How intent-based networks can help data centers repair themselves

Compared with conventional cars, drivers do not interfere or rarely intervene in self-driving cars. But what if a self-driving car can not only drive autonomously, but also self-heal errors and update routes? Self-healing technology may seem out of reach, but it already plays an important role in distributed data center networks that use intent-based networks (IBN).

Just as the final destination of a self-driving car needs to be programmed from the start, so does an automated data center. With IBN, network operators enter their intentions from scratch -- they want the network to achieve its exact purpose. So when the next day came, they were already leading. By operating from scratch, IBN systems transform data center networks into self-healing, proactive networks that provide efficiency, simplicity, and reliability to businesses.

Operations from zero

Network automation solutions such as IBN set the intent required for the network on zero days, and then IBN software is responsible for achieving that intent. Automation allows enterprises with distributed infrastructure to process their entire network as a unit, enabling IT teams to remotely push large-scale updates to a variety of devices in the network, regardless of location.

The IBN system can avoid a crisis before it disrupts the network. The system collects real-time data from the network and continuously validates the data to ensure that the network understands and meets the set intent. If any errors occur or deviate from the intent, the IBN system detects them and alerts the operator to accurately show them the source of the error before these issues become a major security threat. Network operators can even allow the system to automatically fix deviations from intent, creating a truly self-healing network experience.

In an IBM system, network operators can test whether the solution they want to push on the network will produce an error before deployment. Network operators can make any changes to the network, effectively simulating various "what-if" scenarios before actually deploying them to the network. Once changes are deployed, the system continuously monitors to ensure that intent is met -- and it lets operations know if a potential new solution will break that intent.

Proactive approach
In a changing world, IBN provides a solution to manage network requirements with distributed infrastructure. With automation and continuous validation, IBN can transform data center networks into their own self-healing machines and provide several key benefits:

(1) Efficiency
Automation helps operators handle a number of mundane tasks -- saving them from time-consuming manual labor and eliminating some of the human errors involved in the manual operation of IT networks. Because intent-based analysis identifies network exceptions and their root causes, automation can free up these network resources to handle more important tasks. The IBN system allows IT teams to operate more complex infrastructure without having to hire more staff. Automation simplifies processes and enables IT teams to focus on business strategies so they can stay ahead of the competition for companies that are struggling with limited resources due to outbreaks.

(2) Simplicity and reliabilit
IBN introduces simplicity and reliability through automation assurance. Starting from zero, the IBN system continuously verifies that the network is operating as expected from build to deployment and beyond. The end result is that the data center infrastructure continues to function as expected and alerts operations when it deviates from its objectives. Continuous validation is intended to improve reliability by using data to maintain the performance, security, and compliance of the network.

(3) Proactive, predictable solutions
Unlike monitoring tools that generate large amounts of data and react to outages afterwards, IBN is an active solution. By knowing exactly how the network should operate from zero to the next day, operators do not react to any unexpected errors. Instead, they are deploying IBN to observe the error before it occurs. By automating, the network can self-diagnose and adjust to avoid network disruption, resulting in a predictable operational experience.

IBN brings efficiency, simplicity, and reliability to proactive solutions that abstract complexity while reducing burnout and productivity in IT teams. Data centers paired with IBN can be transformed into self-healing networks that provide predictable operational experiences and prepare for the next crisis.