Network Automation Glossary – CISCONET Training Solutions

AI-Powered Tools / Assistants

ChatGPT: AI assistant that generates network automation code (Ansible playbooks, Python scripts, Jinja2 templates) and helps troubleshoot workflows.
GitHub Copilot: Context-aware AI paired with VS Code or IDEs to auto-complete network scripts (Python/Ansible/YAML).
Cisco NSO AI Extensions: Enhancements to Cisco NSO for intent-based automation and predictive config validation.
Juniper Marvis: AI-driven assistant in Juniper’s systems for identifying network issues and auto-generating fix strategies.
Arista AVA: CloudVision-integrated AI that correlates events and takes automated remediation actions.
Ansible Lightspeed: AI tool from Red Hat/IBM that assists in writing and refining Ansible playbooks.
AIOps: AI/ML-driven platform that automates anomaly detection, telemetry analysis, and self-healing networks.

Automation & Scripting Tools

Ansible: Config management and orchestration tool using playbooks to automate device configuration and network tasks.
Bash: Unix shell for scripting CLI tasks, remote commands, and chaining automation tools.
PowerShell: Microsoft shell for automating Windows-based network environments and device configurations.
Python: Primary scripting language for network automation frameworks and tools.
Jinja2: Templating engine to generate dynamic network configs based on variables.
Module: Reusable component (e.g., Ansible module or Python package) to perform discrete network automation tasks.
NAPALM: Python abstraction package for network devices, enabling vendor-agnostic config and state management.
Netmiko: Python package building on Paramiko to interact with network devices via SSH.
Nornir: Python automation framework that gives granular control over inventory and execution workflows.
SaltStack: Automation orchestration tool used to manage network configurations at scale.
Terraform: Infrastructure-as-code tool to model and provision network resources declaratively.
Vagrant: Tool for managing reproducible virtual test labs for network automation code testing.
ZTP (Zero Touch Provisioning): Automated method to provision device configs on first boot without manual input.
StackStorm: Event-driven automation engine that triggers network orchestration based on alerts or logs.

Testing & Validation Tools

pyATS: Cisco Python test framework used to validate network configurations and perform automated testing.
Postman: GUI tool to test and explore REST/RESTCONF APIs for network devices.
Wireshark: Packet-capture tool to verify network traffic, validate automation changes, and debug configs.
Batfish: Open‑source config-analysis tool that verifies network intent, reachability, and compliance.

Network Modules / APIs

API (Application Programming Interface): Programmatic endpoint for configuring or monitoring network devices.
REST API: HTTP endpoint that uses JSON/YAML over HTTP to perform network automation tasks.
RESTCONF: A RESTful interface to interact with YANG-modeled device data.
gRPC: High-performance, structured RPC protocol used in network telemetry and config.
gNMI: gRPC‑based protocol for streaming telemetry and applying model‑driven config on network devices.
Netconf: Standardized protocol for editing and retrieving device config via XML over SSH.
ncclient: Python package for interacting with Netconf-enabled devices.
OpenConfig: Vendor-agnostic YANG models for standardized data representation and config automation.
Requests: Python package for making HTTP requests to network device APIs.
Webhooks: HTTP callbacks that trigger automation workflows based on device or system events.
URI (Uniform Resource Identifier): Concise path to identify device resources via APIs.
TOSCA: Standard for defining multi-vendor network service topologies and lifecycle.

Containers & Cloud Tools

Containers: Lightweight, isolated runtime environments used to simulate network services and CNFs.
Containerlab: Tool to construct container‑based network testbeds (e.g., routers, switches in Docker networks).
Kubernetes: Orchestrator that automates deployment, scaling, and management of cloud-native network services.
Helm: Kubernetes package manager used to deploy CNFs with pre‑defined automation templates.
CloudFormation: AWS IaC tool to define and provision network/cloud infrastructure on AWS.
Linux Control Node: Linux server running automation frameworks to connect to and manage network gear.
Azure Resource Manager (ARM): Azure’s equivalent of CloudFormation for defining network infrastructure as code.
Google Cloud Deployment Manager: GCP’s IaC service to deploy and automate network resources.
Crossplane: Extends Kubernetes for multi‑cloud and infra provisioning automation, including networking.

Version Control & CI/CD

Git: Distributed version control system for tracking automation code.
GitHub: Cloud platform for hosting Git repos, CI/CD workflows, and collaboration.
GitLab: Integrated Git and DevOps platform for pipelines, automation, and release management.
CI/CD: Pipelines that build, test, and deploy network configuration and automation code.
Version Control: Process of tracking changes to code/configuration to ensure auditability and rollback.

Data Formats & Modeling

YAML: Human-readable format for writing configurations, inventory files, and playbooks.
JSON: Lightweight data format used in network APIs and config templates.
XML: Markup used in Netconf and legacy API integrations.
YANG: Data modeling language for defining network device schema exposed over Netconf/gNMI.
Data Model: Structured representation of config/state (e.g., via YANG/OpenConfig).

Network Controllers & Tools

ACI (Application Centric Infrastructure): Cisco SDN platform automating policy and config across leaf/spine networks.
Catalyst Center (DNAC): Cisco enterprise network controller with assurance, automation, and API-driven workflows.
DevNet: Cisco’s ecosystem providing sandbox environments and APIs for network programmability.
OpenSSH Server: Secure shell endpoint on devices to enable CLI-driven automation and remote config.
Fabric: Spine-leaf or overlay architecture with centralized automation and controller integration.
Cisco NSO: Orchestrator for model-driven network automation across multi-vendor domains.

Environments & Editors

nano: Lightweight terminal-based editor used to write automation scripts on control nodes.
VS Code: Popular IDE for building Python/Ansible automation code with extensions.
Inventory File: List of devices/variables used by Ansible and automation tools to map actions to targets.
CLI (Command Line Interface): Traditional interface used for scripting repetitive device config tasks.
Loopback Interface: Stable virtual interface on routers/switches, often used for automation anchoring.
Playbook: YAML document defining a series of automation tasks for Ansible to execute.

Protocols & Telemetry

SNMP: Polling protocol to monitor device metrics and state, often integrated with automation workflows.
Syslog: Centralized logging feed that can trigger event-driven automation alerts.
Telemetry: Real-time collection of device state for proactive automation and monitoring.
Model-Driven Telemetry: Structured push model (via gNMI/YANG) delivering real-time data to automation systems.
EVPN: Control plane for VXLAN overlays, enabling multi-tenant network automation.
VXLAN: Overlay encapsulation used to provision multi-tenant data center fabrics via automation.
NetFlow: Network flow record protocol used in telemetry, capacity planning, and automation triggers.
HTTP/HTTPS: Transport used by REST APIs to interface with network devices securely.
SDN: Decoupled control plane model enabling programmability via centralized controllers.
Event-Driven Automation: Automated tasks triggered by network events such as link failures or syslogs.
LLDP: Discovery protocol feeding into topology automation and mapping.
BGP‑LS: Protocol exposing network topology state to SDN controllers and automation systems.
Segment Routing (SR): Traffic engineering protocol used in programmable, automated SDN networks.
LACP: Protocol for bundling links that can be configured dynamically through automation.