What is NetDevOps

Introduction

By integrating network automation into developing applications, NetDevOps enables software to comprehend the requirements of the infrastructure and be configured to generate networking resources as needed. Additionally, it is beneficial to dynamically observe, modify, and comprehend how the apps interact with the network environment.

Tools for automating the configuration and orchestration of hardware for cloud applications, including Ansible and Terraform, gained popularity as the public cloud movement progressed.

Additionally, these automation environments must encompass networking outside the public cloud, such as traditional business, hybrid cloud, and private clouds, and network operations must be segregated. This article covers detailed knowledge of  NetDevOps.

Elements of NetDevOps

Network orchestration, monitoring, and error correction are necessary for NetDevOps. A network management platform with APIs and REST/RPC interfaces is also necessary. Monitoring, analytics, and configuration management are crucial NetDevOps tasks.

However, other elements will be included to attain true NetOps – creating network management across a wide range of multivendor platforms and networking domains. Some of these include:

• Use of APIs and REST/RPC to drive software programmability of hardware

• Use of Git repositories for configuration source of truth for software development

• Pipelines for ensuring consistent, repeatable testing and deployment

• Tools for instrumentation and automation/orchestration

• As NetDevOps includes many distinct components, successful NetDevOps teams will probably work with multiple partners to create their ecosystem. A more complicated ecosystem will eventually emerge from combining services into entire NetDevOps platforms as the potential for NetDevOps grows.

What are the Benefits of NetDevOps?

It makes it reasonable that NetDevOps would support many of the same goals given its DevOps heritage.  An independent network automation architect, “DevOps is characterized by four principles: a holistic system thinking approach (view the whole system, not simply your piece), no organizational silos, rapid feedback, and atomization to reduce toil.”

Network operations need to catch up to other functional areas that support IT infrastructure in an organization, particularly regarding automation via network programmability.

NetDevOps “helps to improve agility and is particularly valuable for organizations implementing infrastructure as code because the network is often a bottleneck. “NetDevOps practices driving clear workflows and documentation, which helps with auditing and governance, as well as troubleshooting.”

Like DevOps accomplishes development and operations, NetDevOps also promotes improved collaboration amongst diverse IT departments.

Rise of NetDevOps

• The goal of NetDevOps is to make running networking equipment at scale as efficient as running server equipment at scale.

• It is an at-scale practice that makes use of automated management systems.

• “NetDevOps is a culture, movement, or practice that emphasizes network operators’ and architects’ interaction and coordination while automating the network design and modification process. It strives to create a culture and environment where network modifications can be built, tested and released more quickly, often, and consistently.

• “It is DevOps with the front of Net.”

NetDevOps: A Modern Approach to AWS Networking Deployments

Although networks have become more extensive and complicated over time, they have remained the base on which applications and services are run. To stay up with the fast-paced world of application development, this crucial component has stringent criteria.

Why NetDevOps?

DevOps, a set of cultural concepts, methods, and tools that improve an organization’s capacity for rapid application and service delivery, is where it all began. Due to accelerated modifications made possible by automation and thorough testing, the total Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) is shortened.

Why is a NetOps Approach Needed?

Today’s digital organization needs to be more agile than ever to stay up with changing client expectations.

Continuous network automation and validation aim to improve speed, availability, and agility while streamlining network operations.

Despite this, using agile platform methodologies must be used to optimize network troubleshooting, which takes up a significant amount of NetOps engineering labor.

To do this, DevOps has used tools like automation and orchestration to reduce response times and development cycles substantially.

Networks have historically been a barrier to agile development since they are manually managed, reactively implemented, and prioritize availability over performance.

The network and management must play a broader role in the development process due to the expansion of sophisticated digital organizations and the requirement for increased agility and quicker content delivery. Insights are desired by NetOps teams so that they can make decisions more quickly and have a complete picture of performance and health.

Insights are desired by NetOps teams so that they can make decisions more quickly and have a complete picture of performance and health.

Due to NetOps, which incorporates DevOps principles like automation, orchestration, and virtualization into network operations, network operations may now take part in the development process. NetOps and DevOps teams can share a common understanding of the data by ensuring consistency across infrastructure and application data.

How is NetOps Deployed in Enterprises?

In some circumstances, technology can be used to embrace NetOps. For example, programs like Ansible, Puppet, and Chef that were initially developed to assist in automating workflows have been improved to now consider network operations. DevOps teams can update devices automatically and adjust configurations thanks to these tools.

However, the technology is not the only way to install NetOps. To fully accept this approach, cultural changes might be necessary.

Previously, the goals of the development and network teams frequently conflicted, with the development teams placing more emphasis on solid applications and quick deployments. In comparison, the network teams emphasized capacity, availability, and dependability more.

Implementing NetDevOps enables businesses to use Infrastructure as Code techniques for their network infrastructure. You can accomplish that using one of the two methods below:

Software-Defined Network (SDN): Allows you to use software to regulate network behavior. This allows network operators to alter the behavior of their networks to support new services and specific users.

Using a Cloud Provider: The infrastructure required for code deployment must be installed by NetDevOps teams. Most cloud companies already offer this infrastructure as part of their services. For example, the infrastructure needed for IaC is provided via AWS CloudFormation. DevOps teams can use the same automation technologies in networking as in cloud settings.

Obstacles to NetSecOps Deployment

Organizations must overcome a number of challenges before they can implement NetDevOps:

Risk aversion: A data center outage would have a significant impact.  “As a result, network teams lack trust in automating data center networks and are risk apprehensive. In many enterprises, it is uncommon to have an accurate library of current network information, which is what NetDevOps practices require.

Technical debt: Another barrier is technical debt, which Lerner describes as disparate environments from a single vendor’s and configuration perspectives. Additionally, inconsistent or unclear workflows related to network activities limit adoption.

Skills gap: It is recommended to invest in personnel by shifting hiring, and training focuses towards specific software competencies, including Ansible and Python, community forums, and cross-pollinating networking teams with adjacent DevOps personnel.

Documentation: Many organizations lack the accurate repository of current network information that NetDevOps practices demand.

Culture: Adopting these ideas signifies a significant culture shift for many businesses. Implementing NetDevOps is likely to be challenging for organizations with a culture of low trust, top-down management, and strict change controls.

How does NetOps relate to DevOps and SecOps?

NetOps, DevOps, and SecOps are all relatively new methodologies in three areas—networking, development, and security—involved in successful agile deployments. Ideally, NetOps, DevOps, and SecOps are interdependent and form a collaborative process.

Conclusion

You can provide applications and services quickly by utilizing NetDevOps. Faster updates and a shorter network delivery lifespan result from this.