What is Network Orchestration and How It Can Benefit Your Business?
Eric Murrell
Sr. VP of Sales
Modern network management incorporates complexities like network virtualization, cloud integration, and IoT deployment. Network orchestration can optimize resource utilization and improve service delivery efficiency. It can automate and streamline network provisioning, configuration, and management processes.
What is network orchestration? Briefly put, it refers to the centralized coordination of network services. It works like an orchestra conductor, directing individual musicians (network devices, applications, and services) to achieve specific objectives.
Who can benefit from it? Well, organizations with 20 or more network devices or 250 or more users should explore it. In particular, growing organizations with diverse user needs and security can benefit more. Sounds interesting? We welcome you to read the complete blog post.
As I said, network orchestration means the coordinated actions performed by a network controller to set up devices, applications, and services within a network. It leverages software and artificial intelligence (AI) to automate tasks like configuring, provisioning, and managing large-scale networks.
Critical aspects of network orchestration include:
- Centralized coordination by a network controller
- Use of programmable network devices
- Execution of automated tasks in a purposeful order
- Verification of each task’s success before proceeding to the next one
What Is a Network Orchestration Platform?
A platform for orchestrating networks enables the network controller to swiftly implement, verify, and manage updates within the network. Here is an example: when adding a new user, the orchestration platform ensures accurate configuration settings, proper authentication, and the right access levels.
Some examples of network orchestration tools and platforms are:
- Cisco Network Services Orchestrator (NSO)
- Anuta Networks ATOM
- Juniper Contrail Service Orchestration
- VMware vRealize Automation
- NetBrain Automation
Why Do You Need Network Orchestration?
Network orchestration is essential for modern network management for its ability to streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and support scalability. Organizations can save time and money, improve service levels, and reduce human errors.
Here are multiple benefits of network orchestration:
Automated Operations
Network orchestration automates repetitive tasks and reduces complexity in managing large-scale networks. It simplifies policy enforcement across all network domains and improves scalability. So you can easily add new devices and services to the same network.
Increased Network Availability
Automation inherent in network orchestration reduces the risk of human errors and manual intervention. It allows for quicker identification and resolution of network issues. Also, correct device configuration leads to fewer network outages.
Simplified Deployment
Orchestration simplifies the deployment of complex, multi-vendor, multi-cloud, and multi-domain network services. It provides an open, extensible framework with modular components and APIs for better visualization, analysis, and control of network operations.
Cost Savings
You need an initial financial investment for network orchestration, including software, hardware, and training. But, it offers substantial long-term benefits regarding reduced operational costs and improved efficiency, which is worth the investment.
Improved Customer Experience
You may need to orchestrate your network if you are running a business or, more specifically providing services to your customers. It contributes to accelerated time-to-market for innovations and services and faster remediation through automation. So, your customer remains satisfied and returns loyal behavior as a reward.
Better Budget Management
Businesses can optimize their budget allocation by focusing IT staff on core business tasks rather than routine maintenance activities. This allows for better resource utilization and reallocation of employees to areas like AI programming and strategic planning.
DevOps Integration
Network orchestration streamlines numerous tasks for organizations adopting DevOps methodologies. It enables faster development cycles and more efficient collaboration between development and operations teams.
How Does Network Orchestration Work?
Network orchestration is a systematic procedure that uses predetermined policies and software-defined controls to automate the configuration, management, and coordination of resources like devices, applications, and services.
In manual setup, changes are reflected in multiple areas. But orchestration views the network as a “whole”. It synchronizes all parts to achieve objectives without missing a beat.
The function or way a network orchestration works can be understood by learning its components. Let’s see what those components are:
Centralized Network Controllers
A network controller is the key component of orchestration. It performs as a centralized entity or brain to govern and control the network infrastructure. It has complete knowledge of network architecture, devices, users, traffic patterns, and infrastructure elements.
Programmable Network Devices
Administrators can configure and manage these devices through software-defined controls. They work together with the network controller to perform orchestrated tasks.
Software-defined Controls
These controls allow for automated configuration and management of network resources. They enable the network controller to push configurations to appropriate hardware based on business requirements.
Centralized Management Plane
Network orchestration tools use an end-to-end centralized management plane. These tools provide administrators with a single point of control over the entire network.
Automation Engine
This component executes tasks in a specific order. It verifies the completion of each task before moving on to the next one.
