Intent-Based Networking Taxonomy Model
As organizations look to adopt self-operating or self-healing networks, IBN becomes an attractive solution. To cut through the IBN noise and determine the sophistication of solutions available in the market, this chart breaks down the levels of automation in network infrastructure. Click on each one for more detail.
Level 0: Basic Automation
Refers to the gradual introduction of capabilities, such as: generating device configurations from declarative specifications, supporting a heterogeneous infrastructure, and collecting and transporting real-time raw network telemetry reflecting the network operational state. CloseLevel 1: Single Source of Truth
This notion focuses on having a real-time, single system of record about the intent and operational state together, used to reason if the intent has been met. At this level, answers to the important questions about the state of your intent and your infrastructure are provided.
CloseLevel 2: Real-time Change Validation
This stage looks at how to manage and implement network changes —not just business rules or policy changes (e.g. add a new tenant and/or security zone, or take a leaf switch out of maintenance) — but also operational state changes or failures (e.g. ECMP imbalance or a failed transceiver).
CloseLevel 3: Self-Operation
In this final stage, actions are taken based on the real-time feedback loop between the intent and operating state of the network, resulting in a self-operating network.
Close“Intent-Based Networking brings the best software practices into network service lifecycle management. The benefit of starting with a good foundational architecture is a measurable increase in feature velocity.”
“Intent-Based Networking: What Is It?”
By Sasha Ratkovic