The allure of a perfectly tuned engine, the satisfaction of a flawlessly executed repair, the thrill of pushing technological boundaries – these are the passions that drive the Automaniac. In the realm of networking, that same drive manifests as a relentless pursuit of automation, efficiency, and innovation. My personal journey into this world began in 2011 at Juniper Networks, where I worked as a software engineer and solution architect focused on Junos automation. My role involved collaborating with the sales team to leverage these technologies and secure wins in challenging sales situations. You might recognize me as the creator of PyEZ, a Python library for Junos automation.
My true “aha” moment arrived in 2012. Tasked with integrating Puppet with a Junos switch, my initial response was, “What is Puppet?” This encounter sparked a realization of the transformative potential of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and DevOps principles within the networking landscape. From that point forward, I dedicated myself to this field, a decision I’ve never regretted. As I wrote in my 2013 blog post, “Bridging the Two Worlds: IT and Networking”:
“We all know that managing networks is complex, hard, costly, and requires highly trained engineers. This post is going to talk about managing networks in a whole new way. The concepts in it will change your life. They changed mine.”
This article chronicles key milestones in my ongoing journey as a network automation enthusiast, a testament to the spirit of the automaniac applied to the digital world.
2019: From Vendor to Customer, Embracing the Automaniac Within
The year 2019 marked a significant shift in my career trajectory. Joining Major League Baseball’s Network Engineering team, I transitioned from a 20-year tenure at network vendors to my first role as a customer. This experience prompted reflection on the value of integrating software engineering expertise into traditional networking teams, culminating in my blog post, “Why Hire a Software Engineer in the Networking Team?”
Sharing Knowledge and Immersed in Industry Events
NANOG77 (October 2019): I presented a two-hour tutorial titled “Is the Network Ready for Use?” This session showcased leveraging pytest, a Python testing framework, to validate a new network infrastructure for MLB’s NYC flagship office. The presentation materials are available on SlideShare, with the video recording on YouTube. A comprehensive demonstration is also available in a dedicated GitHub repository.
Networking Field Day 21 (October 2019): My first time as a Network Field Day delegate was an invaluable experience. Engaging with fellow delegates and participating in presentations, particularly those by NetworkToCode and Forward Networks, were highlights. My insights on NetworkToCode are documented in a Medium blog post. While I intended to write more, numerous questions posed to both companies during their sessions are captured in the event videos.
Cisco Live US (June 2019): The vibrant DevNet zone at Cisco Live was truly impressive. I participated as a panelist in the discussion “Becoming a NetDevOps Engineer – A Discussion with the Community,” the recording of which can be found on YouTube.
Interop 19 (May 2019): My presentation focused on utilizing a Slack ChatOps system to build a self-service portal. The video is available on YouTube. This system has evolved significantly at MLB, becoming a cornerstone of our network automation strategy. Inspired by this work, I developed slackapptk, an open-source Slack/Python ChatOps framework hosted on GitHub.
Conclusion: The Ever-Evolving Automaniac Journey
The pursuit of network automation is a continuous evolution, mirroring the automaniac’s dedication to constant improvement and innovation. From developing PyEZ to implementing ChatOps solutions and sharing knowledge at industry events, my journey reflects a commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in network management. As technology advances, the automaniac spirit will continue to drive the development of new and more effective automation solutions.
