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Network Infrastructure Magazine | Friday, February 21, 2020
Network automation is steadily becoming mainstream. The good thing about it is that the network team does not need to become programmers to adopt it.
FREMONT, CA: Network management is not a new scenario. Typically, it requires multiple tools. However, selecting the appropriate tool depends on the task. As IT and network automation are akin to network management, the requirement of multiple tools is not a surprise. The following is the rundown of some of the tools and possibilities.
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Validation and Troubleshooting
Validation checks are important unit test cases for network change. It is vital to run the complete suite of validation tests post every change to ensure that the change didn't impact other network's parts. Running a complete suite of validation tests periodically, for detecting network failures that are hidden by redundant designs is a great idea.
Networking enterprises at the forefront of automation are developing continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) ambiance in which tests and changes are utilized with non-production test networks for validating modifications, and automatically pushing them to the network if there are no test failures. This process is similar to CI/CD process that modern software development teams use for application development.
Configuration Management
Model-based systems and intent-based configuration are an attempt to utilize abstractions that apply across an array of devices and interfaces. These techniques are usually combined with source-of-truth databases that explain the desired state of a network. Afterward, the network configurations are derived from the SoT database. A configuration management system ensures that the configurations are reflecting the desired state.
UC MACD
Moves, adds, changes, deletions (MACD) is a great deal for network subsystems, such as UC, where voicemail boxes, phone numbers, and video/voice endpoints must be frequently maintained. These automation systems are crucial when it comes to moving one voice system to another, enabling for translation of the UC system configuration between vendors. The considerable volume of daily changes facilitates the need for automation.
OS Management
A related task is the management of network device operating systems. Generally, networks are found where distinct operating system versions are functioning on multiple devices of a similar model. This creates an ambiance in which the commands are different, and bugs are distinct, which leads to unpredictable behavior. OS management can be integrated into a configuration management tool, or it can also be a separate tool.
The bottom line
Network automation is of great help to start to learn general software development methodologies. Therefore, enterprises can take benefit of many valuable tools that need some level of programming expertise to install and operate.
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