Nucleus for Rapid Network Automation

By automating configuration through various Cisco platform APIs, Nucleus removes manual steps, enabling faster, first‑time‑right deployments across Campus and Branch infrastructure.

Nucleus is designed to utilise features and platform APIs from Cisco. Our automation platform supports both Day 0 ZTP and Day 2 configuration changes:

Cisco Catalyst Centre

• All Cisco Catalyst 9100 Series Wireless Access Points

• All Cisco Catalyst Series Switches at the Access / Distribution Layer

Cisco Networking Cloud (Meraki)

• Cloud Management Catalyst Switches

• Meraki MX Security Appliance / Firewalls

• Meraki MS Switches

• Meraki MR / CW Wireless Access Points

• Meraki MG Cellular Gateways

• Meraki MV Smart Cameras

• Meraki MT IoT Environmental Sensors

• Z4 Teleworker Gateways

• Cisco ISE

Cisco Umbrella

Proven codified workflows and automated data validation checks reduce input mistakes and help prevent configuration drift, improving consistency and reducing troubleshooting effort.

We have developed different input methods to avoid human error, such as barcode automation with the ability to scan with a smartphone the barcode on the box of Cisco Wireless and Switches, reducing the number of manual touchpoints in infrastructure refresh projects.

Automation lowers engineering time and eliminates project inefficiencies such as prestaging and pallet warehousing, helping deliver on‑time, on‑budget outcomes and accelerating ROI from new technology investments. The time and cost savings vary depending on the scope and scale of the project and also the Cisco technology involved.

As a representative example, on a recent Wi-Fi 7 project rollout and refresh of 10,000 legacy Cisco Wireless Access Points we predict that an estimated 833 engineering hours (111 days) will be saved due to removing the prestaging and priming phase of the devices during the project.

Nucleus enables repeatable processes for future sites, with standardisation and validation built in, so your team can continue to benefit and deploy with confidence and consistency. Many customers have continued to use the Nucleus automation platform post-project as part of their IMAC process when new infrastructure is required as part of their BAU operating model.

Nucleus is a cloud-based SaaS platform and accessible from anywhere and on any device with a browser.

This approach empowers and enables onsite field technicians, who might not have prior Cisco domain knowledge expertise, gain the right level of access to complete the installation work required and without having to compromise security with access to critical infrastructure management platforms such as Cisco Catalyst Centre or Cisco Networking Cloud (Meraki)

Yes. We have had many niche and bespoke Nucleus based projects over several years where different outcomes or new features were required to speed up the project further.

Our Custom Design Solutions Team engage with you through a workshop driven approach to understand the functional requirements and will feedback with a proposal that captures the software development required and how we can support the desired outcome.

To deliver a console cable-free service delivery approach that saves large amounts of prestaging time by up to 95% and that delivers a gold-star standardised design, Nucleus utilises several features within Cisco Catalyst Centre that might otherwise go unused, such as PnP (Plug-and-Play), CLI Templates, SWIM, Network Profiles, VTL and our custom variable substitution intelligence feature.  

The Nucleus platform supports two types of reporting:

·       Real-time live reporting on the provision state of Cisco devices and networks from the Nucleus platform GUI.

·       Email reporting at the point of provisioning through an Engineering Configuration Report that is sent after new devices are provisioned, this is in the form of a PDF and XLSX. These reports can help in many ways, such as understanding asset allocation and onsite implementation timings which can help identify where performance improvements can be made.

Outlined are project metrics from three different types of project that have utilised the Nucleus automation platform to optimise the performance of a Cisco investment technology rollout.

Branch project highlights:

• Automation-first approach across 2,500+ locations.

• Fully automated the rollout of over 16,000 Cisco Meraki devices, including SD-WAN and Cisco Umbrella adoption.

• In one single project, we saved over £300K in engineering resource by provisioning each location in 20 seconds as opposed to 60+ minutes.

Campus project highlights:

• A fully automated service delivery approach for the rollout of LAN and WLAN, delivering consistent output and build quality.

• Over 6,000 Catalyst devices zero-touch provisioned through Cisco Catalyst Centre as part of a £20M+ infrastructure project.

• Several months saved in installation, room-based prestaging time, and physical storage.

Cisco Umbrella project highlights

• Rapid adoption of Cisco Umbrella through the augmentation of data extracted from the Cisco Meraki platform.

• Saving 500 hours of mundane and repetitive (60,000) tasks.

• Affordable (automated) service delivery via Data Cabling company.

Yes. The Nucleus solution is on Cisco.com on the Cisco Marketplace as part of being a “Strategic Technology Partner” and the Cisco ecosystem. We continue to be one of Cisco’s global leaders in automation, innovation creation, programmability, and API development. This has led us to being recognised by several innovation awards such as ‘Cisco UK&I Innovation Partner of the Year’.