articleschannelstagsspacestoolkit
NVIDIA Technical Blog

Simplifying Cumulus Linux Migrations

View Original
thumbnail

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. NVIDIA User Experience (NVUE)
  3. NVUE Migration Tool
    • Running the NVUE migration tool for NCLU conversions
    • Running the NVUE migration tool for Onyx conversions
    • Analyzing the output
    • Using the output
  4. Get started
  5. Additional Resources

Introduction

Migrating between major versions of software, such as Cumulus Linux, can pose various challenges for infrastructure management teams. These challenges include data format changes, feature deprecations, downtime planning, configuration translation, lack of familiarity, and user training. To address these challenges, NVIDIA Cumulus Linux 5.x, which includes the NVIDIA User Experience (NVUE), provides a simplified and more efficient solution for infrastructure management.

NVIDIA User Experience (NVUE)

NVIDIA User Experience (NVUE) is an object-oriented, schema-driven model that simplifies operations by offering a declarative CLI, RESTful API, and a single configuration file. NVUE replaces the Network Command Line Utility (NCLU) previously used in Cumulus Linux versions prior to 5.x. This transition to NVUE streamlines the configuration process and enhances automation capabilities.

NVUE Migration Tool

The NVUE migration tool facilitates the migration process from older Cumulus Linux versions (3.7 and higher using NCLU) to the latest Cumulus Linux version with NVUE. The tool supports conversion from both NCLU and Onyx configurations, making the migration smoother and more efficient.

Running the NVUE migration tool for NCLU conversions

  1. Back up the Cumulus Linux configuration by collecting the CL support file from the switch.
  2. Drag and drop the support file on the Cumulus Linux tab to initiate the migration process.

Running the NVUE migration tool for Onyx conversions

  1. Back up the Onyx configuration using a specific command.
  2. Copy the output and paste it to a text editor, saving it with the appropriate file extension.

Analyzing the output

When running the NVUE migration tool, examine the output for any instances of "SCRIPT UNSUPPORTED" or "FUTURE SUPPORT" to assess the impact of each feature on the migration process.

Using the output

Choose from various output methods, such as NVUE Bash Script File, NVUE Script Output File, NVUE Apply File, and NVUE Startup Yaml File, to copy the Cumulus Linux configuration to the switch. Note that breakout configuration may not validate successfully due to NVIDIA Air limitations, leading to errors in generating the NVUE startup YAML file.

Get started

To leverage the benefits of NVUE and accelerate the configuration conversion process, utilize the NVUE migration tool to initiate the migration to the latest Cumulus Linux version with NVUE support. For more detailed guidance on getting started, refer to the provided resources.

Additional Resources