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Managing network profiles

Network profiles are a logical network template for consumers to select when setting up a Private network.

This allows the network admins to prepare the templates that make is easier for users without deep networking understanding to create their private logical networks from the correct template.

  • Before adding VLANs to the Network Profile or a Logical Network, please ensure they have been added to the Fabric Settings/VLAN Configuration/Logical Network VLAN Auto-Allocation Range of the Fabric

Creating a new network profile

Section titled “Creating a new network profile”

Network profiles are created at the Fabric level and are used by users. Unless given network_profiles_write permission regular users will not be able to create such profiles given the security risk this might generate but they can use the profiles.

Each network profile can have one or more VLAN entries. These VLAN entries control which VLANs (and in the case of the eVPN provisioner VNIs ) get terminated on the In-Band port and how.

To set up a VLAN/VXLAN network profile, go to Fabric Manager, Fabrics, Fabric Name, Network Profiles tab. Click on Add network profile. Fill out the required fields

  • Name - Name displayed in the UI
  • Label
  • Route domain (optional)
  • L3 Only (optional) - When enabled, logical networks created from this profile will be routed-access (L3-only) over point-to-point links. The profile will be saved as VXLAN and VLAN, VNI and subnet allocation settings will no longer be configurable
  • MTU - Default MTU (optional)
    and select Next.
    On the VLAN Allocation page, select the
  • Network Type (VLAN or VXLAN)
  • Allocation Strategy (Automatic or Manual).
    If Manual, then,
  • VLAN ID If VXLAN, select
  • VNI Allocation Strategy - Auto or Manual If Manual, then,
  • VNI - Enter VNI
  • Neigh Suppress - Controls neigh-suppress on switches for logical networks created from this profile
  • Auto Route Distinguisher - When enabled, logical networks created from this profile will use switch auto-generated EVPN Route Distinguisher
  • Auto Route Target - When enabled, logical networks created from this profile will use switch auto-generated EVPN Route Targets and select Next.
    On the IPv4 Subnet Allocation page, select whether you wish to enable:
  • IPv4 Subnet Allocation If enabled, then
  • Strategy - Auto or Manual If Manual, then,
  • Subnet - Select a subnet for IPv4 allocation If Auto, then,
  • Subnet Pools - Select subnet pools for IPv4 allocation
  • Prefix Length
  • Gateway Placement - Default or External and select Next.
    On the IPv6 Subnet Allocation page, select whether you wish to enable:
  • IPv6 Subnet Allocation If enabled, then
  • Strategy - Auto or Manual If Manual, then,
  • Subnet - Select a subnet for IPv6 allocation If Auto, then,
  • Subnet Pools - Select subnet pools for IPv6 allocation
  • Prefix Length
  • Gateway Placement - Default or External and select Add.

To set up a Fibre Channel network profile, ensure the Fabric Type under Fabric Settings is set to Fibre Channel and then go to Fabric Manager, Fabrics, Fabric Name, Network Profiles tab. Click on Add network profile. Fill out the required fields

  • Name - Name displayed in the UI
  • Label
  • L3 Only (optional) - When enabled, logical networks created from this profile will be routed-access (L3-only) over point-to-point links. The profile will be saved as VXLAN and VLAN, VNI and subnet allocation settings will no longer be configurable
  • MTU - Default MTU (optional)
    and select Next.
    On the Zone Allocation page, select whether you wish to use Auto or Manual
  • Strategy If Auto then MetalSoft will manage the strategy. If Manual
  • Zone Name - The Fibre Channel zone name prefix to use

Logical networks created from a profile with zone strategies will inherit those strategies. They can be overridden on individual logical networks if needed.

For more details and API examples see Managing Zone Allocation Strategies.

For more information on creating a Fibre Channel Fabric, please see Setting up Fibre Channel Storage

Editing a Network Profile

Section titled “Editing a Network Profile”

To edit a Network profile, navigate to the Fabric Manager, click on Fabrics Fabric Name, Network Profiles, Network Profile name

Click on Settings and then VLAN Allocation to changed the Allocation strategy. Changing the Allocation strategy from Automatic to Manual allows the ability to assign a specific VLAN.

Please ensure this VLAN is in the range added to the Fabric that the Network profile is created under (Fabrics, Fabric Name, Configuration, VLAN Ranges).

Click on the IPv4 Subnet Allocation tab to change the Allocation strategy, the Subnet Pools assigned, the Prefix length and the Scope. Changing the Allocation strategy from Automatic to Manual allows the ability to assign a specific IPv4 subnet.

Changing the Allocation strategy to Automatic allows the ability to assign a specific IPv4 subnet pool and prefix length.

Once the network profile is set up as desired, it will be visible in the Infrastructure Designer for the consumer to select when using a Private network.