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Add Generic System

When you want to connect your Apstra-managed fabric to a system that's not managed in the Apstra environment, you use generic systems and external generic systems. These systems can be external routers, firewalls, or whatever else you want; you specify their roles with tags. If the system is part of a rack topology, we call it a generic system. If the system is not part of a rack topology, we call it an external generic system. This page shows you a couple ways that you can add generic systems.

As of Apstra version 4.1.2, you can add generic aystems to access switches.

Note:

You can also create generic systems during the Design phase before creating your blueprint. For more information, see Rack Types.

Add Generic System (from Topology View)

  1. From the blueprint, navigate to Staged > Physical > Topology and select the node to add the new generic system to.
  2. Select the node check box to see the operations available for that node (and that you have permissions for).
    Note:

    You can also get to the selection page from the Nodes view. From the blueprint, navigate to Staged > Physical > Nodes, click the node name in the table, then click the node name that appears at the top of the Selection panel (on the right side of the page).
  3. Click Add generic system and enter a unique label and (optional) hostname.
  4. Select the representation for the new node (none, logical device, or logical device with interface map), then select the appropriate logical device or interface map from the drop-down list, as applicable. (Logical devices allow you to define port roles.)
  5. Enter the port channel ID min and max.
  6. Enter tags (optional) to identify the role(s) of the new generic system, then click Next.
  7. Select an available port and transformation. The gray Add Link button turns green.
  8. Click Add Link. The link is added to the link table.
  9. Click Create to stage the change and return to the Topology view.

When you're ready to activate your changes, commit them from the Uncommitted tab.

Copy Existing Generic System (from Topology View)

  1. From the blueprint, navigate to Staged > Physical > Topology and select a node that has the generic system that you want to copy.
  2. Select the node check box to see the operations available for that node (and that you have permissions for).
    Note:

    You can also get to the selection page from the Nodes view. From the blueprint, navigate to Staged > Physical > Nodes, click the node name in the table, then click the node name that appears at the top of the Selection panel (on the right side of the page).
  3. Click Copy existing generic and select the generic system from the drop-down list. The link table appear.
  4. Click Select interface to go to ports.
  5. Select a port and transformation, then click Confirm to return to the dialog.
  6. Click Submit to stage the change and return to the Topology view.

When you're ready to activate your changes, commit them from the Uncommitted tab.