Monitoring and Analytics Tools
The system continuously monitors the network. It provides real-time data on network health, performance, and security.
Policy-based Automation
Administrators input high-level business requirements or policies into the system. Then, the controller translates these requirements into specific network configuration commands.
Configuration Management System
This system manages and tracks changes to network configurations across all devices.
The Process of Network Orchestration
Network orchestration is a systematic approach to managing complex networks through centralized control and automation. The process involves several key steps:
Input of Business Requirements
Network administrators input high-level business requirements or policies into the network orchestration system. These include setting up access for new users, configuring security policies, or provisioning network services.
Translation of Requirements
The centralized controller automatically converts these business requirements into specific network configuration commands. This translation ensures that the high-level objectives are broken down into actionable steps for the network devices.
Execution of Tasks
The controller executes these configuration commands in a specific order. This ordered execution ensures that dependencies are handled correctly and changes are implemented systematically across the network.
Verification of Each Task
After executing each task, the system verifies that the change or configuration was correctly completed. This verification step helps prevent cascading errors. Also, it ensures the integrity of the network configuration.
Pushing Configurations
Once verified, the controller pushes the configurations to the appropriate switching and routing hardware. This automated distribution eliminates manual intervention and reduces the risk of human errors.
Continuous Monitoring
Throughout the process, the system maintains an end-to-end view of the network. This includes monitoring health, performance, and security information for administrators to track the impact of orchestration actions in real time.
Iterative Improvement
Administrators can refine policies and requirements based on monitoring data and ongoing business needs, triggering new orchestration cycles as needed.
This process repeats continuously, allowing organizations to manage complex networks efficiently.
Use Cases of Network Orchestration
Wireless Network Management
Network orchestration helps to orchestrate wireless SSID setups, configure access points and wireless LAN controllers, and set up proper credentials, security mechanisms, and bandwidth allowance.
Cloud Infrastructure Management
Orchestration makes cloud infrastructure management more effortless. It allows dynamic acquisition of compute, storage, and network resources in the cloud. You can provision software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) for quality of service suited to specific applications.
Generative AI and IoT Device Integration
Generative AI helps to automate complex decision-making processes and enhance network performance. It can predict and adapt to changing conditions in real time. Again, network admins can manage large-scale IoT device deployments. They can orchestrate networks to ensure secure connections and data transmission for IoT devices.
Multi-cloud Environments
Orchestration simplifies management across multiple cloud environments. You can deploy services across various cloud platforms. Also, orchestration helps to manage multi-vendor, multi-cloud, and multi-domain network services.
Remote Work Solutions
People are now getting involved in remote work, providing facilities to work from anywhere. In this case, orchestration supports rapidly deploying secure connections for remote employees. Also, it ensures consistent network policies across a distributed workforce.
5G Network Slicing
Orchestration is essential for 5G network slicing. It allows telecom operators to create and manage multiple network slices customized for different use cases like eMBB, URLLC, and mMTC. They can easily add new devices and services to expand their networks.
Lifecycle Management
Network orchestration involves the entire lifecycle of a service or network function. It includes initial provisioning, scaling based on demand, performance monitoring, and healing in case of failures. It also included decommissioning when the service is no longer needed.
Automation and Programmability
The transition to a network of services in 5G requires automation and programmability capabilities to handle modern telecom networks’ heterogeneity, flexibility, and dynamicity. Orchestrating a network can aid in this objective.
Who Needs Network Orchestration?
Network orchestration is essential for a variety of organizations and industries. For instance, you can orchestrate your business’s network if it requires efficient, scalable, and automated management.
Large Enterprise
Large enterprises often have complex network environments with numerous devices, applications, and services that must be managed efficiently. As these organizations grow, they must scale their network infrastructure quickly and efficiently.
Network orchestration helps streamline their operations by automating repetitive tasks and reducing manual intervention. Also, it simplifies adding new devices and services, making it easier to expand the network.
Telecommunications Companies
Telecom companies benefit from network orchestration by improving network efficiency and service agility. It is essential for rapidly deploying, configuring, and managing network resources and services. Additionally, they can enable 5G network slicing with orchestration, increasing the applications and their sources of revenues.
Cloud Service Providers
Cloud service providers need to manage resources across multiple cloud environments. Network orchestration supports dynamic scaling and integration with multi-cloud environments. It provides flexibility and adaptability in network management.
These providers benefit from broad lifecycle management, which includes the automation of the full lifecycle of virtual resources, from deployment to ongoing monitoring and updates.
