Automating Multi-vendor and Cloud Networks Using Ansible from Pluralsight

Over the past several years, many network engineers have leveraged Ansible automation in their enterprise networks. This course will expand those skills across multiple vendors, a centralized source of truth, and a cloud provider.

Managing expansive, multi-vendor networks without automation is nearly impossible today. In this course, Automating Multi-vendor and Hybrid Cloud Networks Using Ansible, you’ll learn to securely extend your on-premises network architecture into the cloud. First, you’ll explore various multi-vendor Ansible techniques, including leveraging vendor-agnostic modules and the NAPALM library. Next, you’ll discover the power of deploying a Single Source of Truth (SSoT) to track your network infrastructure. This course highlights NetBox, a popular open-source infrastructure management solution with a strong complement of Ansible modules and dynamic inventory plugins. Finally, you’ll learn how to integrate private and public cloud networks into a hybrid cloud network using an IPsec VPN. This architecture is extremely common in real-life enterprise deployments. And it introduces many new vendor products and services. When you’re finished with this course, you’ll have the skills and knowledge of Ansible network automation needed to design, implement, and manage complex automation systems in production networks.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

Multi-vendor Automation and Security Techniques

Configuration Management and Validation with NAPALM

Building and Referencing a Single Source of Truth with NetBox

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides foundational knowledge and expertise for those looking to strengthen their skills in network automation

Builds confidence by introducing learners to a variety of multi-vendor Ansible techniques

Reinforces theoretical concepts with practical implementation through hands-on labs and interactive materials

Gains a comprehensive grasp through the exploration of IPsec VPNs and hybrid cloud networks

Nick Russo, an experienced instructor, provides valuable guidance throughout the course

Note, however, that the course requires familiarity with Ansible automation, potentially limiting accessibility for complete beginners

Reviews summary

Ansible automation for hybrid networks

According to students, this course offers a highly practical and comprehensive dive into network automation. Learners particularly appreciate its multi-vendor approach and strong focus on hybrid cloud integration, covering essential aspects like NetBox for a Single Source of Truth and secure AWS connectivity. While the course provides real-world applicability, some learners suggest it moves at a fast pace and is best suited for those with prior Ansible experience, making it ideal for experienced network professionals seeking to expand their automation skills.

Strong emphasis on using NetBox for infrastructure management.

"The module dedicated to NetBox as a Single Source of Truth is a standout feature of this course."

"I now feel confident in deploying and leveraging NetBox with Ansible for more efficient network management."

"This course really opened my eyes to the power of NetBox and its dynamic inventory plugins for automation."

Excellent guide to extending networks to the cloud.

"The section on securely extending on-premises networks into AWS using IPsec VPN was highly informative and practical."

"I appreciated the detailed walkthroughs on integrating private and public cloud networks, a common challenge in enterprise."

"It perfectly bridges the gap between traditional networking and cloud environments, showing real-world hybrid setups."

Addresses diverse network environments effectively.

"The strength of this course lies in its practical coverage of multi-vendor network automation using Ansible."

"I gained valuable insights into managing different network device types, which is crucial in my heterogeneous network environment."

"It's great to see a course that focuses on vendor-agnostic modules and NAPALM, making the skills broadly transferable."

Directly applicable skills for real-world scenarios.

"The hands-on labs and practical demonstrations were incredibly valuable, I could immediately apply the concepts to my work."

"This course clearly focuses on real-life enterprise deployments, which is exactly what I needed for my professional development."

"I found the exercises directly applicable to my job managing complex multi-vendor networks and integrating them with cloud services."

Fast-paced, comprehensive, but sometimes dense.

"The course covers a lot of ground quickly; I had to rewatch some sections to fully grasp the concepts."

"While very comprehensive, I sometimes wished for a bit more deep-dive into certain advanced topics."

"It’s a quick but thorough overview, which is great if you’re already familiar with some of the underlying concepts."

Best for those with existing Ansible foundation.

"I found this course built on existing Ansible knowledge, so a solid understanding of basics is recommended."

"This course is definitely designed for intermediate to advanced network automation engineers, not beginners."

"Learners new to Ansible might find the concepts challenging without prior hands-on experience in automation."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Automating Multi-vendor and Cloud Networks Using Ansible with these activities:

Review Cloud Networking Basics

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Reviewing the fundamentals of cloud networking will provide a strong foundation for understanding the concepts covered in this course.

Browse courses on Networking Protocols

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Read articles or blog posts about cloud networking concepts.
Review documentation or tutorials on specific cloud networking technologies.
Experiment with networking features in a cloud environment (e.g., AWS)

Practice Ansible commands and syntax

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Solidify your grasp of Ansible commands and syntax through repetitive exercises. This will enhance your proficiency in writing and executing Ansible playbooks, ensuring smooth and efficient network automation.

