Simplify network management with the BlueCat Cisco DNA Center integration
BlueCat has teamed up with Cisco to deliver simplified network management through an integration with DNA Center, Cisco’s intent-based networking tool.
Key takeawaysThis key takeaway was generated through LLMs crawling the page and coming up with an overview of the content.The article describes an integration between Cisco DNA Center and BlueCat that automates IP address management to support intent-based networking (IBN). It explains that Cisco DNA Center relies on programmable networks and REST APIs to automate provisioning but requires automated IP address management to avoid manual static assignments and operational errors. By using BlueCat’s centralized DNS/DHCP/IPAM and the BlueCat Gateway workflow, Cisco DNA Center can automatically allocate, validate, and mark IP addresses as “in use,” improving orchestration, reducing help-desk steps, and preventing address conflicts that could disrupt the network.
Why does Cisco DNA Center need an external IP address management system like BlueCat?
Cisco DNA Center depends on a programmable network and automated back-end services to fulfill intent-based networking objectives. Many small and medium networks use decentralized IP address management that lacks automation, forcing Cisco DNA Center users to assign IPs and subnets manually, create help-desk tickets, or reserve blocks for DNA Center use. An external, centralized IPAM such as BlueCat provides the automation and single source of truth required to allocate, validate, and mark addresses as in use, eliminating manual steps and preventing address conflicts that could otherwise undermine network automation and reliability.
How does the BlueCat integration technically work with Cisco DNA Center?
The integration uses the BlueCat Gateway automation platform and a downloadable workflow from BlueCat Labs’ GitHub repository. Once deployed in Gateway, the workflow connects to Cisco DNA Center via its REST-based APIs to create bi-directional information flow between the systems. When a DNA Center action has IP implications, it queries BlueCat Address Manager to assign an available IP, and BlueCat marks that address as “in use.” Complete address metadata and usage details are then visible in the Cisco DNA Center UI, ensuring synchronized state and preventing duplicate assignments.
What operational benefits does the Cisco DNA Center–BlueCat integration provide?
Integrating BlueCat’s centralized DNS/DHCP/IPAM with Cisco DNA Center removes manual IP allocation and the need for coordination with network teams, thus reducing help-desk tickets and operational delays. It ensures addresses used by DNA Center are marked and reserved in BlueCat, preventing accidental re-assignment and the network outages such conflicts can cause. The combined solution extends intent-based networking deeper into enterprise operations by enabling automated, accurate orchestration from a single pane of glass, improving visibility and confidence in network changes.
Cisco DNA Center uses intent-based networking to dramatically simplify network management. An intent-based network (IBN) captures business intent and aligns the network continuously and dynamically to changing business needs. An intent-based network depends on a programmable network. But network programmability is not just about writing applications that help in network provisioning and troubleshooting. APIs that let network services coordinate among themselves are a key part of a programmable network enhancing IT workflows.
By automating back-end configuration and deployment steps, Cisco DNA Center offers users the ability to stand up and manage large-scale operations with just a few clicks. Furthermore, Cisco DNA Center’s open platform capabilities offer REST-based APIs. This type of API allows programmatic integrations with external business applications and IT management systems.
Integrating IP address management
IP address management is one area in which Cisco DNA Center depends on external systems. Most small to medium-sized networks use decentralized solutions for IP address management. One of the downfalls is it does not support the automated functionality Cisco DNA Center requires.
Without an automated solution for IP address management, Cisco DNA Center requires users to statically assign IPs and subnets manually. More often than not, this requires help desk tickets, discussions with the network team about which IP addresses are available, and the need to “block off” IP addresses specifically for use by Cisco DNA Center.
Many organizations are now moving to BlueCat’s centralized and automated solutions to manage their DNS, DHCP, and IPAM at an enterprise level. Combing an API-based integration with this single source of truth for IP address management and support for automation is powerful. Cisco DNA Center can extend the reach of intent-based networking deeper into enterprise operations. It eliminates manual steps in the process of network management.
The integration with BlueCat allows for seamless, automated allocation and validation of IP addresses within Cisco DNA Center. This saves users the need to assign IP addresses manually or confirm the availability of IP addresses with the network team. It also prevents IP addresses used by Cisco DNA Center from being mistakenly assigned to other network devices. This eliminates a source of errors which can bring down the network.
How it works
The BlueCat integration with Cisco DNA Center operates through the BlueCat Gateway automation platform. Users can download a freely available workflow from the BlueCat Labs GitHub repository. Once that workflow is deployed in Gateway, it connects through Cisco DNA Center APIs. This creates a bi-directional information flow between the two systems.
When Cisco DNA Center users perform a task with IP address implications, the software reaches back to the BlueCat Address Manager to assign an available IP address. The IP address is marked as “in use” within the BlueCat Address Manager. This ensures that it is not assigned to any other device. Complete information about the IP address resides in the Cisco DNA Center user interface, which includes:
- How the IP address is being used
- The device assigned to it
- Other metadata
Fulfilling the promise of IBN
The spread of intent-based networking increasingly depends on the ability to reach into back-end systems like DNS. With the integration of Cisco DNA Center and BlueCat DNS solutions, core network functions can finally support user-friendly, enterprise-grade orchestration tools.
“We’ve heard it loud and clear: administrators want the convenience and visibility that comes with managing the network from a single pane of glass,” says Andrew Wertkin, CTO at BlueCat. “That’s why this new integration with Cisco DNA Center is so great for our users. They can orchestrate even more of their network, with the confidence that their actions are reflected accurately across the enterprise.”
Learn more about the integration on Cisco DevNet. Then download the Cisco DNA Center-BlueCat integration on the BlueCat Labs GitHub repository.
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BlueCat provides core services and solutions that help our customers and their teams deliver change-ready networks. With BlueCat, organizations can build reliable, secure, and agile mission-critical networks that can support transformation initiatives such as cloud adoption and automation. BlueCat’s growing portfolio includes services and solutions for automated and unified DDI management, network security, multicloud management, and network observability and health.
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