When I grow up...

Network automation makes you healthy!

- Issue 9 - April 15, 2025

..., I'll be stable

Here are just a few of the benefits organizations gain once automation systems for networking have been embraced:

1. Eliminate configuration drift - no one-off device configurations without explicit scripting for exceptions
2. Eliminate operator error - no more mistyped configurations.  Operator error contributes to most service interruptions.  Testing, validation, and approvals can be built into automations.
3. Operating System Compliance - operate a single software version for each hardware type to reduce potential software "bugs" and simplify security risk analysis.
4. Simplified security remediation - if a security announcement occurs, remediation becomes straight forward: (1) Identify the risk does not apply to the configured devices, (2) Identify that a workaround can be deployed to mitigate the risk, (3) Identify an updated software version remediates the issue, (4) Accept the risk
5. Simplified software bug remediation - same process as above. If there is a software defect, a team can quickly identify the resolution and push the approved change to ALL potentially impacted locations, not just the one where the issue initially occurred.
6. Fewer support tickets - this one I can attest too from personal experience. In large environments, these measures bring stability to the environment and fewer service interruptions & incidents being reported.
7. Fewer off-hours support  calls - See #5, this works 24hrs a day x 7 days a week x 52 weeks a year
8. More sleep for engineers - Less demanding on-call off hour support benefits everyone!
9. Rested engineers are healthy engineers.

..., I'll turn the tables

The standardization automation drives in the infrastructure provides a foundation for success.

1. Implement a new feature or service at all locations consistently, reliability, and rapidly.
2. As the comfort level for automation increases, the risk and impact of changes decreases. This enables rapid configuration to enable the business to deliver new services quickly
3. Push or schedule those updates, then get a coffee and confirm all is well with the world.
4. Automate observability and troubleshooting tools to drive rapid resolutions to service interruptions! These tools indicating root cause and remediation actions.  Increased network reliability generates enhanced user experience!
5. Rapid deployment of services turns IT departments into a partnership of the business. Partnerships are positive relationships. We need all of these we can find in IT!
6. Empowers engineers with both context and detail to make informed decisions. No more stress about incomplete understanding and less stress troubleshooting complex networks.
7. Engineers with less stress are healthy engineers.

All smooth scaling from here - Unattributed

Thanks To:

• Shirley Manson, Butch Vig, Duke Erikson, and Steve Marker for their great hooks, moody, and energetic additions to my personal soundtrack.
• Anyone still reading this nonsense.  I appreciate YOU!
• A posting schedule - without a posting schedule, an entry like this would never occur.  (They can't all be delivering equal value, unfortunately!)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are entirely my own limited understanding and should not be mistaken for definitive answers. If you find any of my current statements questionable, please consult a more reliable source, like anyone that had more than 4 hours of sleep last night.