Network automation tools have become the axis to control and enhance the ability of networking infrastructures in enterprises. Whether you own a small business or a medium-level business, you will need a secure, agile, and efficient networking infrastructure to conduct data transmission. Reliable network automation vendors help you establish such an advanced and secure networking architecture.
If you are large or hold complex networking infrastructure, you may need multiple vendors to set up a uniform and stable digital architecture. Here, maintaining a smooth decorum among various vendors can be a typical task. But, you can still achieve standardization in network automation tools. In this article, we are going to learn about the tools and techniques that can simplify multi-vendor network issues.
Challenges to multi-vendor networks
Before learning about the useful tools to manage a multivendor network automation architecture, we must first acknowledge the challenges and difficulties faced by enterprises due to this setup:
Hardware compatibility issues
Every network automation vendor would like to deploy its own kind of networking devices, peripherals, and other hardware. It is tedious to manage and configure different devices for their efficient performance. So, it becomes difficult to create harmony among different kinds of network automation tools.
Integration challenges
Having different standardized protocols, configurations, and specifications, multivendor networking often faces difficulty during integration with the existing infrastructure. Further, significant coordination is required among hardware, software, and networking architecture under multi-vendor networking architecture.
Security risks
Often, multi-vendor networking infrastructures are accompanied by faulty network security models, invalid/contradictory security protocols, and un-decisive measures. It is due to incompatibility issues generally.
Performance issues
Due to incompatibility and less secure cybersecurity measures, the networks are unable to perform at their full capacity.
The above-mentioned challenges demand a more robust, secure, and agile networking infrastructure in enterprises. Here, the need for modern tools and techniques occurred. Today, you will find a lot of tools to ensure the compatibility and standardization of multi-vendor networks. In the next section, we are going to learn about this.
Tools and techniques used to resolve multi-vendor networking architecture
Let’s have a good overview of tools and techniques that can help synchronize multi-vendor networks using various network automation solutions:
Ansible
Ansible uses YAML-based syntax to define various network automation tasks. The biggest perk of using Ansible is that you do not need to procure or purchase any additional software to perform actions. Further, vendors like Cisco, Juniper, Arista, and more are utilizing different modules of Ansible to configure, monitor, and troubleshoot purposes. Also, it allows stable network management in both small and large-scale environments.
SaltStack
If you are a large-scale enterprise, then you can deploy SaltStack for easy network orchestration, configuration management, and remote execution. It is a great tool to configure multiple networking devices at different locations in complex environments. It ensures event-driven automation.
Cisco DNA Center
It is basically Cisco’s network management and automation platform, made for multi-vendor networking environments. It is widely used by vendors like Cisco, Arista, and Juniper to execute various networking tasks like configuration, management, troubleshooting, etc. Cisco DNA Center allows intent-based networking for policy-driven network automation.
NetBrain
NetBrain is an ideal tool for managing complex network environments with great ease. It offers network automation and visualization solutions. Popular network automation vendors like HP, Juniper, Cisco, etc are using the visualizing features of NetBrain for simple management and configuration of enterprise-level networking solutions. It helps in network mapping and visualization.
Terraform
Terraform is perfect for managing both cloud-based and on-premises networking devices. It is an open source Infrastructure as Code(IaC) tool to automate various networking environments. It is one of the best tools for secure management of data center environments. Further, it supports both hybrid and multi-cloud environments. It ensures a modular and flexible approach for easy network automation.
NinjaRMM
NinjaRMM(Remote Monitoring and Management) is used for remote network automation tool management, monitoring, and configuration. If you have got deployed hardware procured from the vendor end, then using NinjaRMM will be wise. This tool ensures automated patch management. It allows proactive monitoring and alerting to secure your enterprise’s networking infrastructure. Further, it can easily be integrated with 3rd party network devices.
Puppet and Chef
These are powerful tools to manage, configure, and maintain an automated networking infrastructure from multiple network automation vendors. They allow hassle-free version control for network configurations. Additionally, they ensure customized automation scripts. Further, Puppet and Chef provide aid to network administrators to easily integrate multi-vendor network devices.
Summary
You can collaborate with a single network automation vendor and multiple vendors. If you are a large enterprise, then you will definitely need to hire a lot of automation vendors to establish a fully functional & advanced network infrastructure. Here, to maintain coordination and standardization among the networking settings, you will need to use some modern tools like Ansible, Puppet, Chef, etc. You can use these tools as per your budget and enterprise application requirements. Further, your network automation vendors and IT administrators will suggest the best tool to resolve standardization difficulties.
FAQs:
- How is network automation beneficial for enterprises?
Network automation tools reduce the need for manual intervention to execute every single operation. Your IT team can focus on more productive tasks, rather than routine maintenance, repair, upgrades, etc.
- How do network automation tools work?
Network automation tools are based on several AI, machine learning, IoT, and other similar tools. These tools allow real-time monitoring of cybersecurity threats, automated configuration, and hassle-free upgrades of new versions of the software you use.
- Is it necessary to consider a few network vendors instead of one?
You may need multi-vendor networking configurations if you own a complex and large enterprise setup. It will help you with easy management of different networking devices, their configuration, and maintenance.
- Are multi-vendor network automation tools reliable?
Most multi-vendor network automation tools are safe to use. They offer enterprises data and network confidentiality. However, it is advised to deploy only certified and approved tools to ensure data security and high performance of networks.