Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN AppQoE Configuration Guide, Release 26.x and Later

Configure Cisco Catalyst 8000V on UCS-E Series server modules for DRE optimization

Updated: March 10, 2026

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Configure Cisco Catalyst 8000V instances on UCS E-Series server modules to enable DRE optimization as external service nodes. This task guides setup, deployment, and AppQoE configuration in Cisco SD-WAN Manager.

This task enables deployment and configuration of Cisco Catalyst 8000V on supported routers with UCS-E Series server modules to optimize DRE and operate as integrated or external service nodes within hybrid clusters.

From Cisco IOS XE Catalyst SD-WAN Release 17.6.1a, Cisco Catalyst 8000V instances can be installed as external service nodes on supported UCS E-Series servers that reside in specific router models. This functionality enables the routers to act as hybrid clusters with integrated as well as external service nodes.

Before you begin

Follow these steps to configure Cisco Catalyst 8000V on UCS-E Series server modules for DRE optimization:

Procedure

Configure the UCS E-Series server on the supported router.
Deploy Cisco Catalyst 8000V on the supported UCS E-Series server.
In Cisco SD-WAN Manager, configure AppQoE feature template for Cisco Catalyst 8000V instances on UCS E-Series servers.
In Cisco SD-WAN Manager, configure the AppQoE feature template for the service controllers, and add additional configuration using Cisco SD-WAN Manager CLI template and CLI Add-on feature template.

The UCS E-Series server is configured, Cisco Catalyst 8000V is deployed as an external service node, and AppQoE templates are configured in Cisco SD-WAN Manager. Routers operate as hybrid clusters with integrated and external service nodes.

Configure UCS E-Series server

Enable the UCS E-Series server on a supported router and configure IMC network access and interface IP addressing to provide connectivity and management access.

This task is relevant when a UCS E-Series server module is installed in a supported device and network interfaces are connected. It applies IMC access settings and assigns IP address and gateway, then configures the UCSE interface IP.

Before you begin

Insert the UCS E-Series server module into the supported device and connect two interfaces (TE2 and TE3) from the front panel. For more information, see UCS-E Series Servers Hardware Installation Guide.

Follow these steps to configure UCS E-Series server on the supported router:

Procedure

Enter this sample configuration to enable UCS E-Series server on a supported router.

Example:

Device(config)# ucse subslot 1/0
Device(config-ucse)# imc access-port shared-lom <ge1/te2/te3>
Device(config-ucse)# imc ip address 10.x.x.x 255.x.x.x default-gateway 10.x.x.x
Device(config-ucse)# exit
Device(config)# interface ucse1/0/0
Device(config-if)# ip address x.x.x.1 255.255.255.0

The UCS E-Series server is enabled on the router, IMC access is available through the shared LOM port, and the UCSE interface has an IP address for connectivity.

Deploy Cisco Catalyst 8000V on UCS E-Series server

Deploy the virtual router on a UCS E-Series server and configure initial interface IP addresses to establish management and network connectivity.

This task applies when setting up Cisco Catalyst 8000V on a UCS E-Series server module.

Perform these steps after installing the hypervisor and deploying the OVA image on the server module.

Before you begin

Install the hypervisor on the UCS-E server module.
Download the Cisco Catalyst 8000V 17.6.1 OVA file from the Cisco software download page for Cisco IOS XE Catalyst SD-WAN Release 17.6.1a, and install it..

Follow these steps to configure IP addresses for Cisco Catalyst 8000V on the UCS E-Series server:

Procedure

Configure IP addresses for Cisco Catalyst 8000V on the UCS E-Series server.

Example:

Device(config)# interface GigabitEthernet1
Device(config-if)# description Mgmt
Device(config-if)# ip addeess x.x.x.x x.x.x.x 
Device(config)# int GigabitEthernet2
Device(config-if)# description WAN-CONTROLLER
Device(config-if)# ip address x.x.x.x x.x.x.x 
Device(config-if)# exit
Device(config)# int GigabitEthernet3
Device(config-if)# description UCSE-INTF
Device(config-if)# ip addeess x.x.x.x x.x.x.x

This sample configures IP addresses for Cisco Catalyst 8000V on the UCS E-Series server.

IP addresses are configured on the specified interfaces, enabling management access and WAN or UCSE connectivity on the device.

Configure AppQoE feature template for Cisco Catalyst 8000V instances

Enable DRE optimization by preparing devices with the app-heavy resource allocation profile and configuring the AppQoE feature template to apply service node and optimization settings.

Cisco Catalyst 8000V instances on UCS E-Series servers should be configured with the app-heavy resource allocation profile.

This profile allows the Cisco Catalyst 8000V instances to participate in DRE optimization.

Reload the device to apply the core allocation.

Before you begin

Ensure devices meet these requirements before enabling DRE optimization.

Configure an app-heavy resource allocation profile.
Reload the device to apply the core allocation.

