Network automation for everyone in 2022

Network automation for everyone in 2022

Categories: IT Infrastructure Training and Certification|Published On: July 7, 2022|2.9 min read|
About the Author

Syazana Khan

A communications specialist and technology wordsmith with over 2 years experience in the IT and professional development training arena.

The state of networking – now. 

Network management has persisted with little to no changes over the decades despite substantial changes within network technologies. Traditional approaches have faltered by failing to keep up with rapidly evolving developer needs and application requirements. This has caused more organizations to implement automation into network services management. Automating network management provides more control and visibility into network resources. 

 

 

Will traditional approaches hold you back?  

Network automation can help you accelerate operations 

Traditional and manual approaches to network configuration and updates take too long and are prone to errors to effectively support the needs of rapidly shifting applications and developer requirements.  

These hands-on processes make it difficult to: 

  • Provide a high level of service to users.  
  • Deliver resources to application development and IT operations teams on demand.  
  •  Implement change control and configuration processes.  
  • Understand and manage inventory effectively.  
  • Maintain configuration standards across disparate network platforms.  
  • Build more proactive and self-sufficient NetOps teams. 

 

 

What is network automation? 

“Network automation uses programmable logic to manage network resources and services. It allows NetOps teams to rapidly configure, scale, secure, and integrate network infrastructure (layers 1-3) and application services (layers 4-7).” 

Network automation removes the manual steps necessary to manage networks—such as logging into routers, switches, load balancers, and firewalls to change configurations by hand before logging out. Network automation relies on chained scripts programmed at the command-line interface (CLI) level of an operating system (OS) or prepackaged automation software.

Why automate your network?  

Here are the benefits for organizations of all sizes, across industries: 

  • Productivity 

Improve your team’s ability to respond faster to increased demand for changes. 

  • Compliance 

Ensure continuous compliance with changing policies and regulations. 

  • Security  

Identify vulnerabilities and implement fixes across your entire network. 

  • Availability  

Increase network availability with more effective testing and management. 

 

How does network automation work?

There are a lot of ways to automate a network, and there are a lot of network components that can be automated. Most network automation solutions exist between 2 extremes: command line automation and automation software.

At the most basic level, you can automate network components using standard CLI commands and arguments. For example, Linux® operating system administrators can use Bash operators to chain events based on previous commands’ successes (&&) or failures (||). Or, users could compile command lists into text files—known as shell scripts—that can be repeatedly carried out all at once with a single execution command.

Automation software products can consolidate network tasks into prepackaged programs that can be selected, scheduled, and executed from the app’s front end. For example, Red Hat Ansible® Automation Platform can be used to automate network permissions and networks by packaging application programming interfaces (APIs), plug-ins, inventories, and modules into playbooks that users can browse, select, and run to automate network configuration, security, orchestration, provisioning, and more across service providers like AWS, Microsoft, and Cisco.

 

Trust Red Hat to help build skills and knowledge through flexible training options, real-world content and validation of skills through hands-on certification exams. Maximize your team’s skills and the impact of your organization’s technology investments with these recommended Red Hat® Training and Certification courses:

DO417: Microsoft Windows Automation with Red Hat Ansible
Microsoft Windows Automation with Red Hat Ansible (DO417) teaches you how to automate administration on Windows Server to enable your DevOps workflow.

DO447: Advanced Automation: Ansible Best Practices
Advanced Automation: Ansible Best Practices (DO447) teaches you next-level Ansible skills, helping you design, operate, and scale Ansible Automation.

DO457: Ansible for Network Automation
Learn how to use Red Hat Ansible Automation for Networking to remotely automate configuration of network devices and perform key tests and corrections.

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Read the full e-book: Red Hat’s Network Automation for Everyone 

Red Hat Training & Certification

 

 

 

About the Author

Syazana Khan

A communications specialist and technology wordsmith with over 2 years experience in the IT and professional development training arena.