Cisco UCS TA Setup

Prerequisites

Tool or access	Purpose	Verify
Bash and curl	Run setup and REST configuration helpers	command -v bash curl
Splunk administrative access	Install the TA and configure tasks	Confirm search-tier REST access
UCS Manager account	Poll the selected domain	Store its password in a protected file

Workflow Overview

┌───────────┐   ┌────────────┐   ┌────────────────┐   ┌───────────────┐
│ Preflight │ → │ Install TA │ → │ Configure tasks│ → │ Validate data │
└───────────┘   └────────────┘   └────────────────┘   └───────────────┘

When to Activate

• Onboard a Cisco UCS Manager or Fabric Interconnect domain.
• Configure server records, default/custom templates, or cisco_ucs_task inputs.
• Diagnose missing cisco:ucs events or task failures.

Scope

This skill configures the Splunk add-on and task schedule. It does not change UCS infrastructure, request passwords in chat, or enable overlapping tasks without considering API and ingestion load.

Examples

Install the Cisco UCS add-on through the reviewed package path:

bash skills/cisco-ucs-ta-setup/scripts/setup.sh --install

Expected output: the package is installed or a topology-specific manual handoff is emitted without configuring a UCS password inline.

Run strict completion checks after configuring a task:

bash skills/cisco-ucs-ta-setup/scripts/validate.sh --completion

Expected output: package, server, task, index, cisco:ucs event, and dashboard handoff checks report [PASS] or exit nonzero.

Troubleshooting

Issue	Cause	Resolution
UCS login fails	Host, username, or protected password is wrong	Verify the account outside chat and retry
Task has no events	Template/domain access is incomplete	Review template and logs
API load is high	Tasks overlap or poll too frequently	Reduce task scope or increase intervals
No TA dashboards	TA supplies collection/parsing	Validate consuming content

TA Completion Gate

For every TA/add-on or dashboard companion run, satisfy the shared TA completion gate: configure and enable the data ingest path owned by this skill or its required companion, validate events or metrics in the target indexes/source types, and verify any pre-built/package-shipped dashboards are visible, macro-aligned, and returning data. If the package ships no dashboards, record that evidence explicitly and hand off dashboard use to the consuming app, ES/ITSI/ARI content, or readiness doctor.

Automates the Splunk Add-on for Cisco UCS (Splunk_TA_cisco-ucs, Splunkbase 2731) using the package's REST handlers and configuration model.

Package Model

Install with splunk-app-install --source splunkbase --app-id 2731. This skill then creates the cisco_ucs index, configures default class-ID templates, creates UCS Manager server records, and enables cisco_ucs_task inputs.

Credentials

Never ask for UCS passwords in chat. Ask the user to create a local secret file:

bash skills/shared/scripts/write_secret_file.sh /tmp/ucs_password

Then pass --password-file /tmp/ucs_password.

Workflow

1. Install and initialize:

bash skills/cisco-ucs-ta-setup/scripts/setup.sh --install

2. Configure one UCS Manager:

bash skills/cisco-ucs-ta-setup/scripts/configure_server.sh \
  --name UCS_PROD \
  --server-url ucs-manager.example.com \
  --account-name splunk \
  --password-file /tmp/ucs_password

3. Configure an input task:

bash skills/cisco-ucs-ta-setup/scripts/configure_task.sh \
  --name UCS_PROD_all \
  --servers UCS_PROD \
  --templates UCS_Fault,UCS_Inventory,UCS_Performance \
  --index cisco_ucs

4. Validate:

bash skills/cisco-ucs-ta-setup/scripts/validate.sh --completion

See reference.md for default templates and package-derived CIM/source details.

Validation Modes

Run the command above for diagnostics. Add --completion (alias --strict) to require the UCS index, all default templates, a UCS Manager server record, an enabled task input, and cisco:ucs events. This TA ships no standalone dashboards.