Browse courses on Ansible

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Find online resources or create your own practice exercises
Practice executing Ansible commands
Review and understand the syntax and functionality of each command

Review Ansible Networking Fundamentals

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Reviewing Ansible fundamentals will provide you with a solid base of understanding to enhance your learning throughout the course.

Browse courses on Ansible Automation

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Review Ansible installation and setup
Refresh your understanding of Ansible playbooks and modules
Recall how to create and execute Ansible inventories

16 other activities

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Review the basics of Python programming

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Ansible playbooks are written in Python, so reviewing the basics of Python programming will help you understand and write Ansible playbooks more effectively.

Browse courses on Python

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Take a Python programming course or tutorial
Read a book or article on Python programming
Practice writing Python code

Review the basics of network administration

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Ansible is used to automate network administration tasks, so reviewing the basics of network administration will help you understand how Ansible can be used to improve your network management.

Browse courses on Network Administration

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Take a network administration course or tutorial
Read a book or article on network administration
Practice performing network administration tasks

Create a study guide for the course

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Creating a study guide for the course will help you organize your notes and materials, and it will also help you identify areas where you need to focus your studies.

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Review the course syllabus and materials
Create a table of contents for your study guide
Write summaries of the key concepts covered in each lecture
Include practice questions and exercises

Follow a vendor-specific Ansible module tutorial

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Deepen your understanding of vendor-specific Ansible modules by following a guided tutorial. This will empower you to leverage the full potential of Ansible to automate complex configurations across diverse network devices.

Browse courses on Ansible

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Select a vendor-specific Ansible module
Find and follow a suitable tutorial
Complete the tutorial and implement the module in your Ansible playbooks

Become familiar with vendor-agnostic Ansible modules and NAPALM library

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Following these tutorials will help you develop the foundational skills needed to start using Ansible for network automation.

Browse courses on NAPALM

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Research and identify tutorials on vendor-agnostic Ansible modules and NAPALM library.
Follow the tutorials and complete the exercises provided.
Experiment with different Ansible modules and NAPALM functions.

Follow Tutorials on Ansible Automation

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Following hands-on tutorials will provide practical experience with Ansible automation techniques.

Browse courses on Network Automation

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Find online tutorials or courses on Ansible automation.
Set up a practice environment for Ansible.
Follow along with the tutorials and implement Ansible playbooks.
Troubleshooting errors and fine-tuning configurations.

Build an Ansible playbook to automate network device configuration

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Build a comprehensive understanding of Ansible by creating a fully functional playbook that automates network device configuration tasks, helping to streamline and enhance your network management capabilities.

Browse courses on Ansible

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Identify a network configuration task that can be automated
Design and develop the Ansible playbook
Test and validate the playbook
Deploy the playbook to automate the task

Automate a simple network configuration task using Ansible

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This project will provide you with hands-on experience in using Ansible to automate network configurations.

Browse courses on Ansible

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Identify a simple network configuration task that can be automated.
Develop an Ansible playbook to automate the task.
Test and validate the playbook.
Deploy the playbook to the target network device.

Practice Ansible Playbooks

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Repeated practice with Ansible playbooks will enhance proficiency and confidence in automation tasks.

Browse courses on Network Automation

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Create a series of Ansible playbooks for different network automation tasks.
Run the playbooks on test networks to verify functionality.
Debug and troubleshoot any errors that may occur.
Optimize the playbooks for efficiency and performance.

Follow a tutorial on Ansible network automation

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Following this tutorial will help you get started with Ansible network automation, which is a key topic covered in this course.

Browse courses on Ansible

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Find a tutorial on Ansible network automation
Follow the steps in the tutorial to set up Ansible and automate a task

Practice Ansible playbooks

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Practicing Ansible playbooks will help you develop the skills needed to automate your network infrastructure.

Browse courses on Ansible

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Create a simple Ansible playbook
Run the playbook and observe the results
Troubleshoot any errors that occur

Create a blog post or article on Ansible network automation

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Creating a blog post or article on Ansible network automation will help you solidify your understanding of the topic and share your knowledge with others.

Browse courses on Ansible

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Choose a topic for your blog post or article
Research the topic and gather information
Write your blog post or article
Publish your blog post or article

Automate a task in your own network using Ansible

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Automating a task in your own network using Ansible will give you hands-on experience with the technology and help you see how it can be used to improve your network management.

Browse courses on Ansible

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Identify a task that you want to automate
Create an Ansible playbook to automate the task
Run the playbook and observe the results
Evaluate the results and make improvements as needed

Implement Ansible Automation in a Real-World Environment

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Applying Ansible automation to a real-world network environment will provide practical experience and demonstrate its benefits.