Follow these steps to enable DRE optimization for Cisco Catalyst 8000V instances:

Procedure

Configure the device as app-heavy using the Cisco SD-WAN Manager CLI Add-on feature template.
Example:
```
Device(config)# platform resource app-heavy
```
Reload the device to apply the core allocation.
From the Cisco SD-WAN Manager menu, choose Configuration > Templates.
Click FeatureTemplates and then click Add Template.

Note

In Cisco vManage Release 20.7.1 and earlier releases Feature Templates is called Feature.
From the Selected Devices list, choose C8000v.
Under Other Templates, click AppQoE.
Enter Template Name and Description.
Choose the Service Node option.
Under the Advanced section, enable DRE Optimization.
Click Save.

The AppQoE feature template is created and saved, and DRE optimization is enabled for instances configured as service nodes.

Configure a controller cluster type

Set up AppQoE controller clustering for routers that host application services on UCS E-Series servers by configuring the controller cluster type in vManage. This task prepares the device and templates to support service-controller or hybrid deployments.

Routers that have Cisco Catalyst 8000V instances deployed on their UCS E-Series servers can be configured with cluster types as service-controllers or hybrid.

Before you begin

Follow these steps to configure a controller cluster type:

Procedure

In Cisco SD-WAN Manager, create a CLI Add-on feature template and update it with UCS E-Series server configuration.
Example:
```
ucse subslot 1/0
imc access-port shared-lom te2
imc ip address 10.x.x.x 255.x.x.x default-gateway 10.x.x.x

interface ucse1/0/0
vrf forwarding 5
```
This is a sample configuration for UCS E-Series servers that you can add to the CLI Add-on feature template.

Add UCS E-Series server configuration in Cisco SD-WAN Manager.
From the Cisco SD-WAN Manager menu, choose Configuration > Templates.
Click FeatureTemplates and then click Add Template.

Note

In Cisco vManage Release 20.7.1 and earlier releases Feature Templates is called Feature.
In the Selected Devices list, choose the router that has Cisco Catalyst 8000V deployed on its UCS E-Series server.
Under Other Templates, click AppQoE.
Enter Template Name and Description.
Leave the Integrated Service Node check box unchecked.
In the Controller IP address field, enter the IP address of the controller.

Alternatively, choose Default from the drop-down list. The AppQoE controller address is chosen by default.
In the Service VPN field, enter the service VPN number.

Alternatively, choose Default from the drop-down list. The AppQoE service VPN is chosen by default.
In the Service Nodes area, click Add Service Nodes to add service nodes to the AppQoE service node group.
Click Save.
Attach templates to the device template of the router that has Cisco Catalyst 8000V deployed on its UCS E-Series server.
- CLI Add-on feature template with the UCS E-Series server configuration
- AppQoE feature template
From the Cisco SD-WAN Manager menu, choose Configuration > Templates.
Click FeatureTemplates and then click Add Template.

Note

In Cisco vManage Release 20.7.1 and earlier releases Feature Templates is called Feature.
From the Selected Devices list, choose the router that has Cisco Catalyst 8000V deployed on its UCS E-Series server.
Under Other Templates, click AppQoE.
Enter Template Name and Description.
For the Integrated Service Node field, check the Enable check box.
Click Save.

Create a CLI template to add the cluster-type hybrid configuration.

This is a sample configuration to configure the cluster type as hybrid on the router that has Cisco Catalyst 8000V deployed on its UCS E-Series server:

Example:

interface VirtualPortGroup2
 vrf forwarding 5
 ip address 192.168.2.1 255.255.255.0

interface ucse1/0/0
 vrf forwarding 5
 ip address 10.40.17.1 255.255.255.0 
service-insertion service-node-group appqoe SNG-APPQOE
 service-node 192.168.2.2
service-insertion service-node-group appqoe SNG-APPQOE1
 service-node 10.40.17.5
!
service-insertion appnav-controller-group appqoe ACG-APPQOE
 appnav-controller 10.40.17.1 vrf 5

service-insertion service-context appqoe/1
 cluster-type hybrid
 appnav-controller-group ACG-APPQOE
 service-node-group SNG-APPQOE
 service-node-group SNG-APPQOE1
 vrf global
 enable

Attach templates to the device template of the router that has Cisco Catalyst 8000V deployed on its UCS E-Series server.
- AppQoE feature template
- CLI Add-on feature template with the UCS E-Series server configuration
- CLI template with the hybrid cluster configuration

The controller cluster type is configured as service-controller or hybrid in AppQoE, and the required templates are attached and saved in vManage for the target router with UCS E-Series.

What to do next

For the DRE service to be enabled, bring up DRE on the Cisco Catalyst 8000V instance configured as the integrated service node separately. For more information, see Enable DRE Optimization.

For the DRE service to be enabled, bring up DRE on the Cisco Catalyst 8000V instance configured as integrated service node separately. For more information, see Enable DRE Optimization.

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