* [Topics](/en/topics "Topics") * [Automation and management](/en/topics/automation "Automation and management") * What is network management? What is network management? =========================== Published January 8, 2019•*4*-minute read Copy URL Jump to section --------------- OverviewWhat does network management do?What's involved?How can network management help?Management vs. automationOverlay vs. underlayManage overlay and underlay networksWhy Red Hat?Interactive labs Overview -------- Network management refers to both the process of configuring, monitoring, and maintaining a reliable network and the tools and applications used to do so. Successful network management ensures connectivity between devices and the people or software applications that use them. This includes providing optimal performance and security of those networks. On the process side, successful network management should also reduce management tasks and rely on automation where possible. The entire process is performed with a variety of network management tools which deliver network provisioning, performance monitoring, real-time fault management, and network security monitoring. What does network management do? -------------------------------- Network management begins with the provisioning and maintenance of network devices, including routers, switches, firewalls, and access points, with appropriate settings and policies to meet organizational requirements. Network provisioning should optimize scalability across a computer network. Collectively, this first component is known as **configuration management**. **Network monitoring and performance management**—in which the network infrastructure is continuously monitored for uptime, disruptions, downtime, and outages—is critical to network management to identify bottlenecks and areas for optimization. Monitoring tools observe network performance, measure response times, and assist in troubleshooting to improve network maintenance. Network management encompasses **security management**, which identifies vulnerabilities and security threats to protect the network from unauthorized access, data breaches, and security threats. This includes implementing firewalls, [intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS)](/en/topics/security/what-is-an-IDPS), Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), [access controls](/en/topics/security/what-is-role-based-access-control), encryption, and security policies to safeguard sensitive data and resources. Recommended for you Network Automation & Jinja 2 For Dashboard and Report Creation -------------------------------------------------------------- [Watch the webinar](https://www.redhat.com/en/events/webinar/in-automation-jinja?percmp=RHCTG0250000455235) What's involved in network management? -------------------------------------- **Network** [**provisioning**](/en/topics/automation/what-is-provisioning) can mean either automating the initial configuration of a network device or setting up a network to be accessed by users, servers in a data center, [containers](/en/topics/containers), [IoT](/en/topics/internet-of-things/what-is-iot) devices, and more. **Network** [**configuration**](/en/topics/automation/what-is-configuration-management) includes defining the desired state of networks or networked endpoint devices, and then maintaining them in that state over time. Network configuration and network maintenance logically follows network provisioning. **Network security** includes establishing [security](/en/topics/security) systems and security management protocols that protect networks against attack, damage, or unauthorized access. Network managers or network security administrators establish traffic routing protocols known as firewalls. They set up fault management systems that identify and remediate security, [compliance](/en/topics/management/what-is-compliance-management), and configuration risks—all of which is improved by [network automation](/en/topics/automation/what-is-network-automation) technology. Some network security systems also provide remediation guidance that helps network administrators troubleshoot issues. **Network measurement** includes network monitoring and testing, troubleshooting, ensuring availability, and preparing disaster recovery plans. These processes help maintain network performance, which is the speed and efficiency at which data is transferred across network devices. Monitoring network traffic metrics informs efforts to improve bandwidth and response time, optimizing user experience throughout the network. Performance management and performance monitoring can help identify performance issues, minimize downtime and outages, and improve app performance. How can network management help? -------------------------------- Successful network management is about securing and increasing the efficiency of network infrastructure while reducing manual oversight. When network management is well-organized, it should: 1. **Provide proactive performance monitoring and alerting.** By continuously monitoring network devices, services, and performance metrics, network management tools can detect issues such as downtime, performance degradation, or security breaches in real time. Alerts and notifications sent to administrators warn of potential problems, allowing them to take corrective action before users are impacted. 2. **Optimize performance.** Network management uses traffic shaping, load balancing, and route optimization to ensure optimal bandwidth utilization, low latency, and high throughput user experiences and application performance. 3. **Assist compliance and auditing.** Network management can encompass [compliance management](/en/topics/management/what-is-compliance-management)— helping organizations achieve regulatory compliance and auditing requirements by monitoring and documenting network activity, configurations, and security policies. 4. **Scale and capacity plan.** Successful network management can forecast future capacity requirements based on growth projections, network traffic patterns, and performance trends, allowing IT teams to scale network resources, upgrade hardware, and optimize infrastructure ahead of increasing demand to maximize cost-effectiveness. 5. **Provide critical business continuity and disaster recovery.