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Providing Out-of-Band Connectivity to Mission-Critical IT Resources

Provision Offline with Bluetooth Pairing for Nodegrid

by | Nov 24, 2020 | Network Automation, Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP)

Deployment day is here and it’s time to get your new remote branch up and running. Months of planning and preparation have gone into this project to ensure that everything goes smoothly. All of the vendors have been scheduled and the latest dry run went off without a hitch, so everyone is feeling confident. The phase two team is standing by and ready to move in as soon as the network is up and running. With such strict deadlines, any setbacks will cause a ripple effect that could severely impact the project deadline and cause a loss of revenue.

The Pressure is On

As the deployment is progressing, the tech from your Internet Service Provider ( ISP) seems to be having difficulties bringing up the internet connection. After further troubleshooting, they let you know that there is a problem with the equipment and they won’t be able to complete their portion until the next business day. Without network connectivity the deployment will need to be postponed, thus setting everything back and causing a huge problem for all of the other teams. With so much on the line this simply is not an option, but what can you do without an active internet connection?

Be the Hero

Planning for the unexpected is crucial for any pre-deployment planning and testing. With so many parties involved and multiple vendors on call, even minor issues can lead to large amounts of wasted time and money. Luckily, you did your homework and chose the solution with a backup plan, so you’re ready to handle anything this deployment can throw at you.

Introducing Bluetooth Pairing for Nodegrid

ZPE System’s Nodegrid comes ready to go right out of the box with no pre-configuration required on the unit itself. Simply unbox the unit and power it on; you don’t even need to connect it to your local network to get started. No local internet connection? No problem!

 

  • Connecting Nodegrid via Bluetooth® to a cell phone is simple: The new Nodegrid device is powered on (no screen or keyboard required)
  • On a cell phone, Nodegrid will show up as an available device within Bluetooth® settings
Bluetooth Tethering 600 x 450
After just a few taps, Nodegrid goes live and automatically connects to the ZPE Cloud. There, all of your saved configurations are ready and waiting to be downloaded to your new device. Once configured, your device is now secure and ready to unlock the full potential of the Nodegrid Platform. Just plug Nodegrid into your network and allow it to serve as a temporary gateway for your other connected devices. Within minutes, your internet connection is established and you’re back on track to finish on time, as expected.

Instant Reset

With Nodegrid, resetting and restarting the process is just a click away. Simply press the factory reset button and start with a clean slate, anytime, at any location. Less worry, more convenience.

As Easy as it Gets

With ZPE Systems Nodegrid, provisioning has never been easier and more reliable. From Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP), to automation via deployment scripts and more, your new remote branch is ready in no time with minimal on-site resources required. Combined with ZPE Cloud, provisioning is fast, secure, and consistent across your entire network. Once up and running, Nodegrid’s 360° network visibility allows your team to monitor and maintain all of your connected devices from one easy to use, vendor neutral platform.

Ready to take your network to the next level?

For more information on ZPE’s full product line, please visit our products page.

Have a specific question or want to experience a live demonstration for yourself?
Reach out to us via our Contact page. We’re here for you!

Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) for IPv4 and IPv6

by | Sep 1, 2020 | Case Studies, Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP)

Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) for IPv4 and IPv6

Background/Problem

Engineers are constantly looking for ways to improve their network infrastructures. These improvements can come in the form of increased efficiency, robust security, infrastructure flexibility, reduced deployment time and elimination of configuration errors. Engineers can accomplish this with the Nodegrid platform and their preferred scripting language.

Automate steps like updating operating systems, deploying patches and bug fixes and pushing configurations to network targets.

  • Deploy Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) over IPv4 and IPv6
  • Use your preferred scripting language like Python, Perl, JSON, Bash, or add your own.
  • Integrate with file transfer protocols such as FTP, FTPS, HTTPS, SCP, etc.

The Solution – Nodegrid and Zero Touch Provisioning

The Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) feature is offered on all ZPE’s out-of-band management devices. These include the Nodegrid Serial Console, Nodegrid Bold and Flex, and our latest hardware Nodegrid Service Router. ZTP works by allowing new ZPE unit to be provisioned and updated automatically without manual intervention. After physically connecting the Nodegrid Serial Console to the network and booting it for the first time, the following steps takes place.

ZPE-ZTP
  1. ZPE sends a request to the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server.
  2. The DHCP server identifies the request is from a ZPE device and sends a set of instructions to the ZPE device.
  3. As instructed ZPE sends a request to the Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) server.
  4. ZPE device will download the required files and executes the script commands:
  5. Installation script (Python, Shell, Perl, JSON, etc.)
  6. Latest software version
  7. Configuration files
  8. ZPE device pushes configuration to the network appliances based on the Python script(s).

