What Is Intent-Based Networking?
Intent-based networking is a software-enabled automation process that uses high levels of intelligence, analytics, and orchestration to improve network operations and uptime. When operators describe the business outcomes they wish to accomplish, the network converts those objectives into the configuration necessary to achieve them, without individual tasks having to be coded and executed manually.
Instead, an intent-based networking system automatically generates a full configuration of all devices based on the service description. It then provides ongoing assurance checks between the intended and operational state of the network, using closed-loop validation to continuously verify the correctness of the configuration.
Intent-based networking is a declarative network operation model. It contrasts with traditional imperative networking, which requires network engineers to specify the sequence of actions needed on individual network elements and creates significant potential for error.
Evolving to Intent-Based Networking
Each stage along the way is characterized by increasingly automated and simpler ways of deploying and managing network operations.
- Manual – Operations staff imperatively manage data center network devices using CLI, SNMP, and basic and discrete tools.
- Semiautomated – Scripts and rules-based management combine with traditional tools for basic automation, visibility into network data, and alerts that enable reaction to network events.
- Software-defined data center – A software abstraction of the network infrastructure enables faster, secure deployment of services and applications.
- Automation-centric data center – Builds upon the software-defined data center by automating provisioning, configuration, deployment, and orchestration.
- Intent-based data center – Continually collects and converts all pertinent data needed to take the automated actions that keep the network aligned with dynamic business intent, data center conditions, and policies.
Intent-Based Analytics
Intent-based networking is not only about intent fulfillment; it’s also about intent assurance. With intent-based analytics, networks remain in compliance with the original business intent throughout the service lifecycle. Intent-based analytics provide insights into network services, enabling teams to think about their network as a complete service.
Using analytics, intent-based networking enables faster root-cause identification when things go awry. It informs operators of conditions and insights that need attention as with traditional unified management approaches but filters out the irrelevant “noise” so it’s easier to see what’s most important quickly.
Courtesy:https://www.juniper.net/us/en/research-topics/what-is-intent-based-networking.html