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An app to check and translate Catalyst switch configs to Meraki.

Project description

published

merakicat merakicat

This package makes migrating Cisco Catalyst switches to Meraki Dashboard much easier. #merakicat

merakicat

This Python app can be run in Webex Teams Bot mode or in command-line mode. It can also be called from shell scripts for bulk-mode.

Below is the list of configurations the tool can currently translate:

switch:

  • Hostname
  • Spanning Tree RSTP
  • Stack
  • Static Routing

port:

  • Port Description
  • Port Status
  • Port Speed
  • Port Duplex
  • Port Type
  • PoE Enabled
  • Allowed VLANs
  • Data VLAN
  • Voice VLAN
  • Private VLAN
  • Layer 3 Interface
  • STP RootGuard
  • STP Loop Guard
  • STP BPDU Guard
  • Etherchannel LACP
  • NM Ports

Once installed, you can print the entire index of the feature encyclopedia, or to print the index based on either supported and translatable items or both, enter:

cd src/merakicat
python mc_pedia [support] [translatable]

Prerequisites for using in Bot mode

If you don't already have a Webex Teams account, go ahead and register for one. They are free.

  1. You'll need to start by adding your Bot to the Webex Teams website.

    https://developer.webex.com/my-apps

  2. Click Create a New App

    add-app

  3. Click Create a Bot.

    create-bot

  4. Fill out all the details about your Bot. You'll need to set a name, username, icon (either upload one or choose a sample), and provide a description.

    add-bot

  5. Click Add Bot.

  6. On the Congratulations screen, make sure to copy the Bot's Access Token, you will need this in a second.

    enter-details

Installation

Python 3.11+ is recommended.

  • Clone the github repository and install the requirements
git clone https://github.com/ecoen66/merakicat
cd merakicat
pip install -r requirements_dev.txt

Usage

  • The easiest way to use this module is to set a few environment variables

    Note: As an alternative, you may edit the variables in mc_user_info.py. Although more convenient, it is less secure.

    # These exports are used for Webex bot mode:
    export TEAMS_BOT_TOKEN=<your bot's token>
    export TEAMS_BOT_EMAIL=<your bot's email>
    export TEAMS_BOT_APP_NAME=<your bot's name>
    export TEAMS_EMAILS=<a comma delimited list of email addresses the bot will respond to>
    
    # These exports are required regardless of mode:
    export IOS_USERNAME=<the ssh username for the Catalyst switches>
    export IOS_PASSWORD=<the ssh password for the Catalyst switches>
    export IOS_SECRET=<the CLI secret password for the Catalyst switches>
    export IOS_PORT=<the ssh port number for the Catalyst switches - usually 22>
    export MERAKI_API_KEY=<your meraki dashboard API key>
    export MERAKI_ORG_NAME =<your meraki organization name>
    

In addition to these settings, various debugs and a choice of PDF vs. DOCX report format can be enabled in the mc_user_info.py file.

> Note: For PDF report generation, MS Word must be installed on the host with merakicat.

Bot

To run merakicat as a Bot, just start it without any parameters:

cd src/merakicat
python merakicat.py

Bot commands include the following:

Check a Catalyst switch config for both translatable and possible Meraki features:

check [host <FQDN or IP address> | file <filespec>] [with timing] [with details]

Check one or more Catalyst switch config files for both translatable and possible Meraki features:

check <drag-and-drop files> [with timing] [with details]

Check the configs of cloud monitored Catalyst switches for both translatable and possible Meraki features:

check network <Meraki network name> [with timing] [with details]

Register a Catalyst switch to the Meraki Dashboard:

register [host <FQDN or IP address>] [with timing]

Claim Catalyst switches to a Meraki Network:

claim [<Meraki serial numbers>] [to <Meraki network name>] [with timing]

Translate a Catalyst switch config from a file or host to claimed Meraki serial numbers:

translate [host <FQDN or IP address> | file <filespec>] [to <Meraki serial numbers>] [with timing]

Migrate a Catalyst switch to a Meraki switch - register, claim & translate:

migrate [host <FQDN or IP address>] [to <Meraki network name>] [with timing]

Create a demo report for all features currently in the feature encyclopedia:

demo report

Command-line

To run merakicat from the command-line (or from a shell script), enter any of the following:

Check a Catalyst switch config for both translatable and possible Meraki features:

cd src/merakicat
python merakicat.py check host <FQDN or IP address> | file <filespec> [with timing] [with details]

Check the configs of cloud monitored Catalyst switches for both translatable and possible Meraki features:

cd src/merakicat
python merakicat.py check network <Meraki network name> [with timing] [with details]

Register a Catalyst switch or stack to the Meraki Dashboard:

cd src/merakicat
python merakicat.py register host <FQDN or IP address> [with timing]

Claim Catalyst switches to a Meraki Network:

cd src/merakicat
python merakicat.py claim <Meraki serial numbers> to <Meraki network name> [with timing]

