Unleash the power of network digital twins to revolutionize your network automation and operational efficiency.
Network automation promises efficiency, but deploying changes without thorough testing can be risky. What if there was a better way?
Network automation has rapidly evolved, and professionals driving it are often top-tier network engineers mastering the art of coding. The professionals driving network automation are often the top network engineers within their organizations. However, most network engineers didn’t grow up learning how to code; it’s a new skill they’re working hard to master.
To innovate and refine their skills effectively, they require a safe testing environment - a "sandbox" - where they can experiment without fear of disrupting production networks.
Much like software engineers utilize DevOps platforms, today's network engineers need a robust NetDevOps platform.
This article explores how network digital twins are essential for enabling effective and safe network automation through robust network automation labs within a modern NetDevOps framework. We'll explore what a network digital twin is, how it enables safer automation, and how CloudMyLab’s solutions can help you embrace this transformation.
For network engineers and IT professionals focused on automation, one concept that has gained significant traction is the network digital twin. While the term has been somewhat overused in the industry, at its core, a network digital twin refers to a replica of network devices in a non-production (lab) environment. It's a virtual representation, mirroring how your physical infrastructure behaves.
Creating a digital twin, however, is far from a simple task. Networks are uniquely complex, and building a non-production replica requires meticulous planning and execution. The complexity and scale of a digital twin depend on several factors such as the goals of the project, the extent to which the network can be emulated, available resources, and the need for physical devices to fill in gaps where emulation is not possible.
A digital twin allows you to test and validate network changes and automation scripts before implementing them in your production environment. This leads to more confident deployments and minimizes the risk of misconfigurations causing costly downtime. With a digital twin, you can innovate faster, confidently explore new technologies, and accelerate the learning process for your team – all without disrupting your live network.
While the benefits of a network digital twin for automation are clear, the path to implementation is not without its challenges. Building an effective digital twin is a complex undertaking that often requires careful planning and significant resources.
First, networks are often highly unique. There's no one-size-fits-all solution, and what works for one organization might not work for another. This complexity multiplies for organizations with large and diverse network infrastructures, encompassing different vendors, protocols, and legacy systems. Replicating all the nuances and interdependencies of such a network can be incredibly intricate.
Second, the cost and resource requirements of building and maintaining a digital twin can be substantial and depends on several factors:
Finally, one must consider the limitations of emulation. While many network devices and functions can be emulated, some systems require the use of physical equipment to accurately represent real-world behavior. This creates a need for a hybrid approach, combining emulated and physical components, which adds another layer of complexity. The management and configuration of hybrid environments are more complex than a fully virtualized environment.
A common misconception is that a digital twin must be an exact 1:1 replica of the production environment. For many large organizations with complex networks, replicating everything is not only unnecessary but also often prohibitively expensive and time-consuming. Instead, there is a growing trend towards 'mini digital twins'—scaled-down versions that serve as the minimum viable product required for effective testing.
Mini digital twins offer a more scalable and cost-effective approach to network testing. They provide the essential elements needed for testing and validation without the overhead of replicating the entire network. This approach allows organizations to achieve their testing goals more efficiently while managing costs and resources effectively.
A mini digital twin is a scaled-down version, a realistic representation of the most critical parts of your network, designed for testing and validation —scaled-down versions of the minimum viable product needed for testing. It’s important to understand that the goal isn’t to achieve a perfect replica but to create a functional representation that allows your team to test, learn, and innovate effectively. A well-planned and representative mini digital twin will be more valuable to your organization than a poorly designed or incomplete full twin.
At CloudMyLab, we understand that every network is unique, and that a successful digital twin requires more than just technology—it requires a deep understanding of your specific needs and objectives.
CloudMyLab was purpose-built to address these challenges by offering custom solutions tailored to each organization’s lab requirements. While there may not be an easy button for building a digital twin, our team is ready to roll up our sleeves and help customers create labs that are accessible, effective, and aligned with their goals.
Our process is rooted in customer collaboration:
We recognize that not all network components can be emulated effectively, and some require the use of physical equipment to provide a realistic testing environment. Therefore, we provide physical infrastructure for rent in our secure data centers, giving you access to real hardware when needed.
What sets this approach apart is that the emulated and physical environments can be merged, creating a cohesive, functional setup that’s as close to a digital twin as possible. A helpful analogy here is the difference between theoretical and actual yield: while a perfect digital twin is unattainable, we can help you achieve a highly effective and realistic approximation with this method.
To simplify the process even further, we provide comprehensive professional services. Our team of experts can work with you to configure the lab environment to mirror your production setup as closely as possible, and to integrate this with other components and infrastructure. For example, we offer seamless integration with popular network emulation platforms like EVE-NG, where applicable, enabling users to utilize existing configurations and tools.
Choosing CloudMyLab for your network digital twin development delivers tangible advantages that directly impact your organization's efficiency, innovation, and bottom line. Our approach, combining collaboration, hybrid solutions, and expert professional services, provides our clients with:
Reduced Risk: With our digital twins, you can test network changes and automation scripts in a safe, non-production environment.
Faster Time to Market: By enabling safe, rapid experimentation, our solutions accelerate the deployment of new network services and technologies.
Significant Cost Savings: Our focus on practical and efficient “mini digital twins” ensures you’re not investing in unnecessary complexity.
Improved Team Skills: Digital twins offer a powerful training ground for your network engineers.
Increased Efficiency and Agility: You can build and maintain your labs quickly, adapt to changing requirements easily and achieve a higher return on your testing efforts.
If you're facing challenges with network automation, or you are looking to optimize your current processes, we encourage you to take the next step. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your specific network needs, and explore how our digital twin solutions can help you achieve your goals. Our team of experts are ready to help you build a practical, efficient lab that aligns with your business objectives.