Release date: 06/24/2022

Shell version: 5.0.2

Document version: 1.0

• Overview
• Downloading the Shell
• Importing and Configuring the Shell
• Updating Python Dependencies for Shells
• Upgrading the L1 Shell and Datamodel
• Typical Workflows
• References
• Release Notes

A shell integrates a device model, application or other technology with CloudShell. A shell consists of a data model that defines how the device and its properties are modeled in CloudShell, along with automation that enables interaction with the device via CloudShell.

L1 switch shells allow CloudShell to manage networking connectivity between physical resources and private cloud provider Apps, such as vCenter.

For additional information, see the L1 Switches online help topic.

Netscout TestStream L1 Shell provides you with the capability to communicate with network topology managed by the Netscout TestStream switch.

The shell allows CloudShell users to interact with the device, for example, create and modify route mappings, get device information, and more.

For more information on the Netscout TestStream, see the official Netscout product documentation.

The Netscout TestStream L1 Shell is based on the Layer 1 Switch Shell Standard.

Release: Netscout TestStream L1 Shell

▪ CloudShell version: 8.0 and above

The shell's data model includes all shell metadata, families, and attributes.

The L1 switch families and models are listed in the following table:

The Netscout TestStream Chassis attribute names and types are listed in the following table:

The Netscout TestStream switch blades attribute names and types are listed in the following table:

The Netscout Generic L1 Port attribute names and types are listed in the following table:

This section describes the automation (drivers) associated with the data model. The shell’s driver is provided as part of the shell package. There are two types of automation processes, Autoload and Resource. Autoload is executed when creating the resource in the Inventory dashboard, while resource commands are run in the sandbox.

Note: You can only activate a TAP connection after activating a parent MapUni/MapBidi connection.

The Netscout TestStream shell is available from the Quali Community Integrations page.

The shell comprises:

This section describes how to import the Netscout TestStream L1 Shell and configure and modify the shell’s devices.

To import and configure the shell in CloudShell:

1. Make sure you have the shell’s zip package. If not, download the shell from the Quali Community's Integrations page.

2. Extract the Netscout TestStream shell zip package to the following location on the Quali Server machine: C:\Program Files (x86)\QualiSystems\CloudShell\Server\Drivers

3. Run the C:\Program Files (x86)\QualiSystems\CloudShell\Server\Drivers\cloudshell-L1-netscout_teststream\install_driver.bat file.

4. Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\QualiSystems\CloudShell\Server\Drivers

5. Make sure the NetScout_Horizon.exe file is unblocked.

   1. Right-click the file and select Properties.
   2. If you see an Unblock option, select it and click OK.

6. Import the new data model.

   1. In Resource Manager Client>Admin, right-click Resource Families and select Import.
   2. Select the C:\Program Files (x86)\QualiSystems\CloudShell\Server\Drivers\cloudshell-L1-netscout_teststream\datamodel\netscout_teststream_ResourceConfiguration.xml file.
   3. Click Open.

7. Create an L1 resource.

   1. In Resource Explorer, right-click Root and select New>Resource.
   2. Enter the Name
   3. Enter Address in the format <ip address or hostname>:<port>?teststream=<switch name>. Note: Address is Netscout Controller address.
   4. Select the L1 Switch family.
   5. Ensure that the correct Model Netscout TestStream Chassis and Driver NETSCOUT TESTSTREAM are selected.
   6. Click OK.

8. Auto Load the new resource.

   1. In Resource Explorer, right-click the new resource and select Configuration.
   2. In the Internal Resources pane, right-click the switch and select Exclude.
   3. Click the Auto Load button at the bottom of the Configuration tab.

9. Define the resource connections on the L1 switch.

   1. Right-click the resource and select Configuration>Connections.
   2. Connect a resource's port to a different port in the switch resource by clicking each port's Connected To button, selecting the resource's Family and Resource, and selecting the port to connect.
   3. Click OK in the Resource connection dialog box.
   4. Save your changes.

Shell installation installs the required dependencies from the shell's zip package.

The install_driver.bat script creates a virtual environment on the Quali Server machine under C:\Program Files (x86)\QualiSystems\CloudShell\Server\Drivers\cloudshell-L1-netscout_teststream and installs the required dependencies in this virtual environment from the extracted L1 shell folder (under ~cloudshell-L1-netscout_teststream\packages).

This section explains how to update your Python dependencies folder. This is required when you upgrade a shell that uses new/updated dependencies. It applies to both online and offline dependencies.

L1 shells do not have separate Python dependencies files. All dependencies are included in the L1 shell itself and are installed along with the shell. Therefore, in order to update the shell's Python dependencies, you must upgrade the shell. See Upgrading the L1 Shell and Datamodel.

Note: Upgrading an L1 shell requires the use of the QsMigrationUtility, which is provided out-of-the-box with CloudShell.

To upgrade the L1 shell and datamodel:

1. In the Quali Server machine, remove or rename the L1 shell's folder located in the Drivers folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\QualiSystems\CloudShell\Server\Drivers.

2. Extract the new L1 shell to the Drivers folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\QualiSystems\CloudShell\Server\Drivers.

3. In the extracted L1 shell's folder, run install_driver.bat.

4. Create a new folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\QualiSystems\CloudShell\Server\Configuration.

5. Copy the upgraded shell's datamodel file from:

   C:\Program Files (x86)\QualiSystems\CloudShell\Server\Drivers\cloudshell-L1-netscout_teststream\datamodel\netscout_teststream_ResourceConfiguration.xml

   to:

   C:\Program Files (x86)\QualiSystems\CloudShell\Server\Configuration.

6. Run C:\Program Files (x86)\QualiSystems\CloudShell\Server\QsMigrationUtility.exe.

To download and share integrations, see Quali Community's Integrations.

For instructional training and documentation, see Quali University.

To suggest an idea for the product, see Quali's Idea box.

To connect with Quali users and experts from around the world, ask questions and discuss issues, see Quali's Community forums.

For release updates, see the shell's GitHub releases page.