The Automation Hour - 09

Topic

• Cisco Switch Qualification
  • The Manual Proces (RUCM)
  • The Automated Proces (QLLX)

Presenters

• RUCM
• QLLX

Cisco Switch Qualification Process

(3:04) Rune Colin explained the manual process of Cisco switch qualification, which involves collecting various pieces of evidence manually, such as running and startup configurations, visibility on a world map, device status, neighboring evidence, ether channel, tag acts configuration, routing Neighbourship, and hardware report.

Manual Evidence Collection

(4:24) Rune Colin demonstrated the manual process of collecting evidence for switch qualification, including taking screenshots of various configurations and attaching them to a ServiceNow ticket. This process is time-consuming and involves multiple steps.

Automation of Switch Qualification

(11:04) Lasse presented the automated process for switch qualification, which involves exporting switch configuration and displaying it in the user interface. The automation significantly reduces the time required for qualification by performing live queries to SolarWinds and submitting the data to ServiceNow.

Benefits of Automation

(18:15) Lasse and Rune Colin discussed the benefits of automation, including saving time for both the technician and the reviewer, reducing back-and-forth communication, and improving overall efficiency. The automation is expected to save a significant amount of time, especially with the upcoming qualification of over 1000 switches.

Future Improvements

(22:03) Irshad and Lasse discussed the potential for extending the automation to include firewall qualifications and capturing evidence for multiple devices before and after changes. This would further enhance the efficiency and usefulness of the automation tool.

Review Process

(25:01) Simon Amby inquired about the review process for the automated switch qualification. Rune Colin explained that the current process involves a peer review by a coworker who writes a work note in ServiceNow. There are no concrete plans to formalize the review process, but it is part of a larger project to automate the end-to-end process.

Timeline for Implementation

(29:53) Allan Blücher asked about the timeline for implementing the automated switch qualification. Rune Colin mentioned that the goal is to have it established by June, with further discussions and fine-tuning taking place in the meantime.

Acknowledgment and Next Steps

(33:40) Flemming and Simon Amby acknowledged the efforts of Rune Colin and Lasse in developing the automation tool. They emphasized the importance of collaboration between different teams to integrate the tool into existing technologies and processes. The meeting concluded with wishes for a happy Easter and a nice weekend.