Cisco DNA Center Overview
Traditional networks face several challenges due to increasing users, endpoints, VLANs, subnets, and user complexity. In addition, inconsistent policies as users and devices move around make troubleshooting tricky.
Cisco DNA Center, an SDN controller, addresses these complexities by automating network programming based on application requirements, forming the foundation for intent-based networking. It offers open programmability APIs, simplifying policy-based management and security. Abstracting the network automates previously manual configurations, provisioning services consistently and providing extensive analytics. This controller bridges the gap between network elements and applications, automating end-to-end infrastructure provisioning.
Another key aspect is intent-based networking, a foundational aspect of SDN. It translates business intent into IT policies, deploys them automatically, and ensures compliance, adding context, learning, and assurance capabilities.
Three core elements drive intent-based networking: translation, activation, and assurance. Translation interprets desired intent into policies, activation deploys these policies, and assurance continuously verifies network performance and reliability, recommending fixes when discrepancies arise. This approach enhances network management by aligning policy with intent and maintaining network integrity in a dynamically changing environment.
Cisco DNA Center Features and Tools
Cisco DNA Center offers a unified platform to manage and control enterprise networks. It simplifies user access policy provisioning through workflows and includes advanced assurance features. Open APIs, adapters, and SDKs also facilitate integration with business applications and orchestrators.
The Cisco DNA Center Appliance collects data from the network infrastructure and utilizes Cisco DNA software to activate features on network devices, all manageable through a dashboard. It provides network health insights, aids issue identification and resolution, and supports zero-touch provisioning based on profiles for remote branches.
Additional tools within the Cisco DNA Center include Discovery, Inventory, Topology mapping, Image Repository management, Command Runner for diagnostic CLI commands, License Manager, Template Editor, Network Plug and Play, Telemetry design, and Data and Reports access for enhanced network management.