Orchestration simplifies the process of provisioning and providing services. It is highly conditioned by the automation of all tasks related to these processes. It applies to the network automation as well as automation of platforms and systems in which services will be launched and maintained. Below we’ve shown an example of architecture oriented to support application and cloud services with built-in orchestration:

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In the above architecture, Cisco ACI (Application Centric Infrastructure) is responsible for the network automation, Cisco UCS (Unified Computing System) for compute automation, Storware vProtect for backup automation, and other Red Hat Solutions like among others Ansible for the rest, including combining everything together.

Orchestration reduces service costs, while significantly accelerating the launch of new services and then keeping them in good condition. We cannot forget about a greater order, as not only the creation of new services, but also the closing of unused ones is subjected to automation. Hence, orchestration is an essential element of any more dynamic environment.

Red Hat Ansible Automation platfom is the backbone of all orchestration tasks. It combines all elements into one team. This applies to automation and orchestration of application and cloud services as well as those typical for network operators.

An example of architecture for network operators with embedded orchestration can be seen below. Its key element is Cisco NSO (Network Services Orchestrator), which gives you the ability to make changes to the network in one transaction. Cisco NSO comes from the world of NETCONF and YANG, where configuration process is done mainly via NETCONF and device configuration is stored using the YANG model, which is resistant to changes in CLI and universal for various manufacturers. Cisco NSO provides API, WebUI and CLI.

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Thanks to orchestration, all elements of our infrastructure become one harmonious team that plays according to business goals. In this way we can look and manage from a very high level point of view.

As orchestration is very much linked to the use of automation, I also invite you to my article about automation in practice. I have already discussed there some of the topics and solutions from the orchestration area, which may not have been touched here.