Benefits of Zero Touch Provisioning

Engineers no longer need to manually login into each device for configurations! With ZPE’s Zero Touch Provisioning, upload the configuration templates and favorate scripts, sit back and watch the network build itself. Here at ZPE we understand that each network infrastructure is unique and designed to meet specific requirements. Give us a call, and with ZPE’s Nodegrid out-of-band management platform and experienced engineers, we can help set up your ZTP processes.

  • Automate the network infrastructure, ZPE supports IPv4 and IPv6
  • Reduces deployment time for both initial installation and recurring upgrades
  • Reduces/Eliminates the chance for human error via manual configuration
  • Lower costs associated with per-unit provisioning
  • Repeatable – Standardized templates for provisioning services

Next Step: Schedule a Demo and See What NodeGrid Can Do For You

We are perfectly positioned to meet anything manufacturers can throw at us. We pioneered IT infrastructure access and control back in the day and we’re pioneering IT infrastructure access and control for today and the future. Check us out. You’ll be glad you did.

Schedule a Nodegrid Demo Today

The Definitive Guide to Zero Touch Provisioning

by | Jul 8, 2020 | Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP)

It’s no wonder why zero touch provisioning (ZTP) is becoming more highly sought after. Whether business is expanding, going global, or simply in need of more nimble networking, ZTP sets the standard in effortless scaling. Compared to traditional provisioning methods, it delivers major benefits and helps you free up your IT resources.

 Scaling without zero touch provisioning is tedious at best, and can slow your business to a crawl (or to a grinding halt) at worst. There’s so much that goes into typical provisioning approaches, like coordinating staff commutes and device shipments, not to mention hours, days, or weeks spent at the command line interface (CLI). And no matter how thoroughly you audit and test each configuration file, going without ZTP leaves you open to human error — not just at each location, but at each network appliance as well.

ZTP eBook cover_Page_1
  • Secure your data — No more shipping pre-configured devices
  • Cut your workload — No more manual CLI configurations
  • Boost uptime — No more downtime due to human error

With zero touch provisioning, you eliminate so many of these drawbacks thanks to automation and scripting. That means that you no longer need to tie up IT staff with time-consuming configuration tasks and manual CLI input. On top of this, using an all-in-one hardware solution like ZPE Systems’ Nodegrid helps you further reduce CAPEX and OPEX costs. You can ship a single consolidated appliance to each location (instead of sending a cumbersome stack), and once it arrives, all you need to do is plug it in. Your network builds itself while your IT teams stay committed to critical business function. Find out how Zero Touch Provisioning can help your organization.

Download the ebook

4-Step Checklist for Setting Up Zero Touch Provisioning

by | Jun 22, 2020 | Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP)

Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) makes deployment fast, easy, and automatic.

ZTP uses automation and scripting to eliminate expensive, time-consuming manual provisioning. Instead of spending days or weeks inputting configuration into the command line interface (CLI), ZTP only requires you to connect your devices, and then the network builds itself. Deploying new locations can be done in minutes, while your IT staff and resources remain committed to supporting other business needs.

If you’re ready for on-demand scaling and convenient deployments, set up zero touch provisioning for your network.Our engineering experts have carefully crafted this helpful checklist to get you started.


Download the Checklist

ZTP Checklist

What is Zero Touch Provisioning?

by | Jun 18, 2020 | Videos, Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP)

Learn the basics of Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) in this 2 1/2 minute video. Rene Neumann, EU Solutions Engineering Manager at ZPE Systems shares his IT and data center expertise to provide a high-level overview of ZTP.

  • What is ZTP?
  • What pain points does it address?
  • How does it benefit businesses?
  • How does it help system and network administrators?

Ready to learn more about Zero Touch Provisioning?

A Closer Look: Zero Touch Provisioning Vs Manual Configurations

by | Jun 16, 2020 | Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP)

Our previous post about zero touch provisioning (ZTP) details the basics about what makes ZTP work. You need to have the proper scripting and automation tools, along with a well-designed workflow. These help you test and prepare configurations in a lab environment, and ultimately lead to deployments that are faster, consistent, and automatic. In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at zero touch provisioning to see how it compares to manual methods of deploying networks. But first, here’s a recap about ZTP:
  • What is it? — Zero touch provisioning automates network configuration tasks, so you can deploy new networks simply by connecting & booting your devices.
  • Why use it? — Scaling can be a chore. You need to coordinate so many devices and IT resources, and staff need to be on-site to tediously configure each appliance. ZTP eliminates all of this so you can scale on demand.
  • What are the benefits? — On the network side, ZTP eliminates the need for time-consuming, error-prone manual configurations. Using well-tested scripts, you can automate deployments with networks that build themselves quickly, consistently, and reliably. For business, this means a more nimble network edge that can keep up with growth. You get the security of shipping unconfigured devices, the cost savings of reduced on-site support, and the consistency of automation. Deploying takes minutes and gives you the peace of mind knowing that your new networks meet compliance standards.
Now, let’s take a look at common ways of provisioning that you’re probably familiar with, and how zero touch provisioning makes them obsolete.

