Programmability Configuration Guide for Cisco IOS XE Cupertino 17.9.x

Overview

This guide provides detailed instructions for configuring programmability features on Cisco IOS XE Cupertino 17.9.x. It covers automated provisioning, shell and scripting environments, model-driven programmability protocols, and application hosting capabilities.

Provisioning

The guide details Zero-Touch Provisioning (ZTP), which automates device deployment in heterogeneous environments. It explains how devices boot, search for DHCP servers, and download Python scripts for initial configuration. It also covers iPXE, an enhanced network boot environment that supports IPv4/IPv6 and various boot image download methods.

Shells and Scripting

The Guest Shell is a virtualized Linux-based environment designed for running custom applications and Python scripts for device management. The guide provides instructions on enabling, accessing, and managing the Guest Shell, including security considerations and hardware requirements. It also details the Python API and EEM Python Module, which allow programmatic access to the device CLI.

Model-Driven Programmability

This section covers modern management protocols including NETCONF, RESTCONF, and gNMI. It explains how to configure these protocols, manage service-level ACLs, and use model-driven telemetry to stream data to collectors. It also includes information on In-Service Model Updates for updating YANG data models.

Application Hosting

The guide describes the Application Hosting framework, which allows running Docker-based applications on Cisco devices. It covers configuration for front-panel and management ports, resource management, and specific integrations like the ThousandEyes Enterprise Agent. It also details high availability scenarios for application hosting in stacked environments.

Safety and Maintenance

Users are advised to follow standard safety practices when working with electrical circuitry. The guide includes troubleshooting tips for various features and provides information on how to manage software updates and configurations to ensure system stability.