Streamlining Network Automation with NVIDIA Air Using Ansible and Git

NVIDIA Air, a cutting-edge platform designed for automation, is redefining network configuration and deployment by integrating tools like Ansible and Git. This approach aims to minimize manual errors and accelerate testing, offering a robust solution akin to modern DevOps practices, according to NVIDIA’s blog post.

Automated Network Configuration

At the heart of NVIDIA Air’s capabilities is its ability to automate every aspect of network design. Users can code, version, and set network components to trigger automatically, from creating network topology to configuring and validating network setups. This automation ensures consistency and accuracy, significantly reducing the time and effort required for manual configurations.

Utilizing Ansible for Deployment

Ansible, an open-source IT automation tool, plays a pivotal role in NVIDIA Air’s network automation strategy. It allows network administrators to manage infrastructure as code, deploying configurations across various operating systems seamlessly. Ansible is lightweight, agentless, and utilizes SSH for node connectivity, making it an ideal choice for automating NVIDIA Air configurations.

Administrators can define managed nodes within Ansible’s inventory files and use YAML-based playbooks to execute automation instructions. This process is conducted from the oob-mgmt-server, an Ubuntu node generated by Air, preinstalled with Ansible and Git, facilitating efficient configuration deployment.

Version Control with Git

For effective configuration management, GitHub or GitLab serves as the preferred version control systems. These platforms enable safe, external storage of configuration files, ensuring that network simulations maintain the benefits of version control while treating environments as if they were physical.

Most simulations within the NVIDIA Air Demo Marketplace utilize Git repositories to store configuration files, providing a secure and organized method for managing network configurations.

Challenges and Solutions

While NVIDIA Air excels in automating network configurations, challenges arise in environments with limited or no internet access. For air-gapped environments, where internet access is restricted, NVIDIA Air simulates a closed setting by enabling SSH and scp commands for file transfers. This method replicates the workflow of a true air-gapped environment, ensuring secure and controlled file transfers without internet dependency.

Getting Started with NVIDIA Air

For those interested in exploring NVIDIA Air’s capabilities, the platform is accessible at air.nvidia.com. With Ansible being open-source and Git offering free access for smaller entities, users can easily create simulations and experiment with network configurations. NVIDIA also provides workshops and labs, such as the Cumulus Linux and SONiC workshops, offering hands-on experience with Ansible setups.

NVIDIA Air’s integration of Ansible and Git marks a significant advancement in network automation, streamlining processes and enhancing efficiency for network administrators worldwide.

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