In part 1 of this blog, we reviewed a sample functional representation of our Infrastructure-as-Code using Ansible. We discussed some of the benefits, such as repeatability and reusability. The ability to represent our infrastructure in well-defined templates, means with one (or several combination of ) templates, we could build the same complex environment over and over again. We could even create new …
Networking in the Cloud Age – (Infrastructure-as-Code using Ansible) Part 1
In a previous post we discussed some network automation approaches that can provide significant infrastructure improvements with little to no upfront investments. In this blog, we’ll review two of the approaches that can help move your infrastructure from the Iron Age to the cloud era. The diagram below depicts a Datacenter (DC) infrastructure consisting of a pair of Juniper border …
3 reasons why Network Automation should matter to your organization and how to get started
Besides new technologies such as Cloud and SDN that provides the promise of a programmable and flexible network infrastructure. Many organizations out there are still stuck dealing with baggage of the day-to-day operations of legacy devices that powers their network. The result is a reliance on manual processes that is often costly, time-consuming, prone to human errors and often the …
The Hype and Reality of SDN – Part 2
In the first part of the blog, I reviewed the need to understand the foundational challenges that gave birth to the Software Defined Network (SDN) movement. In particular, I briefly highlighted the absence of a well-defined abstraction as a fundamental problem that exists in today’s complex networks. In this blog, I’ll review what abstraction means and how SDN realizes it. …
Software Defined Infrastructure – The new WMD
It’s no longer news that Software-Defined Infrastructure SDI has revolutionized IT from both a technology and business perspective. Some of the effects of the revolution is that it is lowering the barrier to market places in every sector (cost reduction), democratizing innovation and simplifying the path for organizational transformation amongst others. All these are possible as technology becomes a commodity that …
The Hype and Reality of SDN – Part 1
As with all technologies, big developments are often accompanied by equally big levels of hype. Gartner calls this the “hype cycle.” Several Technologies such as IPV6 received huge projections and praises during their “hype-cycle”, only for the industry to see little or no reward. This reminds me of a common saying in the consulting circle that goes like this: …