Everything is networked nowadays: smartphones, smart TVs, office workstations, or servers. With growing networks, it is hard to manage them manually; it may take a lot of time and may invite errors. This is where network automation steps in.

In this blog, we will have a few discussions about network automation: what it is, why it is important, and what tools make it easier. This guide will take you through the basics in easy language from the perspective of a beginner or an interested person.

What Is Network Automation?

Network automation stands for software processing of management and control of network devices such as routers, switches, firewalls, and access points. Instead of logging into each device one by one and entering commands, automation tools help to complete tasks fast, consistently, and often without any human input.

Think of it like using a washing machine instead of washing clothes by hand. This saves time, reduces errors, and generally makes life more placating; that is how exactly network automations help.

Why Does Network Automation Matter?

Here are, in a nutshell, a few simple reasons why network automation truly matters:

1. Time-saving

Manual configuration of more than 100 network devices takes hours and days. Automation will accomplish the task in minutes.

2. Less Error Prone

Humans are error-prone when performing repetitive tasks. Automation tools execute the instructions to the letter, thereby minimizing misconfiguration chances.

3. Consistency

With automation, every device gets the same configuration, making for a less erratic and more predictable network.

4. Enhancing Security

Security risks arise because of outdated or incorrect settings. Automation ensures swift and accurate application of updates and patches.

5. Eased Scaling

Automation is an aid to cater to an expanding network in handling more devices without the addition of more personnel.

Common Network Automation Tools

These are some of the suggested tools that can be employed in the context of network automation.  Following is a list of some network automation tools that facilitate the Automation of Network Task Operations Efficiently:

1. Ansible

Type: Open Source

Language: YAML (easy text format)

Best for: Novices to Experts

Ansible uses simple "playbooks" to describe what you want to do: for example, config devices or update firmware. It has no agents, which means it doesn't install anything on the devices.

2. Python with Netmiko/NAPALM

Type: Libraries in Python

Language: Python

Best for: Those with semiskilled users

Uses of Python in combination with libraries like Netmiko or NAPALM give full control to create one's script that can do the following: push configurations, collect info, or fix automatically.

3. Cisco DNA Center

Type: Commercial

Manufacturer: Cisco

Best for: Enterprises with Cisco devices 

This is a complete network controller with a nice web interface. It automates configuration for devices, performance monitoring, and what users can do artificial intelligence troubleshoot issues. 

4. Terraform

Type: Open Source

Provider: HashiCorp

Best for: Cloud and hybrid network automation

You manage your infrastructure as code with Terraform. Terraform is great for automating cloud networks, such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud, and integrates well with other tools. 

5. SaltStack

Type: Open Source/Commercial

Language: YAML and Python

Best for: Large-scale environments.

SaltStack (now part of VMware) helps one manage and automate a thousand devices at once. It is known for speed and real-time event-driven automation. 

6. Puppet

Type: Open Source/Commercial 

Language: Puppet DSL (Domain Specific Language)

Best for: Infrastructure configuration management across servers and network devices.

Puppet automates the networking part of infrastructure management in addition to all other aspects of infrastructure management. It's agent-based and works well in environments where consistency is key. 

7. Chef

Type: Open Source/Commercial 

Language: Ruby (or DSL based on Ruby) 

Best for: DevOps Environments 

Chef lets you write "recipes" that define how network and server infrastructure is automatically configured and maintained. It's great if your other automations are server-side as well. 

8. NetBox 

Type: Open Source 

Manufacturer: NS1 

Best for : Documentation +(with all automation that can be integrated with it). 

NetBox is not an automation tool in itself but works great as a source of truth for your network. It keeps information about IPs, devices, and racks, and can work with Ansible or Python scripts to automate based on real network data. 

9. GLUware

Type: Commercial

Best for: Enterprise-grade automation without heavy code writing. 

GLUware provides a platform through a graphical interface for automating networks using pre-built templates and models. This kind of automation is uniquely designed for those companies that would like to have automated operations but would not want to build everything from scratch. 

10. Batfish 

Type: Open Source 

Made by: Intentionet 

Best for: Network verification, pre-deployment testing. 

Batfish is a network analysis tool that simulates a change before making it active. It checks configuration errors or misses policy conditions that will prevent reaching outages or risks in security.

Summary Table

How to Use Cases in Real Life

Here are a few real-life examples of how companies use network automation:

• Device Provisioning

When a new switch or router is installed, automation tools can configure it instantly with the correct settings.

• Firmware Upgrades

Keeping device software up to date is critical for security. Automation tools can push upgrades to all devices automatically.

• Backup & Restore

Automation scripts can regularly back up device configurations. If something breaks, you can restore it quickly.

• Network Monitoring

Automation tools can check device status, alert you if something goes wrong, or even fix it on the fly.

• Policy Enforcement

You can make sure all devices follow company rules (like password complexity or firewall rules) without checking each one manually.

• How to Get Started

Getting into network automation doesn’t have to be hard. So here is a simple plan to begin:

Step 1: Learn Basic Networking

Be sure you understand IP addresses and subnets, routing, and switching, and protocols like SSH and SNMP.

Step 2: Choose Your Tool

You may want to consider a beginner-friendly approach such as Ansible or Python using the Netmiko library.

Step 3: Set Up a Lab Environment

Create a virtual lab using GNS3, EVE-NG, or Cisco Packet Tracer.

Step 4: Start Small

Write a basic script/playbook, for example, to back up device configs or push a VLAN change.

Step 5: Move Towards More

Once comfortable, the idea would be to automate larger ones and explore other tools.

Network automation is no longer just a good thing; it has become a must-have for modern IT teams. It saves time, reduces errors, and keeps networks running smoothly. Automation tools help you do all this, whether dealing with a small office network or a very large enterprise.

Needless to say, an expert programmer isn't needed for starting. Tools such as Ansible are easy to use and have many online resources available. Start small, keep going, and soon you will automate like a pro!