Data Centers
Data centers require efficient resource allocation to minimize waste and optimize performance. Network orchestration ensures efficient use of resources, enhancing overall performance.
Deploying complex, multi-vendor, multi-cloud, and multi-domain network services is simplified through network orchestration. It provides the data center with better visualization, analysis, and network operations control.
IT Departments in Mid-to-Large Organizations
IT departments benefit from reduced complexity in managing large-scale networks. Orchestration consolidates tasks into a single platform, reducing the complexity of managing multiple devices and configurations.
Again, automating policy enforcement across all network domains improves scalability. It makes it easier to add new devices and services.
IT departments benefit from reduced complexity in managing large-scale networks. Orchestration consolidates tasks into a single platform, reducing the complexity of managing multiple devices and configurations.
Again, automating policy enforcement across all network domains improves scalability. It makes it easier to add new devices and services.
Organizations with High Security and Compliance Requirements
Orchestrating a network ensures consistent and compliant network behavior. It helps to operate based on predefined policies and respond to events through programmatic interfaces like RESTful APIs.
Ensuring network changes are verified before proceeding to the next task maintains integrity and reliability. It is crucial for organizations with high security and compliance requirements.
Companies Undergoing Digital Transformation
Developing companies need to modernize their network infrastructure. Network orchestration helps navigate the complexities of cloud migration, including data transfer, security, and compatibility with existing systems.
Network Orchestration vs. Network Automation
Here’s a comparison table between network orchestration and automation:
| Aspect | Network Orchestration | Network Automation |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Coordinated management of network resources across multiple domains or layers | Automated execution of network management tasks |
| Scope | Broader, encompasses the entire network ecosystem | Narrower, focuses on specific network devices or segments |
| Complexity | More complex, involves integrating multiple systems | Less complex, often deals with individual devices or small groups |
| Timeframe | Long-term strategy | Short-term tactical operations |
| Goals | Improve efficiency, scalability, and agility across the entire network | Reduce manual errors, increase the speed of configuration changes |
| Technologies Used | SDN controllers, orchestration platforms, APIs | Scripting languages, automation frameworks, CLI tools |
| Skill Requirements | Advanced networking knowledge, programming skills, understanding of orchestration concepts | Networking fundamentals, scripting skills, familiarity with automation tools |
| Scalability | Highly scalable, designed to manage large, complex networks | Scalable, but may require more effort to manage large networks |
| Flexibility | Highly flexible, can adapt to changing network architectures | Flexible, but may require adjustments for significant network changes |
| Cost | Generally more expensive due to complexity and scope | Often less costly, especially for smaller networks |
| Implementation Time | Longer implementation time due to broader scope | Faster implementation for specific automation tasks |
Key Points to Consider
Network orchestration is often seen as an evolution of network automation, addressing more complex and integrated network management needs. Both concepts aim to reduce manual intervention and increase efficiency in network operations.
The choice between orchestration and automation depends on the network infrastructure’s size, complexity, and specific needs. Many organizations start with automation and gradually move towards orchestration as their network grows and becomes more complex.
Frequently Asked Questions
It refers to a process that automates Network Functions Virtualized (NFV) infrastructure management and control. It involves coordinating the deployment, scaling, and lifecycle management of virtual network functions (VNFs) across physical or virtual resources. This automation helps improve network flexibility, efficiency, and scalability.
An orchestration tool is a software application that facilitates the automation of NFV orchestration. It provides a centralized platform for managing and controlling VNFs, physical resources, and network services. These tools often include features like service chaining, service level agreement (SLA) management, and performance monitoring.
It is a set of programming interfaces that allows external applications or systems to interact with the orchestrator. It allows developers to automate tasks, integrate with other systems, and customize the orchestrator’s functionality. Common API standards include RESTful APIs and OTM APIs.
Final Words
Nybsys offers complete network orchestration support to all small to large businesses, telcos, cloud service providers, data centers, and others. Our 5G Core (5GC) network platform is compatible with edge-to-cloud deployment requirements.
We also offer software-defined networking (SDN) solutions to reform network management through automation. Using automated rules, SDN enables dynamic control and automatic programming of the network’s behavior. Even our 5G RAN products support dynamic scaling of resources based on real-time demands.
I hope you have read and enjoyed this blog. Thanks for visiting us. Feel free to contact us if you need any network orchestration assistance.