In today’s post, we dissect the often-misunderstood difference between automation and orchestration. Many have used these terms interchangeably, while others maintain they refer to distinct concepts. Let’s get on the same page!
Think of automation as delegating a task to a bot. Whether it’s configuring an interface on a switch or pulling BGP state data from a router, automation represents singular actions executed on your behalf. A key advantage of automation is its ability to parallelize tasks, which humans can’t do as efficiently. This is particularly beneficial when working at scale.
Now, let’s talk about orchestration. If automation is about delegating tasks to bots, orchestration is about delegating entire processes. It’s like the ‘automation of automation’. In the context of network automation, tools like Ansible, Nornir, and our tool, ngage, are examples of automation. They interact with your device, handling tasks that you would normally do. Orchestration, however, is a more comprehensive approach. It’s not just about changes or task execution but also includes critical aspects like change control and validation.
Orchestration, in essence, is a superset of automation. Network automation is often part of a broader network orchestration strategy. This process will likely gain significant value from AI advancements. With the right orchestration pipeline, humans may only need to specify top-level objectives, and the system should be able to compute everything else based on the best operational practices.
This doesn’t mean your job is under threat. Rather, you’re relieved of routine tasks, freeing you to focus on strategic aspects of your role or business. For instance, you can innovate on services and new ways to use the network to serve your users better.
Embracing orchestration is like codifying your existing knowledge. You avoid doing the same thing repeatedly, leaving you time to think about adding security, resiliency, or capacity. So in a nutshell, while automation significantly enhances efficiency, orchestration takes it a step further by adding layers of control, validation, and coordination. These concepts are not only different; they complement each other in an optimally performing system.