Best Practices for Network Automation

Symbolic representation of best practices in network automation, like cogs fitting together or a well-organized blueprint.

Successfully implementing network automation requires more than just tools; it demands a strategic approach and adherence to best practices. These guidelines can help ensure your automation initiatives are efficient, scalable, reliable, and secure.

1. Start Small and Iterate

Don't try to automate everything at once. Begin with simple, repetitive tasks that offer quick wins. This builds momentum, allows the team to learn, and demonstrates value. Examples include:

  • Automating pre/post-change checks.
  • Retrieving device information (e.g., interface status, routing tables).
  • Basic configuration backups.

2. Version Control Everything

Treat your automation scripts, playbooks, and configurations as code. Store them in a version control system (VCS) like Git. This enables:

  • Tracking changes and history.
  • Collaboration among team members.
  • Rollback capabilities.
  • Branching for development and testing.

3. Embrace Idempotency

Ensure your automation tasks are idempotent. This means running a script or playbook multiple times should have the same result as running it once. The system should only make changes if the desired state is not already achieved. Most configuration management tools (Ansible, Puppet, Chef) are designed with idempotency in mind.

4. Thorough Testing

Automation can amplify mistakes. Rigorous testing is crucial before deploying any automation in a production environment. This includes:

  • Linting: Check code for syntax errors and style issues.
  • Unit Tests: Test individual components or functions.
  • Integration Tests: Test how different parts of your automation work together.
  • Staging/Lab Environment: Test in an environment that closely mimics production.

5. Source of Truth (SoT)

Establish a reliable Source of Truth for your network data (e.g., device inventory, IP addresses, VLANs, desired configurations). Automation should read from and, where appropriate, update this SoT. This prevents discrepancies and ensures consistency. Tools like NetBox, Nautobot, or even well-structured Git repositories can serve as SoTs.

6. Modular and Reusable Code

Write modular scripts and playbooks. Break down complex tasks into smaller, reusable components or roles. This improves readability, maintainability, and allows for easier reuse across different automation workflows.

7. Comprehensive Documentation

Document your automation processes, scripts, and workflows. This includes:

  • What the automation does.
  • How to use it.
  • Dependencies.
  • Troubleshooting steps.
Good documentation is vital for team collaboration, onboarding new members, and long-term maintenance.

8. Security First

Embed security into your automation practices:

  • Securely manage credentials and secrets (e.g., using Ansible Vault, HashiCorp Vault).
  • Implement Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) for automation tools and scripts.
  • Regularly audit automation scripts for security vulnerabilities.
  • Log all automated changes for accountability.

9. Continuous Monitoring and Feedback

Monitor your automated processes. Collect logs and metrics to understand their performance, identify issues, and gather feedback for improvement. Set up alerts for failures or unexpected behavior.

10. Foster a Culture of Automation

Encourage learning and collaboration within the team. Provide training and resources. Celebrate automation successes to build buy-in and drive adoption across the organization.

By following these best practices, organizations can maximize the benefits of network automation, leading to more resilient, agile, and efficiently managed networks.