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The Everything Feed - All Packet Pushers Pods
NAN083: Cox Gets Network Automation Right, and Proves It at DEF CON (Sponsored)
Jan 22, 2025
David Ezell is the Director of Network Automation at Cox Communications, while Joshua Watkins and Eric Hansen are both talented engineers within the same company, contributing significantly to network topology discovery. They discuss Cox's successful journey in network automation, particularly during DEF CON, highlighting challenges in transitioning systems and the critical role of automation in network upgrades. Team dynamics and the build vs. buy dilemma in software tools are also explored, along with their unique experiences in managing high-pressure tech environments.
01:01:22
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Quick takeaways
- Cox Communications successfully transitioned from an analog to a digitized network by adopting an 'automation first' mindset for scalability.
- The integration of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is crucial for automating network management, necessitating cultural and procedural changes within the engineering teams.
Deep dives
Motivation and Transformation in Network Automation
Cox Communications has undergone significant changes in its network management by transitioning from an analog to a more sophisticated digitized network. This transformation has necessitated new software solutions to facilitate the provisioning of thousands of digitized network devices. The organization adopted an 'automation first' mindset to ensure scalability without increasing workforce numbers, emphasizing that automation is essential for managing and deploying new technologies effectively. David Izzell highlighted that this collaborative effort among different teams has been crucial to successfully navigating the challenges of integrating automation into their networks.
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Discover
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