Specialized Upgrade Projects: Arista AVD and Ansible Services for Network Optimization

Case Study: Arista AVD and Ansible Services for Network Optimization

Service Provider: Entrust IT Services
Service: Arista AVD and Ansible Services
Industry: IT and Networking

Overview

Entrust IT Services was selected to provide an Arista AVD and Ansible Services solution aimed at enhancing the client’s network infrastructure. The project focused on upgrading and optimizing the existing network architecture, improving automation and orchestration capabilities, and ensuring consistency across their systems to streamline operations and improve efficiency.

Challenge

The client faced several challenges related to their network infrastructure:

• Outdated Network Configuration: The client’s network relied on older versions of Arista AVD (3.7) and Ansible (2.12.0), leading to potential system conflicts and inefficiencies.

• Manual Configuration Errors: There were inconsistencies in network configurations, caused by manual intervention that increased the risk of errors.

• System Overload: The client’s network infrastructure needed to scale more efficiently and accommodate increasing data traffic without compromising stability.

To address these challenges, Entrust IT Services was tasked with upgrading the network to more advanced versions of Arista AVD (5.x.x) and Ansible (2.18.3), automating network configurations, and ensuring a streamlined upgrade process.

Solution

Entrust IT Services provided a comprehensive solution consisting of:

1. One-Time Upgrade

   • AVD Data Model Migration: The AVD data model was migrated from version 3.7 to the latest version (5.x), including a large number of lines of code (~30k), along with migrating raw_eos_cli data (~2k lines).

   • Optimized Configuration Files: The migration included optimization of configuration files for better scalability, ensuring efficient management of network variables.

   • Ansible Upgrade: Entrust IT Services ensured the upgrade from Ansible 2.12.0 to Ansible 2.18.3, testing existing playbooks and modules to ensure compatibility with the new version.

2. Ongoing Monthly Maintenance

   • Configuration Reviews: Entrust provided regular reviews and updates of the Arista AVD configuration to align with the latest best practices, ensuring the network was optimized and secure.

   • Firmware and Backup Updates: Entrust performed monthly updates to the firmware and regular backups of the system to prevent data loss and ensure long-term stability.

3. Yearly Container Upgrades

   • Entrust managed the upgrade of the Arista AVD container by backing up current configurations, pulling the latest image, and verifying the upgrade through thorough testing.

   • The goal was to ensure that the containerized environment continued to run smoothly and that new updates were applied without introducing conflicts.

Results

• Improved Efficiency: By automating the network configurations through Ansible and migrating to Arista AVD 5.x, Entrust IT Services enabled smoother network management and reduced the need for manual interventions, cutting down errors and inefficiencies.

• Seamless Upgrades: The migration to containerized solutions with Arista AVD streamlined future upgrades, significantly reducing the risk of conflicts and downtime during updates.

• Optimized Network Operations: The upgraded systems allowed for improved scalability, ensuring the infrastructure could support future network growth with minimal performance degradation.

Conclusion

Entrust IT Services successfully upgraded the client’s network infrastructure by implementing the latest versions of Arista AVD and Ansible, automating processes, and ensuring long-term stability. The project not only resolved the existing issues but also positioned the client for future network growth with an optimized, scalable solution. Through meticulous planning and execution, Entrust IT Services delivered a network that operates efficiently and seamlessly, meeting the client’s needs and expectations.