POAP/PXE can be the first configuration management tools leveraged in the network device lifecycle (Day 0). The initial startup of the network device contains basic access configurations such as the IP connectivity for out-of-band management interfaces, console information, and setting of usernames and passwords.

It could contain more extensive configurations, as described above. POAP and PXE startup processes depends on multiple services that provide different functions. It is possible to host all of these services on the same server, if desired:

• DHCP - Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol to provide necessary information to the device being set up
• A script server for providing the initial configuration script download. TFTP- and HTTP-based script download mechanisms are supported with Open NX-OS
• A configuration and software server hosts a repository of software images, configuration, and additional components. Various transport protocols such as Secure Copy (SCP), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Secure File Transfer Protocol or Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) could be supported here

POAP / Componnent Architecture