Overview of Cisco Crosswork Optimization Engine
Cisco Crosswork Optimization Engine is part of the Cisco Crosswork Network Automation suite of products. Cisco Crosswork Optimization Engine provides real-time network optimization allowing operators to effectively maximize network utilization as well as increase service velocity.
Crosswork Optimization Engine provides the following:
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A topology map that gives valuable real-time visualization of devices, links, link utilization, and TE tunnels (Segment Routing policies and RSVP-TE tunnels) in the network.
Note
Throughout this document TE tunnels refer to both SR policies and RSVP-TE tunnels.
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A UI that allows for easy manageability of TE tunnels. Crosswork Optimization Engine enables the network operator to perform the following tasks:
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Provision TE tunnels and modify or remove them using an intuitive workflow
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Continuously track TE tunnel dynamic path computations to maintain SLA objectives
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Preview TE tunnels before deploying it to the network
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Crosswork Optimization Engine function packs (with correct licensing) that provide closed-loop optimization to define the optimization intent, implement the intent, and continuously monitor, track, and react to maintain the original intent.
Cisco Crosswork Optimization Engine Architecture
In order to provide for better scalability and improved performance the data collection functionality has been separated out into its own VM and software package called Cisco Crosswork Data Gateway. The license to use Cisco Crosswork Data Gateway is included with the Crosswork Optimization Engine license. Cisco Crosswork Data Gateway gathers all the information from the monitored devices and forwards it to Crosswork Optimization Engine for analysis and processing. Crosswork Optimization Engine can then be used by the operator to manage the network or respond to changes in the network. In addition to collecting data for Crosswork Optimization Engine, Cisco Crosswork Data Gateway can also be configured to gather and forward data to other network monitoring and management tools.
There are two ways in which you can configure devices to send telemetry information to Cisco Crosswork Data Gateway and Crosswork Optimization Engine:
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(Recommended) Integrate Cisco Network Services Orchestrator (Cisco NSO) with Crosswork Optimization Engine
In this scenario, Crosswork Optimization Engine uses Cisco NSO as a provider to manage the devices for any required model-driven telemetry (MDT) sensor paths for data collection. Cisco NSO pushes the required configuration changes to the managed devices.
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Manually apply telemetry configuration on your devices
See the "Prerequisites for Device Telemetry" topic in the Cisco Crosswork Optimization Engine User Guide
Note |
Crosswork Optimization Engine is designed and tested to be used with the Cisco Crosswork Data Gateway 1.1.3 release. |
This guide explains the installation process to set up both Crosswork Optimization Engine and Cisco Crosswork Data Gateway for use. For information on how to use Crosswork Optimization Engine, refer to the Cisco Crosswork Optimization Engine User Guide.
For more information about the Cisco Crosswork Network Automation platform and Cisco Crosswork Optimization Engine, see the Cisco Crosswork Network Automation Product page on Cisco.com.