• Nexus Dashboard
  • USER: admin
  • PASS: cisco.123
  • ND-1 Web Interface
  • ND-2 Web Interface
  • DEV Server
  • USER: cisco
  • PASS: cisco.123
  • ssh address: 10.0.208.32
  • VNC address: 10.0.208.32:5901
  • Switch Login
  • USER: admin
  • PASS: cisco.123
  • Site1-S1: 10.3.22.11
  • Site1-S2: 10.3.22.12
  • Site1-L1: 10.3.22.13
  • Site1-L2: 10.3.22.14
  • Site1-BL1: 10.3.22.15
  • Site1-BGW1: 10.3.22.16
  • Site2-S1: 10.3.22.17
  • Site2-L1: 10.3.22.18
  • Site2-BGW1: 10.3.22.19
  • Ext-Rtr: 10.3.22.10
  • Core-Rtr: 10.3.22.20
Initial Deploy
Nexus Dashboard

Brownfield Initial Deployment

Validate and deploy initial configuration changes to brownfield fabric switches.

Migration Mode

After import, brownfield switches remain in migration mode until initial deployment validates configurations against Nexus Dashboard policies and best practices, ensuring compatibility with ongoing management.

Configuration Sync

Initial deployment synchronizes switch configurations with Nexus Dashboard's intent-based model, identifying any drift from best practices and prompting for remediation before completing the onboarding process.

Step 1 - Trigger Initial Deployment for Brownfield Fabric

At the top right of the Site1 fabric, locate the fabric-level Actions button:

  1. Click Actions
  2. Click Recalculate and Deploy





    3. After clicking Recaculate and Deploy, Nexus Dashboard will generate the configuration based on intended configuration best practices per role from templates, your user input when you created the fabric initially, and the Brownfield configuration. The screenshots below give you some examples of the displays Nexus Dashboard provides you to know where the operation is at in the process for recalculating:

Step 2 - Deploy Initial Config

In the Deploy Configuration wizard, you can visually see that not many lines of configuration are required to be configured to your Brownfield fabric. The line here are to bring your Brownfield fabric into alignment with Nexus Dashboard:

  1. In the bottom right, click Deploy All

Step 3 - Exit Deploy Configuration

Upon a successful deployment, Nexus Dashboard's Deploy Configuration wizard should look as shown in the screenshot below; all green with SUCCESS messages and each switch's expected configuration progress bar also displaying as green and fully executed. If any error occurred, Nexus Dashboard will display a notification and the status reverted back to Out-of-Sync.

  1. After done reviewing the deployment progress, click Close in the bottom right

Step 4 - Review Switches

Back at the main Switches overview, each switch in your Site2 fabric should display a Config Status of In-Sync.

Step 5 - Review VRFs

Navigate to VRFs and review the VRF(s) imported from your Brownfield fabric:

  1. Click Segementation and security in the top navigation bar

    2. RedVRF is the VRF imported from the Brownfield fabric and now managed by Nexus Dashboard.
    Take note that the VRF ID (VNI ID) of 59000 resides within the range configured as part of your Site2 fabric settings that is 50000-59000.
  2. Click VRF
  3. Double Click RedVRF


Step 6 - Review VRF Attachments

  1. Click VRF Attachments

    2. RedVRF should show deployed to your Site2-L1 switch and have VLAN 2299 that resides in the VLAN range from your Site2 Fabric Settings that is 2000-2299.

Step 7 - Review Networks

Navigate to Networks and review the Network(s) imported from your Brownfield fabric:

  1. Click Networks
  2. Ensure Networks is selected in the left sidebar (this should be by default)

    3. Take note of the Network starting with the name Auto_Net_VNI. This name signifies a Network imported as part of a Brownfield import. Again, notice that the VNI 49000 and VLAN 2999 reside within the Networks VNI and VLAN pools respectively from your Fabric Settings; VNI Pool: 30000-49000 and VLAN Pool: 2300-2999.

Step 8 - Review Network Attachments

Review the Network Attachments imported from the Brownfield fabric:

  1. Double Click on Auto_Net
  2. Click Network Attachments

    3. The Auto_Net_VNI should show deployed to your Site2-L1 switch.

  3. Click X to close Network Overview