IBN Model Simplifies Evaluation of Data Center Network Automation Options
Apstra® Inc., the pioneer of Intent-Based Networking (IBN), defined an objective Intent-Based Taxonomy model to help network operators cut through the marketing hype around IBN as they look to simplify the operations of their data center network.
“We are introducing a model intended to help CTOs and network operators evaluate and differentiate the maturity of IBN solutions with an objective set of criteria, beginning with Level 0 (low maturity/incomplete) offerings going up to Level 3 (mature/complete) offerings which enable companies to leverage full benefits of an IBN approach,” said Sasha Ratkovic, CTO and Founder of Apstra.
The lBN model addresses:
Level 0 IBN: Basic Automation
These offerings have the ability to:
- Generate device configurations from declarative specifications. For example: scripts running Ansible modules or other declarative libraries such as NAPALM.
- Support a heterogeneous infrastructure.
- Ingest real-time network status in a protocol- and transport-agnostic way.
At this level there is no presence of a single source of truth, which is a fundamental aspect of a mature IBN implementation, as it enables reasoning whether or not the intent has been met.
Level 1 IBN: Single Source of Truth
An implementation classified as Level 1 implements a single source of truth containing the intent and the network operational state. It contains data and state artifacts related to all aspects of a network service lifecycle: design, build, deploy, and validate. Level 1 can give you answers to important questions about the state of your intent and your infrastructure.
Level 2 IBN: Real-Time Change Validation
Building on top of Level 1, Level 2 IBN solution enables you to ask the right questions, at the right time to help assess the impact of business rule or policy changes, as well as the operational status changes and failures in real time.
Level 3 IBN:
Does the IBN solution validate and close the loop between the intent and operational state by providing observability, and deliver corrective actions on a path to self-operating networks? This step is impossible to tackle if one has not built solid foundations in Levels 2 and 3.
Additional Resources
- Read Sasha Ratkovic’s IBN Taxonomy blog
- Learn more about Intent- Based Networking
- Download the Intent-Based Analytics white paper
See a demo, or schedule a 1:1 to learn more about simplifying your data center network operations.
About AOS
AOS® delivers an Intent-Based distributed operating system and a turnkey data center application suite that offer game-changing network service agility, increased uptime and dramatically improved infrastructure TCO. AOS operates a network as one system, massively improving infrastructure agility while reducing operational expenses and automatically prevents and repairs network outages for dramatically improved infrastructure uptime. AOS’ distributed data store is a repository of all intent, configuration, and telemetry state, and hence acts as a single source of truth for your network. Its self-documenting nature streamlines compliance tasks. AOS introduced support for multi-tenancy and enhanced inter-rack L2 connectivity through Ethernet VPN (EVPN), providing a scalable control plane for VXLAN. Apstra allows customers to address their existing application connectivity requirements as they transition to modern L3 Leaf-Spine Clos architectures for better agility and scale. AOS is a multi-vendor solution which works across all major vendors as well as open alternatives.
About Apstra, Inc.
Apstra® pioneered Intent-Based Networking and Intent-Based Analytics™ to simplify how data center networks are built and operated. AOS® increases business agility through an autonomous or Self-Operating Network™ that delivers log-scale improvements in CapEx, OpEx and capacity. AOS is a hardware-inclusive, closed-loop intent-based distributed operating system that automates the full lifecycle of network operations and enables the network to configure itself, fix itself and defend itself. Apstra is based in Menlo Park, California and is privately funded. www.apstra.com | Apstra | Blog Twitter
