The Field Engineer’s Handbook: Configuring an Arista Networks Switch with Splunk

Transform your network monitoring capabilities with the powerful combination of Arista Networks’ advanced telemetry and Splunk’s powerful analytics platform. This comprehensive guide will walk you through establishing a robust integration between these industry-leading solutions, enabling sophisticated network visibility and analytics. 

Prerequisites 

Ensure you have the following components ready: 

• Arista switch administrative credentials 
• CLI access to the Arista switch 
• Latest stable release of Splunk Universal Forwarder RPM package
• AristaAppForSplunk SWIX file compatible with your EOS version 
• Splunk Cloud credentials (if using cloud deployment) 

Initial Arista Switch Configuration 

Enable eAPI Access 

Begin by configuring the essential eAPI access on your Arista switch: 

Configure Advanced Monitoring Features 

Enable comprehensive network metrics collection through sFlow: 

Optimize configuration visibility by disabling running-config cache:

Core Component Installation 

Universal Forwarder Deployment 

Install Splunk’s Universal Forwarder component: 

AristaAppForSplunk Implementation 

Deploy and configure the Arista-specific integration components: 

Restart essential services for proper initialization: 

Integration Configuration

Splunk Forwarder Setup 

Access and configure the forwarder settings:

Implement secure authentication: 

Note: Use <0> for development environments and <7> for production deployments.The use of <0> is recommended for development environments as the secret will be displayed in clear plain text, while the use of <7> will ensure an that the secret is encrypted and will not be displayed in that plain text.  

Data Collection Configuration 

Define your data collection parameters: 

Activate your configuration: 

Splunk Cloud Integration 

For Splunk Cloud deployments, follow these configuration steps: 

1. Access the bash console on the Arista switch using the EOS Command Line Interface. a. This will prompt you for your username and password. 
2. Navigate to /opt/splunkforwarder/etc/apps 
3. Deploy your cloud package:

   

4. Verify file permissions 
5. Execute Splunk restart from Arista Shell 
6. Validate deployment status:

   

   Validation and Monitoring 

   Integration Health Verification 

   Ensure successful deployment through these key verification steps: 

   1. Confirm data flow in Splunk interface 
   2. The following search is a quick way to verify if the data is flowing. It allows you to view which host have successfully sent data and the type of data they have sent

      

      2. Verify component network connectivity 
      3. Monitor forwarder status using show splunk-forwarder 
      4. Review system logs for potential issues

      Advanced Troubleshooting 

      Address potential integration challenges by verifying: 

      • Network connectivity and routing 
      • Authentication credentials 
      • Port configurations and firewall rules 
      • System and application logs 

      Future Optimization 

      Your Arista Networks and Splunk integration is now ready to deliver advanced network analytics and monitoring capabilities. This foundation enables: 

      • Real-time network visibility 
      • Proactive performance monitoring 
      • Advanced analytics and reporting 
      • Automated incident response 

      For advanced configurations and optimization strategies, consult the official Arista Networks documentation. Enterprise support is available through both Arista and Splunk to ensure optimal deployment performance. 

      Welcome to enhanced network monitoring!