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Generic Systems

Generic Systems Overview

You may want your Apstra-managed fabric to connect to a system that is not managed by Apstra. This system can be a server, firewall, or whatever else you want. A generic system can be connected to leaf devices within the same rack only. (For inter-rack connections to a leaf or devices connecting to a spine or superspine please refer to the Connect External Generic Systems guide.)

A generic system is represented as a device connected to one or more leafs in the same rack.

After you've staged your devices, you can add links to generic systems in one of two ways.

  • Method 1 - During the design phase when you create rack types, you can set the number of generic systems and define how they connect to leaf switches. When you use the rack type in a template that's used to create a blueprint, the generic system specifications are included in the blueprint.
  • Method 2 - You can add links to an existing generic system or create a new generic system as you add links to leaf switches in an existing blueprint.

See the steps for each method below:

Method 1 - Design Phase

With this method, you define generic systems at the design phase, before creating a template.
  1. From the left navigation menu, navigate to Design > Rack Type and click Create Rack Type.
  2. After you configure Leafs in the rack type (see Rack Types for more information), click the Generic Systems section and click Add new generic system group. You can add multiple generic systems with the same properties.
  3. Click Add logical link to specify the properties of the physical connectivity between the leaf and this group. Define one logical link per leaf.
  4. After creating the rack type, you can continue with the remaining steps prior to creating a blueprint. (See Get Started for entire workflow.)

Method 2 - Day 2

With this method, you create the generic system as a Day 2 operation, from an existing blueprint. You create this new device using the same functionality to add new links to an existing generic system.

  1. From the nodes view (Staged > Physical > Nodes), click the name of the leaf where you want to connect a generic system. Selection details appear in the right panel.
  2. On the left side of the screen, click Add links to open the dialog.
  3. Select the desired source. Existing system adds links to an existing device. Copy generic copies an existing generic including its links. New system creates a new generic system. If you select this last option, select Generic for generic systems. (For information about the other options, see the External Generic Systems guide).
  4. In the next window, specify the generic system parameters. Select AOS Logical Device to model the expected interfaces and speed, as well as the telemetry from the leaf nodes towards this new system. Or select AOS Logical Device With an Interface Map to model the system type if desired.
  5. After clicking Next in the previous window, create the new links for the generic system. Start by selecting the leaf port. Ports that are already in use are colored gray. Select an available port and transformation. Click the Device profile port and select its transformation.
  6. In Link properties, select the Logical Link and LAG mode from the drop-down lists. When the previous steps have been completed, the Add Link button turns green. Click it to add the link to the table on the right, then click Create.
When you're ready to activate your changes, commit them to the active blueprint.