Network orchestration tools are used to automate and streamline network management tasks, enabling efficient provisioning, configuration, and monitoring of network devices and services.
Here are some popular network orchestration tools:
- Cisco Network Services Orchestrator (NSO)
- Ansible
- Juniper Contrail
- VMware NSX
- OpenStack
- Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform
- Puppet
- SaltStack
- VMware vRealize Automation
- HPE Intelligent Management Center (IMC)
1. Cisco Network Services Orchestrator (NSO):
NSO provides orchestration and automation capabilities for multi-vendor network environments. It allows you to define and deploy network services across different devices and platforms using a model-driven approach.
Key features:
- Cisco Network Services Orchestrator (NSO): Provides orchestration and automation for multi-vendor networks, supporting service orchestration and configuration management.
- Ansible: An open-source automation platform that includes network automation capabilities. It allows for the definition and execution of automation tasks across various network devices.
- Juniper Contrail: An SDN (Software-Defined Networking) and network automation platform that simplifies the management and provisioning of network services in virtualized environments.
2. Ansible:
Ansible is a widely used open-source automation platform that includes network automation capabilities. It uses YAML-based playbooks to define and execute automation tasks across network devices from various vendors.
Key features:
- Agentless: Ansible operates without the need for agents on remote systems, simplifying deployment and management.
- Playbooks: Ansible uses YAML-based playbooks to define and execute automation tasks, enabling the automation of complex workflows.
- Infrastructure as Code: Ansible treats infrastructure configuration as code, allowing for version control and collaborative development.
3. Juniper Contrail:
Contrail is an SDN (Software-Defined Networking) and network automation platform from Juniper Networks. It provides network orchestration and automation features to simplify the management and provisioning of network services.
Key features:
- Software-Defined Networking (SDN): Contrail provides a comprehensive SDN solution, enabling network virtualization and automation for agile and flexible network infrastructure.
- Network Service Orchestration: Contrail simplifies the orchestration and management of network services, allowing for automated provisioning, configuration, and scaling of virtual network services.
- Multi-Cloud and Hybrid Cloud Support: Contrail integrates with leading public and private cloud platforms, facilitating seamless management and connectivity across multi-cloud and hybrid cloud environments.
4. VMware NSX:
NSX is a network virtualization and security platform that includes orchestration capabilities. It enables the automated provisioning and management of network services and policies in virtualized and cloud environments.
Key features:
- Network Virtualization: NSX enables the creation of virtual networks, decoupled from physical infrastructure, providing agility, flexibility, and scalability.
- Microsegmentation: NSX allows for granular network segmentation and security policies at the virtual machine level, enhancing security and reducing the lateral movement of threats.
- Distributed Firewall: NSX includes a distributed firewall that operates at the hypervisor level, providing east-west traffic visibility and security within the data center.
5. OpenStack:
OpenStack is an open-source cloud computing platform that includes network orchestration capabilities. It enables the automation and management of network resources, including virtual networks, routers, and firewalls, in cloud environments.
Key features:
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): OpenStack provides a comprehensive IaaS platform, offering virtual machines, storage, and networking resources to build and manage cloud infrastructure.
- Modular Architecture: OpenStack follows a modular architecture, allowing users to choose and integrate various components based on their specific needs, such as computing, networking, storage, and more.
- Scalability and High Availability: OpenStack is designed to scale horizontally, allowing for the expansion of resources and services as needed. It also supports high-availability configurations for improved system reliability.
6. Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform:
Ansible Automation Platform is a comprehensive automation platform that includes network orchestration capabilities. It provides a centralized control plane to define, execute, and manage network automation workflows.
Key features:
- Comprehensive Automation: Ansible Automation Platform provides a unified solution for automating IT tasks, including configuration management, application deployment, and orchestration.
- Workflow Automation: It allows users to create complex automation workflows by combining multiple tasks, playbooks, and roles into reusable and scalable automation processes.
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Ansible Automation Platform offers RBAC capabilities, allowing administrators to define user roles and permissions for secure access control and collaboration.
7. Puppet:
An infrastructure automation tool that supports network device automation and configuration management through its network automation capabilities.
Key features:
- Declarative Language: Puppet uses declarative language to define and enforce the desired state of infrastructure, making it easy to specify and manage configuration settings.
- Infrastructure as Code: Puppet treats infrastructure configuration as code, enabling version control, collaboration, and automated provisioning of resources.
- Cross-Platform Support: Puppet supports a wide range of operating systems and platforms, allowing for consistent configuration management across heterogeneous environments.
8. SaltStack:
A configuration management and orchestration tool that enables automated deployment and management of network infrastructure.
Key features:
- Event-Driven Automation: SaltStack utilizes an event-driven architecture to enable real-time automation and orchestration of IT infrastructure and services.
- Remote Execution: SaltStack allows for executing commands and running scripts remotely across a large number of systems, enabling efficient and centralized management.
- Configuration Management: SaltStack provides robust configuration management capabilities, allowing administrators to define and enforce system configurations across multiple nodes.
9. VMware vRealize Automation:
A cloud management platform with network orchestration capabilities for automating the provisioning and management of network services in virtualized and hybrid cloud environments.
Key features:
- Self-Service Provisioning: vRealize Automation enables self-service provisioning of virtual machines, applications, and infrastructure resources, empowering users while maintaining IT governance.
- Policy-Based Automation: It allows the creation of automation policies to enforce governance, compliance, and security rules throughout the provisioning and management process.
- Multi-Cloud Management: vRealize Automation offers comprehensive multi-cloud management capabilities, enabling the deployment and management of workloads across private, public, and hybrid cloud environments.
10. HPE Intelligent Management Center (IMC):
A network management and orchestration platform that provides automation and monitoring features for network devices and services.
Key features:
- Network Management: IMC offers comprehensive network management capabilities, including discovery, topology visualization, configuration management, and performance monitoring.
- End-to-End Visibility: It provides end-to-end visibility into network infrastructure, applications, and services, allowing administrators to monitor and troubleshoot issues effectively.
- Security Management: IMC offers security management features, including user access control, security event monitoring, and vulnerability assessment, to enhance network security.
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