This refers to the use of an open-source automation tool with networking devices running a specific operating system. It enables configuration management, application deployment, task automation, and orchestration. As an example, a network engineer might utilize this combination to automate the process of configuring VLANs across a fleet of network switches.
Its importance lies in streamlining network operations, reducing manual configuration errors, and improving efficiency. Benefits include faster deployment times, consistent configurations across multiple devices, and improved security posture through automated vulnerability patching. Historically, network management relied heavily on manual command-line interface interactions, which were time-consuming and prone to errors. The adoption of this automation approach represents a significant shift towards infrastructure as code in network environments.