Manual Provisioning

If you’re not familiar with zero touch provisioning, you know the hassle that comes with manually deploying networks. Once you acquire all of your physical network appliances and IT resources, you need to get them on-site at your new location. This involves coordinating shipments and staff travel plans, which oftentimes leads to waiting periods and expensive delays. Staying on track to meet your timelines can be a joke even before deployment begins. After tackling the logistical hurdle, the real work starts. Your on-site IT staff must connect to each device separately, and then make configurations using the command line interface (CLI).
  • This is time consuming — Connecting to each device requires staff to provide their credentials to gain access. Once they’re granted access, they must manually enter commands into the CLI, which can take minutes or even hours depending on the configuration. This needs to be repeated for each appliance until the entire stack is properly configured and the network can be deployed.
  • This leads to errors — Human error is a major contributor to network outages and downtime. Requiring manual input for each network appliance means more chances for mistakes. This could be an overlooked typo on the CLI, installation of an old and incorrect configuration file, or something as simple as mixing up port assignments.
  • This burdens your staff — Performing hundreds or even thousands of manual tasks for each deployment requires an extensive, on-site staff presence. Even with an experienced and highly-skilled team, setting up your network can take days’ worth of work and pulls employees away from more business-critical tasks.

Minimal Touch Provisioning

Different methods have been developed to address some of the drawbacks to manual configuration. One of these includes minimal touch provisioning (MTP), which is essentially a process improvement. MTP involves working with a pre-approved set of commands that can be easily pasted, either individually or as a batch, into the CLI. The advantage here is mostly in time savings, as simple copy/paste tasks involve significantly fewer keystrokes than manually entering every command. However, this minimal touch approach inherits some of the same drawbacks, and introduces its own.
  • This still requires on-site staff — MTP doesn’t reduce the need for on-site staff to configure your stacks. As with manual provisioning, setting up using MTP still requires teams to manually input configurations into the CLI. More important business activities must take a back seat while your engineers deploy each new location.
  • This still exposes you to errors — A minimal touch approach isn’t without human error. Your IT staff still need to connect separately to each device. And even though they have a predetermined set of commands at their disposal, simple mistakes can happen due to fatigue, forgetfulness, or improper keystrokes.
  • This requires extensive testing — MTP requires you to test your configuration in a lab environment before deploying to production networks. This helps you fix potential issues and develop configuration commands that are highly repeatable. However, the drawback is that this extensive work upfront doesn’t eliminate the manual work required for each deployment.

Zero Touch Provisioning

Zero touch provisioning makes the most of scripting and automation. ZTP virtually eliminates all of the issues that come with a manual or minimal touch approach, by combining the right tools with process improvements. There are no headaches involving shipping devices, coordinating staff, or keeping up with deployment schedules. Of course, preparing configurations requires thorough planning and testing upfront, but you’re left with a network that’s highly nimble and can scale right when you need it. Here are some reasons why it’s called “zero touch”:
  • Scripting and automation carry out all the tasks that are usually delegated to staff for manual input.
  • You only need to perform the simple physical tasks — just connect the power & network cables, boot your devices, and then the network builds itself.
  • You don’t need specialized staff on-site. All you need is someone to physically install your devices.
Zero touch provisioning also allows you to pinpoint and fix potential human errors in your lab environment. This way you can ensure that all of your commands and configuration files are correct before they’re pushed to your new networks.

What does Nodegrid bring to ZTP?

ZTP comes with several significant benefits for your networking capabilities and your business, from branch locations that can be deployed fast, to the cost savings that come with minimal on-site support. ZPE Systems’ Nodegrid adds even more to your zero touch toolkit so you can get even more from each deployment. Nodegrid features consolidated, all-in-one network appliances, which means a smaller stack that can handle every network function. You can get on location easier with fewer capital expenses, and reduced shipping costs and travel costs. On top of this, zero touch provisioning with Nodegrid allows you to push configurations to other devices. This includes devices from many vendors. As long as you properly test and configure your scripts, you can extend your zero touch provisioning capabilities simply by connecting devices to your Nodegrid appliances. After your initial deployment, your Nodegrid appliances can connect to ZPE Cloud for easy and convenient configuration management. You can eliminate the need to juggle files and updates. ZPE Cloud stores all your config files and supports automation, so you can push changes and make other adjustments automatically, and from the safety of the cloud.