Catalyst Capsules: Your Hands-On Journey

Welcome to this session on catalyst capsules. I'm delighted to have you here. We'll be embarking on a journey tailored to guide you over the next week. Our focus is on engaging with the Cisco Catalyst Center, ensuring you are well prepared before, during, and after the engagement. In this initial episode, we'll explore what this engagement entails, the methodology behind.00:02Behind it, and what we'll need from you to start. So, let's dive straight in.00:22During the next few minutes, we have several key topics to cover. Firstly, we'll introduce the hands on initiative explaining its purpose and significance. Following that, I'll walk you through the operation of the engagement neatly divided into three phases. We'll then examine the six essential criteria we need to verify before we commence.00:29These are crucial to ensure a smooth start. Finally, we'll determine what exactly is in scope for your engagement week, allowing you to set clear expectations. By the end of this session, you'll have a comprehensive understanding of what to expect and how to begin.00:49Let's get started. Let's clarify what the hands on initiative is all about. It's essentially a concentrated five day self directed series enabling your team to set up the catalyst center in your unique environment. Over these five days, you'll align with expert led videos to set up your central use cases. This isn't about.01:04Sales or generic training. It's a tailored deployment guide centered around your network and devices. By the week's end, you'll have a fully operational catalyst center, and the expertise to manage it independently.01:24This series unfolds in three structured phases. Phase one is configuration. Here, you'll commence with designing your network and establishing the Catalyst Center foundation, involving sites, hierarchy, discovery, and onboarding. Phase two centers on validation.01:38At this stage, you'll assess your configurations through expert guidance, ensuring everything functions seamlessly within your environment. Finally, phase three moves to operationalize, where your team takes control, implementing repeatable practices and defining next steps. Once these three phases are completed over five days, your team will confidently.01:56We own a catalyst center deployment.02:16Before getting started, there are six critical items to confirm. Think of them as green lights 1st. Ensure an active support contract is in place for full Cisco technical assistance center support if needed. Secondly, define a clear use case to maintain focus and efficiency.02:20Thirdly, allocate five consecutive business days to maintain momentum without unnecessary gaps. 4th, assign a committed lead to facilitate swift decision making. The 5th requirement is a suitable catalyst center instance for each business unit to avoid configuration conflicts.02:37Finally, predefine the scope to ensure clear expectations. Meeting these criteria will set the stage for success. Let's discuss the specifics of what's in scope for your five day engagement. Initially, we'll discover up to two wireless LAN controllers, five access points, and 20 network devices to establish.02:54Publish the foundation. We'll organize your network hierarchy, detailing sites, buildings and floors to mirror your real world setup. On the automation side, we'll upgrade up to five devices using the SWM feature and create a simple reusable template. We'll also guide you through plug and play onboarding for efficient device editions.03:14Lastly, we'll implement assurance use cases for real time network health visibility. Completing these aspects underscores the importance of the readiness criteria. This wraps up the 1st episode of Catalyst Capsules. To recap, the hands on initiative is a focused five day program divided into three phases.03:32With six readiness criteria, all aimed at delivering a fully operational catalyst center deployment. In our subsequent episode, we will delve into discovery and foundation, exploring device onboarding.03:52Network inventory construction and preparation for subsequent steps. Thank you for watching, and I look forward to seeing you in our next session.04:04