Implementing & Administering Cisco Catalyst Center for Assurance

The primary audience for this course is as follows:

- IT Solution Architects

- Network Security Architects

- Networking Admin and Operations

- Networking Field Engineers

Upon completing this course, the learner will be able to meet these overall objectives:

• Explain Catalyst Center architecture, features, and workflows (Design, Policy, Provision, Assurance)
• Install and configure Catalyst Center appliance
• Discover and provision devices using Catalyst Center templates and profiles
• Implement Assurance services for network, client, and application health, including Energy Management
• Integrate Catalyst Center with Cisco ISE, Cisco Secure Access DNS Security, ThousandEyes, and Splunk
• Utilize AI Analytics and ML capabilities for predictive insights
• Perform maintenance tasks including reporting, backup, and software image management (SWIM)

Module 1: Introduction to Cisco Catalyst Center Assurance

• Catalyst Center architecture and components
• Intent-based networking principles
• Catalyst Center Assurance use cases
• Integration with Cisco ISE
• Energy Management overview and benefits

Module 2: Design

• Enterprise hierarchy and site design
• Network settings and IPAM
• Software Image Management (SWIM) workflows
• Wireless profiles and guest portals
• AAA, SNMP, Syslog configuration
• Energy Management configuration in design phase

Module 3: Discovery and Provision

• Device discovery protocols (CDP, LLDP, SNMP)
• Plug and Play onboarding
• Template-based provisioning (Day-0 and Day-N)
• Assigning devices to sites and applying profiles
• Energy telemetry activation during provisioning

Module 4: Monitoring Device, Client, and Application Health

• Telemetry and Assurance dashboards
• Wired/wireless client health analysis
• Application performance monitoring
• Energy Management telemetry and reporting
• Custom health score tuning

Module 5: Application Visibility and Cisco Secure Access DNS Security Integration

• Application visibility workflows
• Cisco Secure Access DNS Security overview
• Integration steps and policy mapping
• Use cases for DNS-layer protection

Module 6: Troubleshooting and Insights

• Detecting issues and trends
• Root cause analysis with Assurance
• Integration with external monitoring tools

Module 7: Assurance Troubleshooting Tools

• Sensor tests and configuration
• Intelligent Capture workflows
• Spectrum Analysis for RF troubleshooting

Module 8: Catalyst Center and ThousandEyes

• ThousandEyes integration for end-to-end visibility
• Application path visualization
• Use cases for SaaS and WAN monitoring

Module 9: AI Analytics and Machine Learning

• Predictive insights and anomaly detection
• Endpoint Analytics enhancements
• AI-driven recommendations for remediation

Module 10: Splunk Integration for Assurance

• Catalyst Center API integration with Splunk
• Telemetry export and visualization
• Dashboards and alerting in Splunk
• Use cases for advanced observability

Module 11: Catalyst Center Maintenance

• Reports and compliance
• Backup and restore procedures
• SWIM operations and image compliance
• System health checks and upgrade planning

Lab Outline

• Lab 1: Navigate Catalyst Center GUI and dashboards
• Lab 2: Integrate Cisco ISE with Catalyst Center
• Lab 3: Design network hierarchy and configure settings
• Lab 4: Discover and provision wired devices
• Lab 5: Plug and Play onboarding with templates
• Lab 6: Configure Catalyst 9800 WLC and wireless SSIDs
• Lab 7: Apply Assurance telemetry profiles
• Lab 8: Monitor application traffic and visibility
• Lab 9: Cisco Secure Access DNS Security integration
• Lab 10: ThousandEyes integration for application visibility
• Lab 11: AI Endpoint Analytics and predictive insights
• Lab 12: Energy Management telemetry configuration
• Lab 13: Splunk integration and dashboard creation
• Lab 14: SWIM image upgrade/downgrade
• Lab 15: Backup Catalyst Center configuration

• Practical experience with LAN/WAN management
• Familiarity with Cisco IOS-XE concepts