DevNet Catalyst Center API Search

Purpose

Enable network engineers to quickly find Catalyst Center (DNA Center) API documentation for device management, policy automation, assurance, and network provisioning without manually navigating DevNet.

Tools Used

CatalystCenter-API-Doc-Search

Search Catalyst Center API documentation with keyword queries.

Parameters:

• query (string, required): Search terms (e.g., "device inventory", "policy automation")
• limit (integer, optional): Maximum results to return

Returns:

• API endpoint paths and HTTP methods
• Operation descriptions and summaries
• Implementation guide references
• Tags for categorization

Workflow

Basic Documentation Search

1. User requests Catalyst Center API documentation on a topic
2. Invoke CatalystCenter-API-Doc-Search with relevant keywords
3. Present matching API endpoints with descriptions
4. User selects an operation for more details
5. Provide implementation guidance based on returned documentation

Common Search Topics

• Device Management: Inventory, discovery, provisioning
• Policy Automation: Access control, segmentation, QoS
• Assurance: Health monitoring, issue detection, troubleshooting
• Network Design: Sites, buildings, floors, device templates
• Software Management: SWIM, image distribution, compliance

Example Usage

Search for Device Inventory APIs

User: "Find Catalyst Center device inventory APIs"

Tool: CatalystCenter-API-Doc-Search
Query: "device inventory"

Response:
- GET /dna/intent/api/v1/network-device
  → Returns the list of network devices
- GET /dna/intent/api/v1/network-device/{id}
  → Returns device by specified ID
- GET /dna/intent/api/v1/network-device/count
  → Returns the count of network devices

Search for Policy Automation

User: "Show me Catalyst Center policy automation APIs"

Tool: CatalystCenter-API-Doc-Search
Query: "policy automation"

Response:
- GET /dna/intent/api/v1/business/sda/fabric-site
  → Get SDA Fabric Sites
- POST /dna/intent/api/v1/business/sda/virtual-network
  → Add Virtual Network in SDA Fabric
- GET /dna/intent/api/v1/policy/access-contract
  → Get Access Contracts

Search for Assurance APIs

User: "Find Catalyst Center health monitoring APIs"

Tool: CatalystCenter-API-Doc-Search
Query: "health monitoring assurance"

Response:
- GET /dna/intent/api/v1/client-health
  → Returns overall client health
- GET /dna/intent/api/v1/network-health
  → Returns overall network health
- GET /dna/intent/api/v1/site-health
  → Returns site health summary

Search for Device Discovery

User: "Show me Catalyst Center device discovery endpoints"

Tool: CatalystCenter-API-Doc-Search
Query: "device discovery"

Response:
- POST /dna/intent/api/v1/discovery
  → Initiates discovery with provided parameters
- GET /dna/intent/api/v1/discovery/{id}
  → Returns discovery by specified ID
- GET /dna/intent/api/v1/discovery/{id}/network-device
  → Returns devices discovered in discovery

Error Handling

No Results Found

If search returns no results:

• Suggest broader search terms
• Try alternative terminology (e.g., "DNA Center" vs "Catalyst Center")
• Check spelling of technical terms
• Try related concepts (e.g., "inventory" vs "device list")

Server Unavailable

If DevNet server is unreachable:

• Verify internet connectivity
• Check https://devnet.cisco.com status
• Retry after a brief wait

Ambiguous Results

If too many results are returned:

• Refine search with more specific terms
• Add qualifiers (e.g., "device inventory GET" vs just "device")
• Filter by API category (intent, system, data)