Cloud Automation Using Contrail (CAC)

Course Level

Cloud Automation Using Contrail (CAC) is an intermediate-level course.

Intended Audience

This course benefits individuals responsible for working with software-defined networking solutions in data center, service provider, and enterprise network environments.

Prerequisites

The prerequisites for this course are as follows:

• Basic TCP/IP skills;
• General understanding of data center virtualization;
• Basic understanding of the Junos operating system;
• Completion of the Juniper Cloud Fundamentals (JCF) course;
• Recommended completion of the Data Center Fabric with EVPN and VXLAN (ADCX) course or equivalent knowledge; and
• Recommended basic knowledge of object-oriented programming and Python scripting.

Objectives

After successfully completing this course, you should be able to:

• Explain the role of Contrail SDN Controller.
• List available Contrail solutions.
• Describe the purpose of an orchestrator.
• Describe the basics of Kubernetes.
• Describe the basics of VMware vCenter.
• Identify the function of each of the main OpenStack Projects.
• Describe the purpose of Contrail.
• Explain how the versions of Contrail differ.
• Discuss Contrail related solutions.
• Describe the functions of the Contrail vRouter and Contrail Controller.
• Explain the role of the control, configuration, and analytic nodes.
• Understand how to monitor the Contrail cluster health.
• Configure and deploy virtual DNS and IPAMs.
• Create virtual networks.
• Create network policies to control the flow of traffic.
• Explain the routing behavior of an IP Fabric.
• Describe the steps to onboard a Greenfield IP Fabric.
• Describe the steps to onboard a Brownfield IP Fabric.
• Describe the steps to add a device to an existing fabric.
• Describe the various commands to troubleshoot the onboarding of an IP Fabric.
• Explain the benefits of VXLAN in the data center.
• Describe EVPN signaling for VXLAN.
• Describe how CEM can bridge between a VM and a BMS.
• Implement bridging between VMs and BMSs using VXLAN and EVPN signaling.
• Describe EVPN signaling for VXLAN routing in the Spine.
• Describe how to enable central routing using CEM.
• Describe EVPN signaling for DCI.
• Describe how to enable DCI using CEM.
• Create physical gateways.
• Connect to a third-party physical device.
• Implement fabric administration operations.
• Describe architecture and capabilities of Contrail Security.
• Configure main Contrail Security Tags.
• Configure Contrail Security Policies and Policy Sets.
• Explain the benefits of Contrail Insights.
• Explain the operation and use of Contrail Insights.
• Explain the purpose and use of the different Insights features.
• Configure Contrail Insights alarms and composite alarms.
• Describe how to use the Contrail Insights dashboard to examine the state of the network.
• Use Contrail Insights Charts to monitor Contrail and OpenStack workloads.
• Explain the benefits of Contrail Insights capacity planning.
• Explain how to use Contrail Insights heat maps.
• Create Contrail Insights reports and service monitoring functionalities.
• Create Contrail Insights alarms and Composite alarms.
• Explain the purpose of JTI.
• Discuss native JTI sensors.
• Explain OpenConfig and gRPC sensors.
• Configure native JTI and OpenConfig sensors to work with Contrail Insights.

Course Contents

Day 1

Chapter 1: Course Introduction

Chapter 2: SDN and Contrail

• Review of SDN
• Contrail Basics
• Contrail Advantages, Capabilities, and Features
• Contrail Products and Solutions
• Contrail Use Cases
• Contrail Command
• Lab 1: Contrail Command Walkthrough

Chapter 3: Orchestration Fundamentals

• Orchestrator Overview
• Kubernetes Orchestrator
• VMware vCenter Orchestrator
• OpenStack Orchestrator
• Lab 2: Instantiating Virtual Workloads

Day 2

Chapter 4: Contrail Architecture Fundamentals

• Contrail Architecture Overview
• Contrail Management and Analytics
• Contrail Control Plane Communications
• Contrail Data Plane Communications
• Basic Contrail Troubleshooting
• Lab 3: Exploring and Troubleshooting the Contrail vRouter and SDN Controller

Chapter 5: Contrail Configuration

• Contrail Configuration Methods
• Configuring DNS and IPAM
• Configuring the Metadata Service
• Configuring Virtual Networks
• Configuring Network Policies and Security Groups
• Contrail Configuration API
• Lab 4: Configuring Virtual Networks and Policies

Chapter 6: IP Fabric Automation

• IP Fabric Review
• Greenfield Fabric Automation
• Brownfield Fabric Automation
• Modifying Existing Fabrics
• Troubleshooting Fabric Automation
• Lab 5: IP Fabric Automation

Day 3

Chapter 7: VM to BMS Bridging

• VXLAN Review
• EVPN Signaling for BMS to BMS VXLAN Forwarding
• Contrail VM to BMS Bridging
• Server/Instance example
• Virtual Port Groups
• Lab 6: VM to BMS Bridging

Chapter 8: VXLAN Routing

• EVPN Signaling for Central Routing
• Central Routing Example
• EVPN Signaling for Edge Routing
• Edge Routing Example
• Lab 7: VXLAN Routing

Chapter 9: Data Center Interconnect

• DCI Overview
• DCI Options for a VXLAN Overlay using Contrail Automation
• DCI Example Using Contrail Automation
• Lab 8: Data Center Interconnect

Day 4

Chapter 10: Interacting with External Networks

• DC Gateway Use Case
• Implementing a DC Gateway
• Third-Party Devices Use Case Overview
• Connecting to a Third-Party Device Use Case
• Lab 9: DC Gateway

Chapter 11: Fabric Administration

• Generic Device Operations
• Return Material Authorization
• Maintenance Mode
• Hitless Fabric Upgrade
• Lab 10: Fabric Administration

Chapter 12: Contrail Security

• The Need for Contrail Security
• Contrail Security Configuration
• Lab 11: Contrail Security

Day 5

Chapter 13: Contrail Insights

• Contrail Insights Overview
• Dashboard and Settings
• Charts
• Heat Map
• Reports
• Plan
• Contrail Insights API

Chapter 14: Contrail Insights Alarms

• Alarms
• Composite Alarms
• Lab 12: Implementing Insights Features

Chapter 15: Junos Telemetry Interface

• JTI Overview
• OpenConfig and gRPC Sensors for JTI
• Native Sensors for JTI
• Lab 13: Implementing JTI with Insights