Apstra

Apstra

Apstra is a software company that provides an intent-based networking solution to automate and validate the design and deployment of data center networks. It simplifies network operations and facilitates infrastructure consistency across vendors.
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intentbased-networking data-center-automation network-validation

Apstra: Intent-Based Networking Solution for Automated Network Design

Apstra provides an intent-based networking solution to automate and validate the design and deployment of data center networks, simplifying network operations and ensuring infrastructure consistency across vendors.

What is Apstra?

Apstra is a software company founded in 2014 that aims to simplify data center network operations and management. Their main product is the Apstra Operating System (AOS), which is an intent-based networking solution designed specifically for data centers.

AOS provides a vendor-agnostic way to automate and validate the design, deployment, and operation of data center networks. It leverages intent-based networking to translate high-level business intents into specific network configurations across various hardware vendors like Cisco, Arista, Juniper etc. The key capabilities and benefits of AOS include:

  • Automated network design and deployment - AOS can auto-design optimal network architectures and build the corresponding configs for switches from specs like traffic patterns, security policies etc.
  • Centralized validation - Network configurations are continually validated against original intents for consistency. Any deviations are auto-remediated.
  • Unified visibility and troubleshooting - AOS provides an end-to-end view of the network with granular visibility regardless of the underlying hardware.
  • Multi-vendor support - AOS supports leading networking hardware from Cisco, Arista, Juniper etc. It handles differences between them at low level.
  • Operational simplicity - Being intent-based, AOS abstracts away low level device configurations allowing admins to focus on business policies.

In summary, Apstra AOS simplifies data center network operations by enabling organizations to manage the network through business oriented intents rather than device level configs while retaining vendor interoperability.

Apstra Features

Features

  1. Intent-based networking
  2. Automated deployment and validation
  3. Multi-vendor support
  4. Centralized management
  5. Closed-loop assurance

Pricing

  • Subscription-Based

Pros

Simplifies network operations

Improves efficiency

Reduces errors

Enables infrastructure consistency

Cons

Requires Apstra hardware

Limited vendor support initially

Steep learning curve


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