What is network automation and infrastructure as code?
Answer
Network automation uses software to provision, configure, test, and operate network devices — replacing manual CLI work. Benefits: speed (minutes instead of hours/days for changes), consistency (no human error, same configuration everywhere), scalability (manage hundreds of devices as easily as one), and audit trails (track all changes via version control). Tools: Ansible (agentless, YAML playbooks, most popular for network automation — uses SSH and APIs to configure Cisco, Juniper, Arista, etc.), Python with Netmiko/NAPALM (Netmiko for SSH connections, NAPALM for multi-vendor abstraction), Terraform (infrastructure as code — provision cloud networking resources declaratively). Infrastructure as Code (IaC) treats network configurations like software — stored in Git, peer-reviewed, tested, and deployed through CI/CD pipelines. Model-driven programmability: YANG data models, NETCONF/RESTCONF protocols replace CLI for network configuration. This is the future of network operations.