The Everything Feed - All Packet Pushers Pods TCG056: Network Automation Reality Check with Ivan Pepelnjak
Aug 20, 2025
Join networking expert Ivan Pepelnjak as he shares unfiltered insights on the realities of network automation. The conversation dives into why projects often fail and critiques popular tools like Ansible, Terraform, and Python. Ivan highlights the cultural barriers that hinder enterprise modernization and the complexities of managing both legacy and new technologies. With engaging anecdotes, he stresses the need for tailored solutions and integration of software engineering principles in networking for greater effectiveness.
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Say No To Bad Customer Promises
- Don't overpromise to customers and avoid selling features they don't need.
- If a solution is unnecessary or won't work, tell the customer no to build long-term trust.
Risk Aversion Driven By Organizational Incentives
- IT is often a hidden cost center so decision-makers prioritize not failing over adding value.
- Buying vendor tools shifts blame away from internal teams and reinforces risk aversion.
Match Tool To The Thing You're Automating
- The correct automation tool depends on what you're configuring: networks prefer declarative full-config replacement, clouds use imperative CRUD APIs.
- Terraform maps imperative cloud APIs into a declarative model; Ansible fits simpler device config replacements.