Network Operations with Ansible Tower,
ServiceNow, and Slack
Sean Cavanaugh Jason Edelman
Technical Marketing Manager Founder
[email protected] [email protected] WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY
Upcoming Events
F5 Agility
Ansiblefest 2018
Updates for Network Automation for Ansible 2.6
Porting Guide for 2.6
Network to Code with Jason Edelman
Integration of Automation into Existing Business Processes
Q/A
August 13-16, Boston, MA
October 2-3
New for Ansible Network Automation
Connection Plug-ins
● httpapi - New connection method that simplifies connections to
platform-specific APIs such as Arista eAPI and Cisco NXAPI. This method
replaces connection: local with connection: httpapi and then specifying the
specific platform via the ansible_network_os variable.
Modules
● net_get - downloads a large config file to target network device with SCP/SFTP
● net_put - copies a large config file to target network device with SCP/SFTP
● netconf_get - fetches the configuration and state data from remote NETCONF
enabled network device/host
● netconf_rpc - executes generic NETCONF RPC (remote procedure call) commands
that are defined by NETCONF standard as well as proprietary RPC-based NETCONF
capabilities supported by the remote network device/host
New for Ansible Network Automation
Platform Support
● Cisco Meraki
● Extreme Networks
a. SLXOS
b. EXOS
● F5 BIG-IQ
● Infoblox - Fully supported with Red Hat Subscription
● Ubiquiti EdgeOS
Ansible 2.5 -> 2.6 Porting Guide
Network Operations with Ansible
Tower, ServiceNow, and Slack
Jason Edelman
@jedelman8
[email protected]
www.networktocode.com
Who am I?
• Jason Edelman
• Network Engineer turned Automator
• CCIE 15394
• Founded Network to Code in 2014
– Network Automation Consulting/Training
Co-author of Network
Programmability and
Automation
www.networktocode.com
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Who is Network to Code?
• Founded in mid 2014
• Network Automation Solution Provider
– Next-gen consulting and integration company
– Focus on automation/programmability and reducing operational
inefficiencies
– Instructor-Led Network automation training
www.networktocode.com
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Network to Code Services Offerings
Workflow Automation & Software Development Training / Workshops
Optimization • Custom network Applications • Ansible for Network Engineers
• Review Network Operations • DevOps Tool Plug-Ins & • Python for Network Engineers
Workflows Integrations • DevOps Tools
• Optimize & Implement • Helps Eliminate repetitive • Network Device APIs
network automation solutions tasks • Private/Public Courses
• Drive Down operational • Data Aggregation
inefficiencies
www.networktocode.com
Our Vision
To revolutionize the way networks are deployed,
consumed, and managed while enabling the network
engineer of the future.
www.networktocode.com
Network Operations
• Ops of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
• Integrating Business Workflows with Ansible Tower
• Executing Pre-Approved Changes from Slack (via
Tower)
• Live Demo (time permitting)
www.networktocode.com
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Network Operations [YESTERDAY]
www.networktocode.com
Network Operations [TODAY]
www.networktocode.com
Starting to adopt Network Automation Today…
Increased Reliability Scaling out
www.networktocode.com
Integrating Automation with Existing Business Processes
www.networktocode.com
It Gets Better…
www.networktocode.com
Enterprise DevOps Framework
www.networktocode.com
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The Approver needs to approve the change
You define who the approver is and the workflow required that
may be many approvals
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The ServiceNow ticket moves to the scheduled state.
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You get to update the ServiceNow ticket directly
from your Ansible playbooks (snow_record)
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All via Ansible Tower
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It Gets Better…
www.networktocode.com
Enterprise DevOps Framework
www.networktocode.com
Slack Slash Commands
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Slack Slash Commands
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Slack Web Forms
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Have Mickey Configure the Network
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Mickey tells you what he’s doing!
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Mickey gives you links to Ansible Tower and
Service Now!
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Mickey even shows you the change was good!
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TIME FOR DEMO
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Closing Thoughts…
• Be the Automator, not the automated
• Automate when you can, Code when you must
• Automate All the Networks
• Always be Learning
Why wouldn’t you want to do your more job more efficiently and
effectively?
www.networktocode.com
