Red Hat Ansible Network Automation
Enabling next generation network operations
SIMPLE. POWERFUL. AGENTLESS.
First, server infrastructure. Now, network infrastructure. The same benefits of Ansible for compute nodes is now extended to physical networks, software-defined networks, and cloud-based networks.
Switches, routers, load balancers, firewalls, etc.
You have loads of existing networking gear. Ansible can help. Leverage the existing network CLI commands you know and love to get automating quickly across 45+ networking platforms.
Top-level controller management
SDN controllers can manage specific networking platforms, but what if you have multiple SDN platforms? Ansible can “manage the managers” and provide top-level automation for many purpose-built software-based controllers.
Interconnecting hybrid clouds
Moving compute workloads to and from private and public clouds sounds easy, but how do you build out and automate those networks in a repeatable and scalable fashion? Let Ansible handle the details while you focus on your workloads.
Featured network use cases
Pull facts
Do you know what you have?
Fact gathering is an extremely powerful activity with Ansible. Pulling information from networks such as software version, interface information (IP, MAC, MTU, etc.) much more can be queried, stored, and used in reports.
Back up configs
Everyone needs to do this.
Let’s face it, having a backup of a configuration for the network device is a critical activity for Network Operators. Ansible makes it easy to pull parts of or an entire configuration from a network device.
Validate configs
Have things changed?
It’s one thing to commit changes to the network, but are you sure it hasn’t changed? Configuration drift happens, especially when networks aren’t 100% automated, and manual network configuration changes still persist.
Ansible Network Automation features
Scale your network with Ansible Tower
How to scale your network with Ansible Tower
Operationalize automation with Ansible Tower. Ideal for distributed teams with large network inventories. Leverages Ansible Roles and Playbooks under the hood for maximum flexibility and scalability.
- Execute tasks on schedules (planned or unplanned outage windows)
- Support for local or LDAP-based Role-based Access Controls
- TACACS authentication
- Enhanced logging
- Support for Workflows, chaining of Playbooks for modular reusability
- RESTful API for integrating with external applications
Manage individual network activities with Ansible Roles
How to manage individual network activites with Ansible Roles
"DIY" can be daunting for Network Operators. Leverage a growing list of pre-configured and curated Ansible Roles and Providers to automate specific network tasks. Download supported Roles straight from Ansible Galaxy and “MIY” (Modify It Yourself) instead.
Config Manager Role
The Config Manager Role provides a platform-agnostic approach to managing the active (running) configuration file on a remote network device.
Cloud VPN Role
The Cloud VPN Role is a simplified management of “any-to-any” VPN connectivity for hybrid clouds. Connect between multiple vendors and multiple clouds such as AWS, OpenStack, Azure, Cisco CSR, VyOS, RHEL and more.
Yang Role
The Yang Role standardizes parsing and configuration of Yang models in a platform agnostic way. Schemas can be pulled from select network devices, its JSON configuration validated, the JSON config converted to XML, and then pushed via NETCONF connections.
Build customized automation with Ansible Playbooks
How to build customized automation with Ansible Playbooks
Extensive developer support for ground-up network automation. Built on the power and stability of Python but without the complexity. Agentless connectivity (Ansible Plugins and Modules) specifically developed for various networking endpoints.
Device connectivity support
Ansible Network Connection Plug-ins (network_cli, netconf, httpapi and others)
Full network platform support
- Arista EOS (CLI and eAPI)
- Cisco IOS, IOS XE, IOS XR
- Cisco NX-OS (CLI and NX-API)
- Juniper JunOS
- NETCONF
- VyOS
- See all
Certified network platform support
- Cisco ACI, NSO, UCS
- F5 Networks BIG-IP, BIG-IQ
- Infoblox NIOS
- Nokia SR OS
- See all
Community network platform support
How to scale your network with Ansible Tower
Operationalize automation with Ansible Tower. Ideal for distributed teams with large network inventories. Leverages Ansible Roles and Playbooks under the hood for maximum flexibility and scalability.
- Execute tasks on schedules (planned or unplanned outage windows)
- Support for local or LDAP-based Role-based Access Controls
- TACACS authentication
- Enhanced logging
- Support for Workflows, chaining of Playbooks for modular reusability
- RESTful API for integrating with external applications
How to manage individual network activites with Ansible Roles
“DIY” can be daunting for Network Operators. Leverage a growing list of pre-configured and curated Ansible Roles and Providers to automate specific network tasks. Download supported Roles straight from Ansible Galaxy and “MIY” (Modify It Yourself) instead.
Config Manager Role
The Config Manager Role provides a platform-agnostic approach to managing the active (running) configuration file on a remote network device.
Cloud VPN Role
The Cloud VPN Role is a simplified management of “any-to-any” VPN connectivity for hybrid clouds. Connect between multiple vendors and multiple clouds such as AWS, OpenStack, Azure, Cisco CSR, VyOS, RHEL and more.
How to build customized automation with Ansible Playbooks
Extensive developer support for ground-up network automation. Built on the power and stability of Python but without the complexity. Agentless connectivity (Ansible Plugins and Modules) specifically developed for various networking endpoints.
Device connectivity support
Ansible Network Connection Plug-ins (network_cli, netconf, httpapi and others)
Full network platform support
- Arista EOS (CLI and eAPI)
- Cisco IOS, IOS XE, IOS XR
- Cisco NX-OS (CLI and NX-API)
- Juniper JunOS
- NETCONF
- VyOS
- See all
Certified network platform support
- Cisco ACI, NSO, UCS
- F5 Networks BIG-IP, BIG-IQ
- Infoblox NIOS
- Nokia SR OS
- See all
24/7 premium tech support
24/7 Premium tech support from the award winning Red Hat Customer Experience and Engagement Team
Featured integrations
Ansible includes hundreds of network modules to support a wide variety of network device vendors, including:
For enterprise-class networks:
Operationalize network automation with Red Hat Ansible Tower
Red Hat Ansible Tower is an enterprise framework for controlling, securing and managing your Ansible automation with a UI and RESTful API.
Ansible Tower builds on the underlying Ansible automation engine by adding control, access, security, auditing, and delegation capabilities required in the enterprise.
Resources
Landon Holley
Automation Architect, Red Hat
James Mighion
Senior Consultant, Red Hat
Network getting Started
This guide is intended for network engineers using Ansible for the first time
Docs
Community powered 640+ network modules
Network automation isn’t about getting ahead, it’s about keeping up.
