Inpeco · Autoprovisioning
Automatic router provisioning for Inpeco workstations.
Every Inpeco workstation has a router that needs configuring: today a system we built does it.
- Client
- Inpeco
- Scope
- Network configuration and automation
- Year
- 2021 — present
- Our role
- System integrator
- Device
- Industrial router
- Tools
- Ansible
Network automation
Zero-touch provisioning at scale
Automatic configuration provisioning reduces the margin for error and operating costs.
Zero-touch provisioningAnsible generates a precise configuration for every router.Lab VLANConfiguration takes place on a dedicated network.Automated testsThe system documents that the configuration is compliant.Solution design
The flow we implemented
Several technologies work together in the automation. They are orchestrated by Mazziere, a system we developed and installed on a server in the lab network.
Lab addressThe router connects to the switch and gets an IP address leased by dnsmasq on the lab network.
Registration in the inventoryA Python script, triggered by the lease, records the address, MAC and the device's other details in Django. The operator sees it appear in the web interface.
Template and valuesThe only manual step: the operator chooses the configuration template and the values to fill in, or lets the system assign them.
Production configurationThe interface calls an API that runs the Ansible playbook. When it finishes, the router has its final configuration and is ready.
Payoff
Versioned, centralised configurations.
The project gave the client a central repository for its configurations.
Zero margin for error , thanks to the use of templates
Fast replacement of any device, thanks to the efficiency of the system
Reproducible configurations. Logs and metrics make it possible to verify every step of the automation.
