Cisco|Crosswork|Network|Automation is a microservices platform that brings together streaming telemetry, big data, and model-driven application programming interfaces (APIs) to redefine how service providers conduct network operations. Cisco Crosswork Network Automation offers a platform to collaborate, and build an application ecosystem around on-box innovation.

The Cisco Crosswork Network Automation product suite is a highly scalable and efficient operations automation framework. It enables service providers to quickly deploy intent-driven, closed-loop operations. You can plan, implement, run, monitor, and perfect your service provider network automation, and gain mass awareness, augmented intelligence, and proactive control for data-driven, outcome-based network automation.

Streamline Network Operation Processes

Automation plays a significant role in helping organizations move more quickly by streamlining operational processes such as:

• Executing workflows at machine speed with high operational efficiency and repeatable quality
• Bridging and synchronizing business and Information Technology (IT) processes to cut gaps and improve customer experience
• Supplying analytics to improve decision-making and shorten fault resolution times

Lab, Test, and Build in the New Sandbox

Now you can lab, test and build with the new Cisco Crosswork Automation Sandbox. This new sandbox lets you:

• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) in real time
• Prepare network changes triggered by changes in KPIs
• Roll out these changes automatically
• Automated change-impact and security analysis

Production Crosswork Suite within the Sandbox

You will find a "production" Crosswork suite deployed to manage the multi-platform network within the sandbox lab. This network is made up of:

• Cisco Crosswork cluster
• Cisco Crosswork Data Gateway (CDG)
• Cisco Network Service Orchestrator (NSO)
• Cisco IOS XE/XR routers

Included in the sandbox is a new use case which will help understanding the Applications of Health Insights and Change Automation.  In this scenario, we want to showcase how to attach and detach the devices from Crosswork Data Gateway (CDG). As a part of the scenario, we will also showcase how to change the credentials at the device level.

• Scenario 1: Device Level Management: Showcase how to attach and detach the devices from Crosswork Data Gateway (CDG). As a part of the scenario, we will also highlight how to change the credentials at the device level
• Scenario 2: Health Insights Application Overview: See how Cisco Crosswork Health Insights offers real-time, telemetry-based Key Performance Indicator (KPI) monitoring and intelligent alerting.
• Scenario 2A: Create and enable KPI profiles: In this scenario, KPIs are provisioned on IOS-XR devices via a KPI Profile. The KPIs can be either GNMI, MDT, or SNMP protocol based. We can then enable the KPIs and verify that the respective data are being collected and visually presented on Health Insights
• Scenario 3: Network Automation Application Overview Learn how to codify workflows using parameterized Plays and stitch them into Playbooks for execution in a step-by-step or single-step fashion.
• Scenario 3A: Playbook execution. Now we have our code, let us define an automation task to achieve the intended network states in Change Automation using Playbooks

Begin transforming your network operations today

Here are resources you can use to begin transforming your network operations:

• Cisco Crosswork Network Automation Sandbox
• Cisco Crosswork Sandbox Runbook
• Cisco Crosswork Network Automation Developer Hub
• Code Exchange for Crosswork
• Postman API collection for Crosswork 

We'd love to hear what you think. Ask a question or leave a comment below.
And stay connected with Cisco DevNet on social!

LinkedIn | Twitter @CiscoDevNet | Facebook | YouTube Channel