Browse courses on Network Automation

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Identify a suitable network environment for Ansible implementation.
Design and develop Ansible playbooks for the specific network configuration.
Deploy the Ansible playbooks and monitor the automated changes.
Evaluate the results, identify areas for improvement, and refine the automation process.

Create a Presentation on Ansible Automation Benefits

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Preparing a presentation will reinforce understanding and provide an opportunity to share knowledge with others.

Browse courses on Ansible

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Research and gather information on the benefits of Ansible automation.
Structure the presentation outline and develop supporting slides.
Practice delivering the presentation to improve clarity and impact.
Present the material to an audience (e.g., colleagues or a study group).

Consolidate Course Materials for Review

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Organizing and reviewing course materials will enhance retention and recall.

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Gather and整理course notes, assignments, and other materials.
Create a structured document or digital notebook for consolidated notes.
Review the consolidated materials regularly to reinforce understanding.
Identify areas where additional reinforcement is needed.

Career center

Learners who complete Automating Multi-vendor and Cloud Networks Using Ansible will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Network Systems Engineer

Network Systems Engineers are responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining computer networks. They may also be responsible for network security, troubleshooting, and performance tuning. This course may be useful for Network Systems Engineers who want to learn how to automate their network management tasks using Ansible.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Systems Engineer

Network Administrator

Network Administrators are responsible for the day-to-day operation and maintenance of computer networks. They may also be responsible for network security, troubleshooting, and performance tuning. This course may be useful for Network Administrators who want to learn how to automate their network management tasks using Ansible.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Administrator

Cloud Engineer

Cloud Engineers are responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining cloud computing systems. They may also be responsible for cloud security, troubleshooting, and performance tuning. This course may be useful for Cloud Engineers who want to learn how to automate their cloud management tasks using Ansible.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Engineer

DevOps Engineer

DevOps Engineers are responsible for bridging the gap between software development and operations. They may be responsible for automating the build, deployment, and testing of software systems. This course may be useful for DevOps Engineers who want to learn how to automate their network management tasks using Ansible.

See salaries and explore the career path for DevOps Engineer

Network Architect

Network Architects are responsible for designing and implementing computer networks. They may also be responsible for network security, troubleshooting, and performance tuning. This course may be useful for Network Architects who want to learn how to automate their network management tasks using Ansible.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Architect

Security Engineer

Security Engineers are responsible for protecting computer networks from security breaches. They may also be responsible for network security auditing, monitoring, and incident response. This course may be useful for Security Engineers who want to learn how to automate their network security tasks using Ansible.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Engineer

IT Manager

IT Managers are responsible for planning, implementing, and managing the IT infrastructure of an organization. They may also be responsible for IT security, budgeting, and staff management. This course may be useful for IT Managers who want to learn how to automate their network management tasks using Ansible.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Manager

Data Center Technician

Data Center Technicians are responsible for the day-to-day operation and maintenance of data centers. They may also be responsible for data center security, troubleshooting, and performance tuning. This course may be useful for Data Center Technicians who want to learn how to automate their network management tasks using Ansible.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Center Technician

Network Consultant

Network Consultants provide advice and guidance to organizations on network design, implementation, and management. They may also be involved in network security audits, troubleshooting, and performance tuning. This course may be useful for Network Consultants who want to learn how to automate their network management tasks using Ansible.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Consultant

Systems Analyst

Systems Analysts are responsible for analyzing and designing computer systems. They may also be responsible for systems implementation, testing, and maintenance. This course may be useful for Systems Analysts who want to learn how to automate their network management tasks using Ansible.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst

Software Engineer

Software Engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and testing software applications. They may also be responsible for software maintenance, documentation, and training. This course may be useful for Software Engineers who want to learn how to automate their network management tasks using Ansible.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Quality Assurance Analyst

Quality Assurance Analysts are responsible for testing and validating software applications. They may also be responsible for developing and implementing quality assurance processes. This course may be useful for Quality Assurance Analysts who want to learn how to automate their network management tasks using Ansible.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Analyst

Business Analyst

Business Analysts are responsible for analyzing and understanding business needs. They may also be responsible for developing and implementing business solutions. This course may be useful for Business Analysts who want to learn how to automate their network management tasks using Ansible.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. They may also be responsible for project budgeting, scheduling, and resource management. This course may be useful for Project Managers who want to learn how to automate their network management tasks using Ansible.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Technical Writer

Technical Writers are responsible for creating and maintaining technical documentation. They may also be responsible for developing and implementing technical writing standards. This course may be useful for Technical Writers who want to learn how to automate their network management tasks using Ansible.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer