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 it 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

Admins create network profiles at the Fabric level, and regular users use them. Unless they have network_profiles_write permission, regular users cannot create network profiles, since this could pose a security risk, but they can use existing 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) terminate on the In-Band port, and how they terminate.

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 want 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 want 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, 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 want to use Auto or Manual:

• Strategy

If Auto, MetalSoft manages the strategy. If Manual:

• Zone Name - The Fibre Channel zone name prefix to use

Logical networks created from a profile with zone strategies inherit those strategies. You can override them 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, see Setting up Fibre Channel Storage.

Editing a network profile

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

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

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 is visible in the Infrastructure Designer for the consumer to select when using a Private network.