Speaker: Chris Cummings, ESnet
Abstract: Network Orchestration is a defining factor in next generation networks, enabling operators to deliver more consistent and reliable services. Using the collaboratively developed Workflow Orchestrator and other commercial and open source tools, ESnet has been able to successfully Orchestrate and Automate network configuration deployment for large swaths of the ESnet6 network. This approach has enabled rapid deployment of new network services, as well as ensuring that configuration standards are well enforced when deploying network services. During this talk, we will provide a brief history of automation at ESnet, Introduce The Workflow Orchestrator, dive into what our goals were for orchestration and automation in the ESnet6 project, describe the technology and process that we used to meet those goals, and then provide a live demonstration of ESnet’s orchestration tooling in action. Finally, we will discuss the lessons we learned along the way while developing this tooling, providing time for Q&A.
Why Teams call analytics are critical to your entire business
A Real-World Approach to Intent-based Networking and Service Orchestration
1. A Real-World Approach to Intent-based
Networking and Service Orchestration
Chris Cummings
Full Stack Network Automation Software Engineer
Energy Sciences Network (ESnet)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
U.S. Department of Energy
Autocon0
November 13, 2023
2. Overview
• ESnet and R&E Networks
• Intent Based Networking and Orchestration Concepts
• Orchestration in Practice
• ESnet Provisioning Stack
• Orchestration Demo
6. What is Intent Based Networking?
• A high level definition of a Network Service
• Describes a service, but not how to implement it.
• Abstracts service offerings from implementation details
7. What is Orchestration?
• Coordination of multiple computer and network systems
• Translates network intent into network configuration
• Workflow-based method for provisioning services
• Method for ensuring consistency in service delivery
8. What is Orchestration NOT ?
• A replacement for network engineers
• A way to have one network engineer do the job of multiple engineers
• A single tool to run all of ESnet
9. Benefits of Orchestration
• Forces you to design and plan services, not config
• Creates consistent configurations for complex services
• Reduces the chance for human error
• Makes the network more reliable
• Allows engineers to focus on more design than deployment (less busy-work)
11. What are workflows?
Finite resources exist in
other systems
The workflow contains the
“Steps” needed to complete
the work
Orchestrator stores the final
product until we break it all
apart again