Translate a Catalyst switch or stack config from a file or host to claimed Meraki serial numbers:

cd src/merakicat
python merakicat.py translate host <FQDN or IP address> | file <filespec> to <Meraki serial numbers> [with timing]

Migrate a Catalyst switch to a Meraki switch - register, claim & translate:

cd src/merakicat
python merakicat.py migrate host <FQDN or IP address> to <Meraki network name> [with timing]

Create a demo report for all features currently in the feature encyclopedia:

cd src/merakicat
python merakicat.py demo report

Bulk-mode

To run merakicat in bulk-mode, create a shell script to call merakicat in command line mode. Example scripts included in the repo are:

Generate Check config reports for a list of Catalyst switches, 20 switches at a time, until the entire list is exhausted. The list is provided in an input file, one hostname/fqdn/IP address per line:

cd src/merakicat
bulk_check.sh <input file>

Migrate a list of Catalyst switches to a Meraki network, 20 switches at a time, until the entire list is exhausted. The list is provided in an input file, one hostname/fqdn/IP address per line:

cd src/merakicat
bulk_migrate.sh <input file> <Meraki network name>

Donations

If you found this repo to be useful, please consider donating to Life Decisions, Rockford, IL through a purchase from the Merakicat store.

Credits

This project is heavily based on the work of others:

Catalyst_to_Meraki_Migration_Tool by Fady Sharobeem.

Catalyst_2_Meraki_Config_Checker by Fady Sharobeem.

The bot functionality is using webex_bot by Finbarr Brady.

History

0.2.6 (05-07-2024)

  • Resolved Issue #6.
  • Fixed issue with unclaiming switches before removing switch stack.
  • Updated requirements.

0.2.5 (04-25-2024)

  • Reverted back to Finbarr Brady's webex-bot after a pull merge.

0.2.4 (04-12-2024)

  • Added Private VLAN -> Port Isolation to encyclopedia.
  • Removed older bot code.
  • Updated AUTHORS.rst.
  • Updated .gitignore

0.2.3 (04-10-2024)

  • Translate now checks to make sure that the target switches have the same number of ports as the sources.

0.2.2 (04-10-2024)

  • Added environment variable to specify a Meraki Oragnization name.

0.2.1 (04-10-2024)

  • Added support for ip default-gateway as a static route.

0.2.0 (04-10-2024)

  • Changed BOT libraries to enable websockets and remove ngrok for security.
  • Began adding logic for Catalyst Cloud Monitoring onboarding.

0.1.8 (04-03-2024)

  • Edited README.
  • Renamed mc_user_sample.py to mc_user_info.py and commented out possible environment variables.
  • Added logic to merakicat.py to handle missing variables on import from mc_user_info.py.

0.1.7 (04-01-2024)

  • Added the ability to Check the configs of cloud monitored Catalyst switches for both translatable and possible Meraki features.
  • Included "with timing" and "with details" options on check drag-n-drop.
  • Renamed some called functions in external modules.

0.1.6 (03-26-2024)

  • Updated encyclopedia.
  • Migrated batch helper code for cleaner installation.

0.1.5 (03-23-2024)

  • Supports NM ports.
  • Merged nm-specifics into the encyclopedia.

0.1.4 (03-21-2024)

  • Downloads a fresh copy of the encyclopedia from my repo if the local copy is over 24 hours old.

0.1.3 (03-21-2024)

  • Code beautification with flake8.
  • Setting up for publishing automation.
  • Changed directory structure for publishing.
  • Released on PyPI.

0.0.14 (03-19-2024)

  • Option added for check with drag and drop files in bot mode.
  • Added missing timing in check report in bot mode.
  • Still not yet released on PyPI.

0.0.13 (03-18-2024)

  • Option added for detailed check report "with detail".

0.0.12 (03-15-2024)

  • Option for PDF vs. DOCX reporting in checker.
  • Layer 3 Interfaces (interface VLAN) supported.
  • Static routes supported.
  • Command added for "demo report".

0.0.11 (03-12-2024)

  • New reporting in checker.
  • Port-channel LACP is working and fast.

0.0.10 (03-08-2024)

  • Using a single mc_pedia.

0.0.9 (03-07-2024)

  • Using both config_pedia and check_pedia.
  • Changed to ngrok API for bot functionality

0.0.8 (03-01-2024)

  • Lots of comment blocks added.

0.0.7 (03-01-2024)

  • Now using batch port updates to Meraki dashboard.

0.0.6 (03-01-2024)

  • Some light refactoring of mc_translate module.
  • More prep work for Uplink config.

0.0.5 (02-29-2024)

  • Added Catalyst NM module recognition and prep work for Uplink config.

0.0.4 (02-28-2024)

  • Removed external data fetch for list of unsupported features in prep for adding display of features that are semi-supported.
  • Added command line help python merakicat.py help.

0.0.3 (02-27-2024)

  • Created command line option vs BOT.
  • Just try python merakicat.py convert host to .

0.0.2 (02-26-2024)

  • Not yet released on PyPI.

0.0.1 (02-26-2024)

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