Networking: Best Practices for a NetDevOps Pipeline

The networking field is constantly advancing and adapting to new technologies. We have moved beyond the command-line interface and have embraced APIs. With the implementation of DevOps principles, we have now entered the era of NetdevOps. The networking industry can be divided into two groups: those who welcome change and those who cling to traditional methods. If you happen to be in the latter group, don't worry; you're not alone! 😀

Have you ever encountered incorrect configurations or network issues caused by human errors? Do network teams tend to pass the blame around when something goes wrong or when the network becomes unstable?

It's high time to move away from traditional networking management methods and adopt more efficient and reliable approaches.

The challenge

The constantly evolving technology sector is heavily influenced by user trends in today's digital world. As a result, networks need to be able to scale quickly to meet the demands of users. Unfortunately, the Command Line Interface (CLI) is no longer sufficient for modern networking and can create collaboration challenges for network teams.

Human errors can cause complicated problems that are difficult to control without automation in networks.

Did you know that a study conducted by Cisco revealed that 95% of network changes in the industry are done manually? Unfortunately, this can often lead to misconfiguration in the network. That's why many experts believe that automation is the answer to this problem. By automating network processes, we can not only reduce the risk of errors but also improve efficiency and productivity. By the way, are you still working as a network engineer on the OSI model's third layer?

NetdevOps is a new highway for modern networking

In the world of traditional networking, there are a multitude of issues that can contribute to a fear-based culture. From erroneous network configurations to time-consuming debugging, network teams often find themselves struggling to keep up with the constant demand for rapid keystrokes and reliable connectivity. However, with the emergence of netdevOps and other innovative technologies, we can now streamline our processes and eliminate many of these challenges.

DevOps has revolutionized the IT industry, and its principles are now being applied to networking, giving rise to the concept of "NetdevOps." By incorporating automation, NetdevOps has simplified complicated processes, enabling us to save time. With the help of DevOps approaches like CI/CD and IaC, network changes can be made incrementally, automated, and performed reliably and efficiently. This has resulted in significant improvements in the speed, accuracy, and consistency of network operations.

What is a netdevOps pipeline?

NetdevOps is a concept that emphasizes the application of DevOps principles in networking. It is a culture change and a shift in mindset for modern IT teams. The goal is to create a collaborative environment where developers and operations work together to streamline the process of creating and deploying configurations in a production environment. This is achieved through the use of automated tools and techniques, which are collectively referred to as a netdevOps pipeline. By leveraging this pipeline, teams can improve efficiency, reduce errors, and enhance the overall quality of their network infrastructure.

Core components of a netdevOps pipeline

There are four components similar to a DevOps pipeline :

• Configuration
• Build configuration
• Test configuration
• Release configuration

What’s the value proposition?

The implementation of a netdevOps pipeline comes with a host of benefits, including the promotion of daily collaboration amongst network engineers and the eradication of fear-based culture. Automation plays a crucial role in reducing human errors, while agility is of the essence for ensuring customer satisfaction in a rapidly changing digital society. Moreover, the pipeline facilitates continuous testing, thus streamlining the entire process and ensuring excellent network stability.

What’s next?

Each tech firm has a unique vision and set of goals that it aims to achieve. The success of a company's product pipeline depends on what it wants to offer, and a great plan is the key element to making a difference. A clear strategy serves as the blueprint upon which the pipeline will be created, ensuring that each step is aligned with the overall vision and goals of the company.

Are your objectives and goals S.M.A.R.T?

As you embark on the journey of building your pipeline, it's essential to start with a clear understanding of your goals and objectives. This will help you answer critical questions along the way and achieve the desired results. For example, ask yourself whether you want to increase your agility, optimize your configurations to deliver faster, or reduce operating expenses. Answering these questions will give you a holistic view of your pipeline and help you make informed decisions at each step of the way.

The zero-blame game culture

To create an effective pipeline, it's essential to understand your stakeholders. In today's IT organizations, there are various roles and departments, such as QA teams, management, developers, and operations, that play a critical role in the success of the project.

Accountability is key to identifying errors and understanding who is responsible for them. With the help of tracking systems and automated technologies, you can easily track the participation of various stakeholders in the pipeline activity. This approach eliminates the blame game and encourages a culture of responsibility and ownership.

Effective communication between teams is also vital for optimal achievement. By fostering an open and collaborative environment, you can encourage teamwork, reduce silos, and accelerate the delivery of high-quality software.

The ocean of tools

Selecting the right tools for your pipeline can be overwhelming with the plethora of options available. It's like selecting your first Linux distro 😀 - there are so many options that it's hard to know where to start.

To make the best choice, you must identify your objectives and goals first. Trying to use every tool available may not be the most effective approach, so it's important to choose wisely. Some of the popular tools used in modern software development pipelines include Travis CI, Jenkins, Slack, and Ansible.

Let’s get down to business.

After careful planning, you now have a comprehensive view of your pipeline. The next step is to bring everything together based on your specific requirements for flawless integration, automated testing, and reliable deployment. This will ensure that your workflows perform as intended, resulting in a smooth and efficient process.

There are various requirements for a reliable pipeline, and the following are :

• Design your pipeline and understand the workflows
• Implement a version control system and code repository strategies
• Define your environment management and configuration management

Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) is a vital process in modern software development and infrastructure teams. It allows for the automation of code or configuration testing and deployment to production, depending on the components present in the pipeline. By implementing CI/CD processes, teams can streamline their workflows, reduce errors, and deploy software or infrastructure changes with greater speed and efficiency.

Let’s discover the best practices

• CI/CD servers to automate the build, test, and deployment of network modifications: an excellent approach to smoothly push changes to production while avoiding manual errors that could lead to hours of troubleshooting.
• Use a version control system (VCS): an excellent approach to track network configuration and promote collaboration and responsibility amongst teams, revert to prior configurations at any moment.
• Automate network configuration deployment using a configuration management tool: an excellent approach to deploy changes quickly and reliably
• Define your network infrastructure as code using an IaC tool: enables the speedy construction and destruction of network resources to be automated.
• Test your network configurations: This is a fantastic approach to avoid unexpected network outcomes due to bugs.
• Document your configurations: it's the compass for guiding the team through various modifications; therefore, always document.

What’s in a netdevOps toolbox

Conclusion

In recent years, network teams have shifted from a culture of fear and blame to one of collaboration. While the command line interface (CLI) is still relevant, it can no longer keep up with the rapidly evolving technology trends. Fortunately, there are a plethora of tools available that can make a significant impact in the industry. However, it's important to note that not all tools can be used in a pipeline, and each company has its own unique needs.

Today, there's a zero-blame culture in network teams that encourages collaboration and lacks a fear-based mentality. This shift has enabled teams to learn, fail, and innovate without fear of repercussions. As a result, teams are better equipped to tackle complex challenges and drive meaningful change in the industry.

for more DevOps content, read my previous articles:

NetdevOps: https://hackernoon.com/from-devops-to-netdevops-where-are-we-now-in-networking

Shift left testing: https://hackernoon.com/shift-left-testing-why-security-should-start-on-the-left

Starting a devOps journey:https://hackernoon.com/moving-to-devops-discover-5-python-modules-to-shine-in-your-new-journey

The blame game culture: https://hackernoon.com/devops-from-blame-game-to-collaboration

Adopt NetDevOps today!