The appliance uses outbound templates to convert NIOS events into REST API and DXL messages. Outbound API templates control the integration and contains necessary steps to execute  outbound notifications. Infoblox supports session management and action templates that are available in the Infoblox Community Site at https://community.infoblox.com. You can either modify these existing templates or create new ones through Grid Manager using the existing templates. You use supported variables in these templates to get respective events and define actions you want to take for those events. You can also define additional extensible attributes that are necessary for certain templates.The appliance uses the scripts in these templates to process and send outbound notifications to the endpoints.

The following are the outbound templates that you can create:

• Session Management Template: A session management template contains specific variables about an endpoint, such as the timeout value and rate limiting information. For more information, see Creating Session Management Templates.
• Action Template: An action template defines the action(s) to be taken on the selected endpoint for the matching event type(s). It contains scripts the appliance uses to query respective event data from NIOS and to perform actions you want to take in response to the events. For more information, see Creating Action Templates.

Note: When you add an outbound template or make changes to an existing one, it may take a few seconds to a few minutes until the changes are propagated to all the members.

You can also export the schema from the appliance and use it to create the outbound templates. For information about how to export template schema, see Exporting Template Schema. Note that the exported schema is in the IETF JSON Schema format. For information about this schema format, see https://tools.ietf.org/html/draft-zyp-json-schema-04.

Note: To access online resources about this feature, including training videos and sample outbound templates for supported ecosystem partners, visit the Infoblox Community Site at https://community.infoblox.com.

Adding Outbound Templates

You can use the supported templates that are available in the Infoblox Community Site at https://community.infoblox.com. You can download these templates make necessary changes and upload them to the Infoblox Grid.

Complete the following to add or upload an outbound template to the Infoblox Grid:

1. From the Grid tab, select the Ecosystem tab -> Templates tab, and then click the Add icon. 
   or
   From the Grid tab, select the Ecosystem tab, and click Add Template from the Toolbar.
2. In the Add Template wizard, complete the following:

• • Click Select to upload an outbound template. In the Upload dialog box, click Select and navigate to the template, and then click Upload. Select the Overwrite the existing template check box to overwrite an existing template.

3. Click Add to add an outbound template. To add a session management template, see Creating Session Management Templates or Creating Action Templates to create an action template. 

4. Optionally, click View Results to open the Syslog Preview dialog and view all the syslog messages. For more information, see Previewing Syslog Events.

Modifying Outbound Templates

To modify an outbound template:

1. From the Grid tab, select the Ecosystem tab -> Templates tab -> template check box, and then click the Edit icon.
   or
   From the Grid tab, select the Ecosystem tab, select the template that you want to modify, click the Action icon  and select Edit.
2. The <Template Name>Template editor contains the following tabs from which you can modify information:
   • General: You can modify the Name and Comment fields. All other fields are automatically propagated with available information, such as the template type, vendor type, event type, and action type.
   • Contents: This tab displays the content of the uploaded template file. You can modify the template contents and the appliance validates the content for proper JSON format when you save the configuration. For more information about the format of the templates, see Creating Session Management Templates and Creating Action Templates.
3. Save the configuration.

Viewing All Outbound Templates

To view the list of outbound templates:

1. From the Grid tab, select the Ecosystem tab, and then click the Templates tab.
2. Grid Manager displays the following information:
   • Name: The outbound template name.
   • Vendor Type: The vendor type.
   • Event Type: The event type specified in the template.
   • Template Type: Displays the template type, such as Session Management or Action template.
   • Outbound Type: The endpoint type. This can be REST or DXL.
   • Comment: Comments that were entered for the outbound template.
   • Added On: Displays the timestamp when the template was uploaded to the Grid Master in this format: YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS, plus time zone.

You can do the following in this tab:

• You can select the Action icon  and do the following:
  • Edit: Select this to modify the outbound template information.
  • Delete: Select this to delete a template.
  • Export: Select this to export a template.
• Edit the outbound template information.
  • Select the outbound template, and then click the Edit icon.
• Delete an outbound template.
  • Select the template, and then click the Delete icon.
• Export the list of outbound templates.
  • Click the Export icon.
• Print the list of outbound templates.
  • Click the Print icon.
• Use filters and the Go to function to narrow down the list. With the autocomplete feature, you can just enter the first few characters of an object name in the Go to field and select the object from the possible matches.
• Create a quick filter to save frequently used filter criteria:

1. 1. In the filter section, click Show Filter and define filter criteria for the quick filter.

   2. Click Save and complete the configuration In the Save Quick Filter dialog box.

      The appliance adds the quick filter to the quick filter drop-down list in the panel. Note that global filters are prefixed with [G], local filters with [L], and system filters with [S].

• Sort the outbound templates in ascending or descending order by column.

Deleting Outbound Templates

You can delete a template anytime after you have created it.

Note: Before you delete a template, ensure that it is not in use by a notification or an endpoint.

To delete a template:

1. From the Grid tab, select the Ecosystem tab, and then click the Templates tab.
2. Select the template that you want to delete, and click the Delete icon.
3. Click Yes in the Delete Confirmation dialog.

Exporting Template Schema

The Export Template Schema feature allows you to export the session management and action template schema. You can use the exported schema to validate the templates before uploading them. The exported schema is in IETF JSON Schema format. It is a JSON file that is used to define and validate outbound templates that you want to upload to the appliance. If you want to create your own templates, you must follow this schema format. For information about this format, see https://tools.ietf.org/html/draft-zyp-json-schema-04.
Complete the following to export the outbound template schema:

1. From the Grid tab, select the Ecosystem tab -> select the Templates tab.
2. Expand the Toolbar, click Export Template Schema -> select Action Template Schema to export the action template schema or select Session Template Schema to export the session management template schema.
3. If there is only one template version, the appliance downloads the schema to your local system. If there are multiple template versions, the appliance displays the Export Action Template Schema or Export Session Template Schema dialog. In the dialog, select the outbound template and the template version that you want to export. The template schema is downloaded to your local system.