choose to show all neighbors or only specific types (leaf, spine, L2 server, access, etc.).

Links View

Adding Links

Tip

When adding a link, you can review the config changes in the incremental config to evaluate the changes.

Add Server Links

You can add L2 servers or L3 servers to a running blueprint by adding a server link (as of AOS version 3.2). You can link to a new server, or to an existing one to make it dual-homed. In an MLAG configuration, server links and external links must be symmetrical to both switches in the MLAG. When changing a server from single- to dual-homed, both links must be of the same speed.

1. From the blueprint, navigate to Staged / Physical / Topology and make a selection.

2. From the neighbors view or the links view of a leaf selection, click Add links, then select Add server links.

3. Click in the Server field.

   • To make an existing server dual-homed, select it from the drop-down list.
   • For a new server, click Add new server.

4. In the port layout, select an unused server port on the leaf logical device.

   

5. Select the interface.

6. For Select Source, select Logical Device.

7. In the drop-down list, select the appropriate server logical device.

8. Click Add Link.

   

9. If you’re adding a new server, enter a System Group Name.

10. Select/enter a Logical Link Name and LAG Mode.

11. Click Add to stage the addition.

Add Access Switch Links

Access switches have limited support. Apstra does not recommend using this feature in a production network. See Adding Access Layer Switches for more information.

Add Leaf Peer Links

You can add MLAG peer links as of AOS version 3.2.

Important

Do not use MLAG peer Links if the platform used does not support it. Currently, SONiC devices do not support MLAG L3 peers.

1. From the blueprint, navigate to Staged / Physical / Topology.
2. Select a leaf that is an MLAG member.
3. From the neighbors view or the links view of the selection, click Add links, then click Add leaf peer links.
4. Select the link type.
   • Peer Link - adds a link between the two leafs and adds a BGP session (between the two leafs) in the default vrf only.
   • L3 Peer Link - adds a link between the two leafs and adds a BGP session (between the two leafs) in the default vrf and in non-default vrfs.
5. Select an unused port for each MLAG member. (Only unused ports are selectable). When a port has been selected for each MLAG member, the Add Link button becomes clickable.
6. Click Add Link.
7. Click Add to stage the addition.

Add External Router Links

You can import external routers and assign external router links from the topology selection view (as of AOS version 3.2).

1. From the blueprint, navigate to Staged / Physical / Topology and make a selection.

2. From the neighbors view or the links view of a selection, click Add links, then click Add external router links.

   

3. Select an appropriate port on the leaf switch with the External Router role (defined in the respective interface map), then click Add Link.

4. If using an MLAG, select a port on the other MLAG member.

5. Add additional links, as needed.

6. Select the external router from the drop-down list. If the external router that you need has not been imported yet, check the Show routers from Global Catalog check box, then select the external router. It will be imported into the blueprint.

7. Choose Layer 2 or Layer 3 connectivity.

8. Click Add to add stage the addition.

Manually Overriding IP Addresses on External Links

When the remote end has already been configured and cannot be changed, you may want to manually override the external link IP addresses.

1. From the blueprint, navigate to Staged / Physical / Topology.

2. Select the link to modify.

   

3. Click the Edit button and make your changes.

4. Click Save to stage the changes.

If you are using external routers in an EVPN blueprint, you must add external connectivity points (ECPs) in the security zone.

Editing Links

Update Logical Links

To edit the server logical link for existing leaf-server links follow the steps below.

1. From the blueprint, navigate to Staged / Physical / Topology and make a selection.

2. From the neighbors view or the links view of a selection, click Edit links, then click Update logical links and LAG Mode.

3. Change logical link, as needed.

   

4. Click Update to stage the change.

Update LAG Mode

The LAG mode between a server and a leaf can be changed. A common example is if an individual dual-connected server was configured with LACP, and you want it to have separate, individually configured layer-2 links. If the server links are in a “LAG” mode (e.g. LACP (Active), and you would like to change it to no LAG, follow the next steps:

1. From the blueprint, navigate to Staged / Physical / Topology and make a selection.

2. From the neighbors view or the links view of a selection, click Edit links, then click Update logical links and LAG Mode.

3. Select the involved links to be changed and choose the new LAG Mode per link based or from the Apply to selection option (see picture below). LAG Mode must be No LAG.

4. Change the Logical Link to different values across the links as it is highlighted in the example from the picture below. If any of the Logical Link values are the same when changing the LAG Mode to No LAG, you will receive an error.

5. When the Logical Link values are changed, all virtual network assignments for the port(s) are lost and will need to be reassigned. If changing a dual-connected server to LAG Mode No LAG, it is recommended to only change the second Logical Link value. Virtual network assignments will be retained on the first port.

6. Click Update and verify the new settings before committing the change.

   

If you would like to change from no LAG links to LAG Mode, follow the same steps, set the same Logical Link values in all the links belonging to the same group and select the desired LAG mode. Again, changing the Logical Link value will result in virtual network assignment to be lost. However, using an existing value will retain the virtual network assignment.

Change Link Speeds

1. From the blueprint, navigate to Staged / Physical / Topology and make a selection.

2. From the neighbors view or the links view of a selection, click Edit links, then click Change link speeds.

   

3. Change link speeds, as needed.

4. Click Update to stage the change.

Deleting Links

External router links, server links, and MLAG peer links can be removed as of AOS version 3.2.

1. From the blueprint, navigate to Staged / Physical / Topology and make a selection.

2. From the links view of a selection, click the Delete button for the link to remove.

   

3. Click Delete to stage the deletion.