Access Cisco NFVIS Portal

Access NFVIS portal

Access the NFVIS portal to view the dashboard which provides a summary of activities on the device.

The NFVIS portal is accessed through a web browser using the local ethernet management network connection.

Procedure

Step 1

Connect your laptop to the local ethernet management network and enter https://10.29.43.84 in your web browser's address bar.

We recommend that you use Google Chrome.

Step 2

Login to NFVIS portal using username admin and the new generated password.

You will see the NFVIS dashboard which provides a summary of activities on the device.

You have successfully accessed the NFVIS portal and can view the dashboard with device activity summaries.

Create and deploy a generic VM

This task allows you to deploy a virtual machine through the NFVIS portal with network connectivity options for your infrastructure needs.

Use this procedure when you need to create and deploy a generic virtual machine with network connections in an NFVIS environment. The deployment process involves selecting images, configuring network connections, and monitoring the deployment progress.

Before you begin

Ensure that VM images are available in the Image Repository and that you have access to the NFVIS portal.

Follow these steps to create and deploy a generic VM:

Procedure

Step 1

From the NFVIS portal, choose Configuration > Virtual Machine > Images > Image Repository from the navigation tree on the top of the interface.

Here you will see all the previously uploaded images in the device. In Images you can see information about the available images and make a note of the version for an upgrade if required. The ACTIVE state of the image indicates that the image is registered and ready for deployment.

Step 2

Choose Configuration > Deploy.

You can catalog various VM or Containers at the top of the page. The default configuration of the device at the center of the page has LAN, WAN, and SR-IOV networks.

Step 3

To create an OTHER ( generic VM) instance with a LAN and WAN connection click and drag OTHER ( generic VM) (generic VM) to the center of the page.

To configure a connection to the WAN, click OTHER ( generic VM) (generic VM) on the page and drag it to the WAN-net line. Select the connected line to view the details. In the vNIC details panel you will see that the vNIC id and Model is associated with the WAN (WAN-net). Record this interface name to use the same name to configure the WAN subnet later.

To configure a LAN connection, click OTHER ( generic VM) again and this time drag it to the LAN-net line. Select the connected line to view the details. In the vNIC details pane you will see vNIC id and Model is associated with the LAN (LAN-net). Record this interface name to use this same name to configure the local subnet later.

Step 4

Click OTHER ( generic VM) and enter the VM Details.

The virtual machine was deployed through the NFVIS Deployment Details section. The deployment was configured with the VM name OTHER99 and the image TinyIsoTest.ISO. The selected profile was NFVIS, and the deployment disk was set to datastore1 (internal). Dedicated cores were not enabled for this deployment. No GPU devices were assigned, and no Bootstrap ISO was selected. The Group Name and VNC Password fields were left unconfigured.

Step 5

Click Deploy to deploy the OTHER99 VM and see the progress of the deployment on the right side of the page.

A successful deployment is indicated through a pop-up message on the corner of the page.

Step 6

To monitor the progress of the OTHER VNF booting, choose Configuration > Virtual Machine > Manage.

The status of the deployment is displayed in Status column. Click on the Refresh button to get the latest status.

When the VNF is ready you can see all the data related to it along with some useful action items like edit, terminal, CD-Rom, etc.

Configure Day-N CD-ROM attach-detach workflow

This task allows you to attach and detach CD-ROM images to virtual machines, enabling you to boot from recovery ISOs or remove existing disks as needed.

CD-ROM attach and detach operations require the VM to be in Shut Off State. The attachment process involves registering the Recovery ISO and then attaching it to the desired VM through the CD-ROM action.

Before you begin

The VM must be in Shut Off State to perform CD-ROM attach and detach functions. The attachment process consists of two steps: first, register the Recovery ISO using the existing image registration workflow; then, navigate to the CD-ROM action for the desired VM to attach the registered ISO.

Follow these steps to attach and detach CD-ROM images:

Procedure

Step 1

From the NFVIS portal, choose Configuration > Virtual Machine > Manage.

Step 2

Click the CD-ROM icon.

The Attach and Detach options are displayed.

Step 3

Select the Recovery ISO from the image dropdown.

Step 4

Click Submit.

Note

 

To use this Recovery ISO, you need to start the VM and then enter the Boot menu through the terminal Action button.

A pop-up notification will appear in the top-right corner confirming that the CD-ROM is attached.

Step 5

In the boot menu, select the CD-ROM option.

The system will then boot from the Recovery ISO.

Step 6

To detach a CD-ROM, select the disk you wish to detach from the Disks dropdown menu and click Submit.

The Detach option allows you to remove existing disks.

A confirmation alert will appear in the top-right corner upon successful detachment. You can confirm the detachment by checking the Disks drop-down menu.

You have successfully configured the CD-ROM attach-detach workflow. The VM can now boot from the attached Recovery ISO, or you have successfully detached the CD-ROM as needed.

Shut down a Virtual Machine

Use this procedure to shut down a Virtual Machine (VM) gracefully to ensure data integrity and proper system state management.

Procedure

Step 1

To perform a graceful shutdown when needed, navigate to Configuration > Virtual Machine > Manage.

Step 2

In the Action column, select Switch Power.

Step 3

Select the Graceful Shutdown checkbox to initiate the process.

The Graceful Shutdown process has a 20-minute timeout. If the VM does not shut down gracefully within this period, it will enter an Error state. If this occurs, you have the option to perform a Forceful Shutdown to power off the VM.

The VM initiates the graceful shutdown process. If successful, the VM powers off and its status updates to reflect that it is no longer active. If the shutdown does not complete within the 20-minute timeout period, the VM enters an Error state, at which point you must perform a Forceful Shutdown to power off the VM.

Accessibility features in the NFVIS GUI

The NFVIS GUI includes accessibility enhancements designed to support users with disabilities and improve overall interface usability through keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, visual clarity improvements, and assistive technology integration.

Accessibility enhancements

  1. Improved Keyboard Navigation: Enhanced operability and focus order across all workflows to support keyboard-only users.

  2. Enhanced Screen Reader Support: Updated ARIA roles and descriptive labels to ensure compatibility with screen readers.

  3. Optimized UI Color Contrast: Adjusted color schemes to meet WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines for improved readability.

  4. Meaningful Alternative Text: Added descriptive text to icons and visuals, ensuring that users who rely on non-visual access receive the same information as sighted users.

  5. Refined Form Structure: Corrected label associations for form controls to improve compatibility with assistive technologies.

Impact of accessibility enhancements

  • Keyboard Accessibility: Improved portal usability for customers who rely on keyboard-only navigation.

  • Inclusive Experience: Enhanced support for screen readers and other assistive technologies.

  • Visual Clarity: Improved readability of interface elements through better color contrast alignment.

  • Workflow Efficiency: Streamlined forms and workflows through clearer labeling and logical structure.

  • Equivalent Information Access: Provided meaningful text alternatives for icons and visual elements, ensuring all users receive the same information.

  • User Independence: Empowered customers to complete tasks more efficiently and independently across the portal.