New and Changed Information

This chapter contains the following section:

New and Changed Information in Cisco DCNM, Release 11.5(3)

The following table provides an overview of the significant changes to this guide for this current release. The table does not provide an exhaustive list of all changes made to the guide or of the new features in this release.

Table 1. New and Changed Behavior in Cisco DCNM, Release 11.5(3)
Feature Description Where Documented

ThousandEyes Enterprise Agent

ThousandEyes Enterprise Agent collects network and application layer performance data when users access specific websites within monitored networks. It is used to run tests, check detailed aspects of network pathing and connectivity, status of network routing, monitor changes in intent, running configuration, and so on.

New and Changed Information in Cisco DCNM, Release 11.5(1)

The following table provides an overview of the significant changes to this guide for this current release. The table does not provide an exhaustive list of all changes made to the guide or of the new features in this release.

Table 2. New and Changed Behavior in Cisco DCNM, Release 11.5(1)
Feature Description Where Documented
Single-switch Configuration Restore

You can restore configuration for a Cisco Nexus switch in external and LAN classic fabrics from the Cisco DCNM Web UI. The information you restore at switch-level is extracted from the fabric-level backups. The switch-level restoration does not restore fabric-level intents and other configurations applied using the fabric settings. Only switch-level intents are restored.

Restoring a Switch
EPLD Golden Upgrade

From Cisco DCNM Release 11.5(1), DCNM supports EPLD golden upgrade as well. When you perform the EPLD upgrade, you have an option to choose the golden or primary region of the Nexus 9000 Series switches. You can view the EPLD golden upgrade notifications in the Events window. From the homepage of the Cisco DCNM Web UI, choose Monitor > Switch >Events.

EPLD Installation
PTP Monitoring Application

The Precision Time Protocol (PTP) is a time synchronization protocol for nodes that are distributed across a network. On a local area network, it achieves clock accuracy in the sub-microsecond range, making it suitable for measurement and control systems. In DCNM, PTP Monitoring can be installed as an application. This PTP monitoring application, which can be previously installed in Media Controller deployment can now be installed in LAN Fabric deployment as a preview feature. We recommend that you do not deploy this feature in production environments.

PTP Monitoring
Support for Simplified CLI Configuration for Brownfield Deployment

The Brownfield import in DCNM supports the simplified NX-OS VXLAN EVPN configuration CLIs.

Guidelines and Limitations
CloudSec Operational View

You can use the CloudSec Operational View tab in DCNM to check the operational status of the CloudSec sessions if CloudSec is enabled on the MSD fabric.

Viewing CloudSec Operational State

Sync up Out-of-Band Switch Interface Configurations with DCNM

You can use the host_port_resync policy to sync up any out-of-band switch interface level configurations (via CLI) with Cisco DCNM and subsequently manage it. Additionally, the vPC pair configurations are automatically detected and paired.

Sync up Out-of-Band Switch Interface Configurations with DCNM

Support for MACsec in Easy Fabric and eBGP Fabric

MACsec is supported in the Easy Fabric and eBGP Fabric on intra-fabric links. You need to enable MACsec on the fabric and on each required intra-fabric link to configure MACsec. Note that this is a preview feature in the Cisco DCNM Release 11.5(1).

MACsec Support in Easy Fabric and eBGP Fabric

Interface Group

You can create an interface group that allows grouping of host-facing interfaces at a fabric level. Specifically, you can create an interface group for physical Ethernet interfaces, L2 port-channels, and vPCs. You can attach or unattach multiple overlay networks to the interfaces in an interface group.

Interface Groups

L4-7 Services Enhancements

The following enhancements are introduced in DCNM Release 11.5(1):

  • You can specify an arbitrary network, that has not been defined in the top-down configuration, as a source or destination network in the service policy. This helps in streamlining policy enforcement for north-south traffic.

  • Layer 4-Layer 7 Service pushes static routes on all VTEPs, including service leaf switches, where the VRF being referenced in the static route is attached. This expedites service node failover with static routes.

  • The one-arm Virtual Network Function is supported.

  • Layer 4-Layer 7 Service REST APIs are accessible via DCNM packaged REST API documentation.

  • Bulk attachment, detachment, preview, and deployment of route peering and service policies is supported and they are limited up to 10 route peerings or 10 service policies only.

  • Audit History feature displays the logs for changes made to service nodes, route peering, and service policies.

Layer 4-Layer 7 Service

OpenStack Workload Visibility

OpenStack plugin application is provided by DCNM that helps you to monitor OpenStack Clusters. You can get visibility with respect to the physical network connectivity and virtualized workloads, and debug VM networking specific issues within the context of the data center. Note that this is a preview feature in the Cisco DCNM Release 11.5(1).

Support for L3 Gateway on Border for fabrics

From Cisco DCNM Release 11.5(1), the Enable L3 Gateway on Border field is not available as part of the MSD network settings. You can enable a Layer 3 gateway on the border switches at a fabric level.

Multi-Site Domain for VXLAN BGP EVPN Fabrics

Periodic report generation frequency

  • When you are creating a Periodic NVE VNI Counters report, the report generation frequency has to be set to 60 minutes or more. If the frequency is less than 60 minutes, an error message is displayed.

  • The generateReport method is invoked while generating a report and contains the report implementation logic. This method accepts any context object.

Pre-provisioning a device

From Cisco DCNM Release 11.5(1), extended configuration support to pre-provisioned devices.

Pre-provisioning Device

Enhanced Role-based Access control

New user roles, device-upg-admin, and access-admin are added.

  • A user with the device-upg-admin role can perform operations only in Image Management window.

  • A user with the access-admin role can perform operations only in Interface Manager window for all fabrics.

Switch-smart License

From Cisco DCNM Release 11.5(1), new license type is added for switches.

Switch-smart License

Inband Management in External Fabrics and LAN Classic Fabrics

Cisco DCNM allows you to import or discover switches with inband connectivity for External and LAN Classic fabrics in Brownfield deployments only. Enable inband management, per fabric, while configuring or editing the Fabric settings. You cannot import or discover switches with inband connectivity using POAP.

Inband Management in External Fabrics and LAN Classic Fabrics

Precision Time Protocol for External Fabrics or LAN Classic Fabrics

From Release 11.5(1), in the fabric settings for the External_Fabric_11_1 or LAN_Classic template, select the Enable Precision Time Protocol (PTP) check box to enable PTP across a fabric.

Precision Time Protocol for External Fabrics and LAN Classic Fabrics

Ability to Edit DNS, NTP Servers from the GUI

Cisco DCNM allows you to modify few network parameters from the Web UI. Modifying these will overwrites the previously configured parameters.

Network Preferences