Network Automation-Demystified

Vikas Swami's photo
Vikas Swami
·

4 min read

Network automation is the process of using software tools, scripts, and programmable devices to automate various tasks and operations in a computer network. The goal of network automation is to streamline network management, enhance efficiency, and reduce manual intervention in network-related activities.

Traditionally, network management involved configuring, monitoring, and maintaining network devices and services manually, which could be time-consuming, error-prone, and limited in scalability. Network automation simplifies these tasks by leveraging software and programmable hardware to perform them automatically and consistently.

Here's a breakdown of key aspects of network automation:

  1. Configuration Management: Network automation tools can automatically configure network devices, such as routers, switches, and firewalls, according to predefined templates or policies. This ensures consistent and error-free configurations across the network.

  2. Monitoring and Troubleshooting: Automation tools continuously monitor network health, traffic, and performance. They can proactively detect and resolve issues, minimizing downtime and improving network reliability.

  3. Provisioning and Resource Management: Automation streamlines the allocation of network resources like IP addresses, VLANs, and virtual machines, ensuring efficient use and avoiding conflicts.

  4. Orchestration: Network orchestration involves automating complex processes that span multiple devices and services. This is particularly useful in large and dynamic networks.

  5. Security: Automation helps enforce security policies, update firewall rules, and respond rapidly to security threats, bolstering network security.

  6. Change Management: Automation tools facilitate the planning, implementation, and tracking of network changes, ensuring they are documented and correctly applied.

  7. Software-Defined Networking (SDN): SDN is a network architecture where the control plane is separated from the data plane, allowing centralized network management and configuration through automation.

  8. Scripting and APIs: Automation often involves scripting using programming languages like Python and utilizing APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) to interact with network devices and systems.

Benefits of Network Automation:

  1. Efficiency: Automating repetitive tasks reduces manual effort and speeds up network management processes.

  2. Consistency: Automation ensures uniform configurations and reduces human errors that can occur during manual configurations.

  3. Scalability: With automation, managing large and complex networks becomes more feasible and manageable.

  4. Improved Security: Automation enables rapid response to security threats and ensures consistent enforcement of security policies.

  5. Agility: Automation allows network administrators to adapt to changes quickly and deploy services faster.

  6. Cost Savings: By reducing manual efforts and improving efficiency, automation can lead to cost savings in network management.

Types of network automation tools and examples of specific tools for each category:

Configuration Management Tools:

  • Ansible

  • Puppet

  • Chef

  • SaltStack

Network Monitoring and Management Tools:

  • Nagios

  • Zabbix

  • PRTG Network Monitor

  • SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor

Network Orchestration Tools:

  • Cisco Network Services Orchestrator (NSO)

  • Juniper NorthStar

  • VMware NSX-T Data Center

Network Provisioning Tools:

  • Infoblox IPAM (IP Address Management)

  • BlueCat IPAM

  • PHPIPAM

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) Controllers:

  • OpenDaylight

  • ONOS (Open Network Operating System)

  • Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC)

Network Security Automation Tools:

  • Cisco DNA Center (for Cisco devices)

  • FireMon Security Manager

  • Tufin Orchestration Suite

Network Performance Optimization Tools:

  • F5 BIG-IP (Application Delivery Controller)

  • Riverbed SteelHead (WAN optimization)

  • Citrix SD-WAN (formerly known as NetScaler SD-WAN)

Network Inventory Management Tools:

  • Device42

  • SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager

  • NetBox

Network Change Management Tools:

  • ServiceNow IT Service Management

  • BMC Remedy Change Management

  • Jira Service Management

Network Troubleshooting and Diagnostics Tools:

  • Wireshark

  • Cisco DNA Center Assurance (for Cisco devices)

  • SolarWinds Network Troubleshooting Bundle

These network automation tools play a crucial role in simplifying and enhancing the management and configuration of network devices and services.

Summary:

  • Network automation is the process of using software tools, scripts, and programmable devices to automate tasks in a computer network.

  • The goal of network automation is to streamline network management, enhance efficiency, and reduce manual intervention.

  • Key aspects of network automation include configuration management, monitoring, troubleshooting, provisioning, orchestration, and security.

  • Automation tools can automatically configure network devices, monitor network health, allocate resources, and enforce security policies.

  • Network orchestration involves automating complex processes that span multiple devices and services.

  • SDN allows centralized network management and configuration through automation.

  • Automation often involves scripting using programming languages like Python and using APIs to interact with network devices and systems.

  • Benefits of network automation include increased efficiency, consistency, scalability, improved security, agility, and cost savings.

  • Network automation requires careful planning, testing, and validation to ensure proper functionality and avoid unintended consequences.

  • Documentation and monitoring are essential to maintaining a reliable and secure network environment.