Software-defined networking used to dominate conversations in networking. Today, vendors are talking about intent-based networking and its promise of fully automated networks with improved availability and agility. Last week we published a video interview with Juniper Networks on this topic, now Cisco underscores its continued progress in this field by releasing new developer capabilities across its intent-based networking platform.
Intent-based networking would represent a fundamental shift in the way networks are built and managed. Moving away from the manual, time-intensive methods by which networks are traditionally managed, these “modern” networks would capture business intent and translate it into network policies. These policies are then automatically activated across the entire infrastructure, “with the assurance that the business intent was delivered as planned.”
“Intent-based networking represents the next generation of open, IP-based systems that we’ve seen can change the actual fabric of society,” said David Goeckeler, executive vice president and general manager of Cisco’s Networking and Security Business. “Cisco is building an open architecture that will power an ecosystem to accelerate intent-based networking innovation. Already, our customers and partners are creating value from their networks in ways they thought weren’t possible as recently as one year ago.”
Code Exchange
Today, Cisco is releasing new developer tools and open APIs into Cisco DNA Center – the command and control center for data center campus, branch and edge intent-based networks. DNA Center would turn the network from a combination of hardware devices into a single system. With the availability of network-wide APIs, Cisco would now allow developers to easily program this system, tapping into all of the analytics and insight the network can provide.
Three new developer initiatives are being announced by Cisco to fuel its innovation ecosystem:
- DevNet Ecosystem Exchange – would make it easy to find and share an application or solution built for Cisco platforms. Business leaders and developers alike can use this online portal to discover partner solutions that span all Cisco platforms and products. It contains over 1,300 solutions.
- DevNet Code Exchange – would give developers a place to access and share software to quickly build next-generation applications and workflow integrations. A curated list of sample code, adaptors, tools, and SDKs is available on GitHub and written by Cisco and the DevNet community. Code Exchange spans Cisco’s entire portfolio and is organized according to Cisco platform and product areas.
- DevNet DNA Developer Center – is a one-stop-shop for developers to build applications and integrations on the DNA Center platform. It would provide comprehensive resources, capabilities, use cases and learning materials for developers.
