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Campus Device Management🔗

This section explains how to onboard and manage devices in a campus Everon™ Network Solutions system. Campus environments often have diverse device types, frequent changes, and a mix of managed and unmanaged devices. Everon™ Network Solutions's device management is specifically designed to handle these campus challenges.

Campus Device Management Overview🔗

Campus networks typically include: - Access switches - In IDFs, conference rooms, classrooms
- Distribution switches - Building-level aggregation - Core switches - Campus backbone connectivity - Edge devices - Firewalls, wireless controllers, etc. - Legacy devices - Existing switches that may be discovered but not managed

Everon™ Network Solutions handles all these device types, with automatic discovery for supported devices and inventory tracking for others.

Adding Campus Devices🔗

The campus device onboarding process:

  1. Create or select the provisioning object - Define the logical network location
  2. Create the device controller - Set up the management interface
  3. Assign a switchpoint - Map to logical topology position
  4. Prepare the physical switch - Basic connectivity and power
  5. Boot and connect - Automatic discovery and configuration

Campus Topology Creation🔗

For campus networks, start by creating your logical topology:

Adding Campus Access Switches🔗

  1. Enable the world view by clicking the World icon ()
  2. Click the Topology () icon
  3. Click the menu tab labeled Topology
  4. Click the Add Preprovisioned Switch () icon
  5. Enter a meaningful name (e.g., "Building-A-Floor-2-IDF")
  6. Set the number of Expected Eth Ports based on your access switch model
  7. Set the Rack or location identifier
  8. Select Type as Leaf for access switches
  9. Assign to appropriate POD (building or floor grouping)

Adding Campus Distribution/Core🔗

  • Use Type: Spine for distribution switches
  • Use Type: Superspine for campus core switches
  • Use Type: Management for out-of-band management switches

Campus-Specific Device Controller Setup🔗

Create a Campus Device Controller🔗

  1. From the world view, click Admin icon
  2. In the menu bar, click VNFs
  3. In the Device Controller tile, click the plus button ()
  4. Type a descriptive name (e.g., "Building-A-Floor-2-Access-01")
  5. Click the Edit button ()

  1. Enter the LLDP Search String - This should be the switch serial number or chassis ID
  2. Configure management network settings: - Switch IP and Mask - From your campus management VLAN - Gateway - Your campus management gateway

Campus Management Network Considerations🔗

For campus deployments, the management network typically: - Uses existing campus VLAN infrastructure - Leverages campus DHCP services
- Connects through campus core switches - May use in-band management for some devices

Campus Port Management🔗

Campus switches often require bulk port configuration due to similar access port requirements.

Manage Rows for Campus Access Ports🔗

The Manage Rows button () is particularly useful for campus environments:

Campus Use Cases:🔗

Set Eth-Port Provisioning for Access Ports🔗

Apply the same access port profile to multiple ports (e.g., user access ports 1-24):

Set Eth-Port Settings for Campus VLANs🔗

Apply campus VLAN settings to port ranges:

Campus Port Types:🔗
  • Access Ports - User devices, printers, phones
  • Trunk Ports - Inter-switch links, wireless AP uplinks
  • Management Ports - Out-of-band device management

Campus Device Discovery🔗

Automatic Discovery Process🔗

Everon™ Network Solutions automatically discovers campus devices through:

  1. LLDP Discovery - Identifies connected devices and topology
  2. DHCP Integration - Works with campus DHCP for IP assignment
  3. Management Protocols - SSH, SNMP, gNMI for device communication
  4. Topology Mapping - Builds real-time network map

Manual Device Addition🔗

For devices that don't auto-discover:

  1. Create the device controller with static IP information
  2. Configure LLDP search string manually
  3. Assign to appropriate switchpoint
  4. Verify connectivity through management network

Campus Device Types and Roles🔗

Managed Campus Devices🔗

  • SONiC-based switches - Full management and configuration
  • Vendor switches - Configuration through standard protocols
  • Legacy switches - Limited management, inventory tracking

Discovered but Unmanaged🔗

  • Servers and endpoints - Inventory and connectivity tracking
  • Wireless controllers - Connection monitoring
  • Legacy infrastructure - Visibility without management

Campus Device Operations🔗

Common Campus Tasks:🔗

Device Replacement🔗

  1. Take old device out of service
  2. Power down and disconnect
  3. Install new device with same management IP
  4. Everon™ Network Solutions automatically detects and configures

Port Moves/Adds/Changes🔗

  1. Connect device to different port
  2. Everon™ Network Solutions automatically updates topology
  3. Configuration follows the logical assignment

Building Additions🔗

  1. Create new POD for new building
  2. Add distribution switches as new Spines
  3. Add access switches as Leafs in new POD
  4. Configure inter-building connectivity

Campus Device Monitoring🔗

Everon™ Network Solutions provides campus-specific monitoring:

  • Port utilization - Track user port usage patterns
  • Device health - Monitor campus switch performance
  • Connectivity changes - Alert on topology changes
  • Capacity planning - Historical data for growth planning

Troubleshooting Campus Devices🔗

Common campus device issues:

Device Won't Discover🔗

  • Verify management network connectivity
  • Check LLDP configuration on device
  • Confirm DHCP scope has available addresses
  • Validate device controller LLDP search string

Configuration Not Applied🔗

  • Check device controller to switchpoint assignment
  • Verify management protocol connectivity (SSH/SNMP)
  • Review device compatibility with configured features

Topology Not Accurate🔗

  • Verify LLDP is enabled on all devices
  • Check for cabling issues affecting discovery
  • Review device naming and identification

Best Practices for Campus Device Management🔗

  1. Use descriptive naming - Include building, floor, room in device names
  2. Organize by PODs - Group devices logically (by building, department, etc.)
  3. Standardize port profiles - Create consistent access port configurations
  4. Plan IP addressing - Use structured management IP schemes
  5. Document exceptions - Track any devices requiring special configuration

Next Steps🔗

Once your campus devices are added:

  1. Campus Templates - Configure standardized campus services
  2. Campus Switch Pairs - Set up redundancy for critical access
  3. Campus Ethernet Configuration - Configure campus-specific port settings
  4. Campus Monitoring - Set up monitoring for your campus devices