350-401 Question 309
Single answerA network engineer is tasked with automating the configuration of multiple Cisco devices in the enterprise network. The engineer wants to use a tool that supports declarative configuration, simplifies network automation, and integrates seamlessly with Cisco's APIs. Which automation tool should the engineer choose?
- A
Ansible
- B
Chef
- C
Puppet
- D
Python Script using Paramiko
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Ansible is the best choice for automating Cisco devices due to its declarative nature, ease of use, and built-in support for Cisco APIs and modules. Unlike other tools or custom scripting approaches, Ansible simplifies the process of managing network devices at scale.
- A. Correct.
Ansible is a declarative automation tool that is widely used for network automation. It integrates seamlessly with Cisco APIs and uses YAML files to define configurations, making it easy to automate tasks.
- B. Incorrect.
Chef is primarily used for server configuration management and is not optimized for network automation, especially with Cisco devices. Its imperative approach also makes it less suitable for this use case.
- C. Incorrect.
Puppet is another server configuration tool, and while it can be extended for network automation, it is not as commonly used or as flexible as Ansible for Cisco device configurations.
- D. Incorrect.
Python with Paramiko can be used for scripting and automating SSH-based tasks, but it does not provide the simplicity or declarative nature of tools like Ansible, making it less effective for large-scale automation.