The integration of production validation into network Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) is becoming increasingly essential. Infrahub and Netpicker work together to streamline the production validation process, helping you improve the efficiency and reliability of your network automation.

In this webinar recap, OpsMill’s Jordan Villarreal and Netpicker’s Otto Coster explore the core functionalities of both platforms, their unique features, and practical use cases that illustrate their capabilities.

Understanding CI/CD in Network Automation

CI/CD has revolutionized the software development landscape, allowing teams to deliver code changes more frequently and reliably. However, when it comes to network automation, the adoption of these practices often encounters challenges. Network engineers may struggle with integrating CI/CD into their workflows, leading to confusion regarding the tools and processes involved.

This is where InfraHUB and Netpicker come into play. By providing robust solutions that cater specifically to network automation, these platforms address the unique requirements of CI/CD in this domain. (Link to segment in video)

Introducing Infrahub

Infrahub serves as a next-generation, fully impartial source of truth for network automation. One of its standout features is vendor neutrality, ensuring that users are not tied to any specific vendor’s tools or opinions. This flexibility enables teams to work within their existing frameworks and tailor their approaches according to their needs. With Infrahub, users gain control over their schemas and data models. This means that the business data that the team manages can be integrated as a first-party citizen within the system, rather than as an extension or custom field. This level of control is crucial for organizations that want to maintain their unique processes while leveraging automation. (Link to segment in video)

Key Features of Infrahub

• Vendor Neutrality: Infrahub allows users to avoid being locked into any specific vendor ecosystem.
• Schema Control: Users can define their data models, enabling seamless integration with existing workflows.
• Git-like Actions: Infrahub provides Git-like interactions, allowing users to create branches of their data without needing to adopt Git directly.
• CI Checks: The platform enables users to perform continuous integration checks directly within its environment, enhancing data integrity.

Getting to Know Netpicker

Netpicker complements Infrahub by providing a robust testing platform for network engineers. It empowers users to validate their network designs, security measures, and compliance protocols. With a focus on developer independence, Netpicker allows engineers to write their tests using either Python or a user-friendly UI-based approach. The platform supports a wide range of network devices through SSH connections, making it versatile for various environments. Additionally, Netpicker leverages open-source libraries such as Netmiko to support over 117 vendors without the need for specific vendor modules. (Link to segment in video)

Key Features of Netpicker

• Testing Flexibility: Users can create tests in Python or utilize a UI, accommodating different skill levels.
• Configuration Backup: The platform provides tools for backing up device configurations and show commands.
• Modern Architecture: Netpicker operates on a completely Docker-based architecture, allowing for offline operation.
• API-First Approach: All user actions in the interface are essentially API calls, enabling extensive automation possibilities.

Live Demos: Integrating Infrahub and Netpicker

To illustrate the effectiveness of Infrahub and Netpicker, let’s explore two practical use cases that demonstrate how these platforms can be utilized together to enhance network automation.

Use Case 1: Comparing Configured Interfaces

In this scenario, Otto sets up a Cisco device to emulate a real network environment. Using Netpicker, we can quickly run commands against this emulated device to compare its configured interfaces with the source of truth defined in Infrahub. The process involves selecting the relevant device in Netpicker and executing a command to fetch the current interface state. This state is then compared against the data stored in Infrahub to ensure consistency and accuracy. (Link to segment in video)

Steps Involved:

1. Set up the emulated Cisco device in Netpicker.
2. Run the command to retrieve the configured interfaces.
3. Compare the results with the data in Infrahub.
4. Identify any discrepancies and take corrective action as necessary.

Use Case 2: CI/CD Pipeline Integration

The second use case focuses on integrating a Netpicker test into the Infrahub CI/CD pipeline. This allows for automated testing of proposed changes before they are deployed to production. In this example, Otto creates a Git repository within Infrahub, where we define checks and queries using GraphQL. These checks are then used to validate the state of the network against the proposed changes, ensuring that any modifications align with the organization’s standards and compliance requirements. (Link to segment in video)

Steps Involved:

1. Configure a Git repository in Infrahub.
2. Define checks and queries to validate the network state.
3. Run tests as part of the CI/CD pipeline to ensure compliance with design rules.
4. Receive immediate feedback on the success or failure of the proposed changes.

Conclusion

The integration of Infrahub and Netpicker provides a powerful solution for network engineers looking to enhance their CI/CD processes. By leveraging the strengths of both platforms, teams can achieve greater efficiency, reliability, and visibility in their network automation efforts. (Link to segment in video)

As the tech landscape continues to evolve, embracing tools that facilitate automation and validation will be crucial for organizations aiming to stay ahead. Infrahub and Netpicker not only simplify these processes but also empower engineers to take control of their network environments, ensuring that they can deliver high-quality services consistently.