** Network management plays a critical role in [business continuity and disaster recovery](/en/blog/strategies-and-solutions-business-resilience-disaster-recovery) planning by implementing redundancy, failover mechanisms, and backup solutions to minimize the impact of network outages and disasters. Network management vs. network automation ----------------------------------------- As [automation](/en/topics/automation) is an evolution of [management](/en/topics/management), so too is [network automation](/en/topics/automation/what-is-network-automation) an evolution of network management. Network management systems now rely on automation to manage enterprise network resources and services. The difference between network management and network automation lies in the (highly subjective) differences between management and automation. Since there’s no such thing as seamless automation, there’s also no objective point at which management becomes automation. At some point, the human effort required to manage a set of tasks is significantly less than before—this is when management might now be described as automation. Automating network resource and management services allows network operations teams to become more flexible and better support modern business demands. [Learn more about network automation](/en/topics/automation/what-is-network-automation "What is network automation?") Overlay vs. underlay networking ------------------------------- Underlay network management (or simply *underlay networking*) involves coordinating hardware devices like hubs, switches, routers, bridges, gateways, modems, and repeaters. Overlay network management (or simply *overlay networking*) involves building digital connections and [managing](/en/topics/management) permissions between end users, applications, or devices—all of which exist virtually as *nodes*. *For example:* * **Underlay network management**: A network engineer could use [Red Hat® Ansible® Automation Platform](/en/technologies/management/ansible) to [automate](/en/topics/automation) the network configuration of physical devices such as servers, switches, routers, and load balancers. * **Overlay network management**: A network administrator could use something like [software-defined networking (SDN)](/en/topics/hyperconverged-infrastructure/what-is-software-defined-networking) to separate network forwarding functions from network control functions in order to create connections between network hardware and digital nodes. How do I manage my overlay and underlay networks? ------------------------------------------------- **Underlay network management**: [Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform](/en/technologies/management/ansible) contains thousands of network automation modules that can help you configure all types of network hardware. It turns network hardware into [infrastructure-as-code (IaC)](/en/topics/automation/what-is-infrastructure-as-code-iac), just like [Linux®](/en/topics/linux) did. Most network switches come bundled with the vendor’s software, but Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform connects and acts on it. So a network engineer only has to know Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform, which commoditizes speciality network interfaces and proprietary hardware. **Overlay network management:** * [**Red Hat Enterprise Linux**](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux): Configure VLAN tagging; network bridges, network teams, network bonds, VPN connections, IP tunnels, default gateway settings, static routes, policy-based routing, and more. * [**Red Hat OpenStack Services on OpenShift**](/en/technologies/cloud-computing/openstack-services-on-openshift): Among the numerous open source projects that feed into the hardened Red Hat OpenStack Services on OpenShift is neutron, which connects networks across other [OpenStack](/en/topics/openstack) services. Network administrators can use Red Hat OpenStack Services on OpenShift’s SDN to manage network services. * [**Red Hat OpenShift**](/en/technologies/cloud-computing/openshift) **and** [**Red Hat Advanced Cluster Management for Kubernetes**](/en/technologies/management/advanced-cluster-management): Use SDN to create unified [clustered](/en/topics/containers/what-is-a-kubernetes-cluster) networks, where network [pods](/en/topics/containers/what-is-kubernetes-pod) are configured as overlay networks. Why Red Hat? ------------ Managing a network never starts out as a big lift but usually ends up as one. We can help you navigate network management challenges with software that manages underlay and overlay networks, and we can teach you along the way. Our[development model](/en/about/development-model) and commitment to [open source software](/en/topics/open-source/what-is-open-source-software) development gives you direct access to (and influence over) the innovation and collaboration happening in open source communities—many of which we helped establish. [Learn more](/en/topics/automation/why-choose-red-hat-for-automation) Want some hands-on experience? ------------------------------ Red Hat offers [interactive labs](/en/interactive-labs) in a preconfigured Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform environment. You can use these labs to experiment, practice, and learn how to create, manage, and scale network and IT practices efficiently—from rapid development and deployment, to simplified operations and analytics, to consistent end-to-end user experiences. The official Red Hat blog ------------------------- Get the latest information about our ecosystem of customers, partners, and communities. [Keep reading](/en/blog "The official Red Hat blog") Recommended for you Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ansible Network Automation exam --------------------------------------------------------------- A performance-based test used to assess the skills and knowledge to manage network infrastructure using Red Hat® Ansible®. [View exam](https://www.redhat.com/en/services/training/ex457-red-hat-certified-specialist-in-ansible-network-automation-exam?percmp=RHCTG0250000455236) Keep reading ------------ ### What is IT service management (ITSM)? IT service management (ITSM) refers to the activities IT teams perform to ensure that IT services meet customer needs and contribute to business goals. [Read the article](/en/topics/automation/what-is-it-service-management-itsm "article | what is IT service management (ITSM)?") ### What is Infrastructure as Code (IaC)? Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is the managing and provisioning of infrastructure through code instead of through manual processes. [Read the article](/en/topics/automation/what-is-infrastructure-as-code-iac "article | What is Infrastructure as Code?") ### What is a configuration management database (CMDB)? A configuration management database (CMDB) is used to manage information about IT components, including their attributes and relationships between them. [Read the article](/en/topics/automation/what-is-a-configuration-management-database-cmdb "article | what is a configuration management database (CMDB)?") Automation and management resources ----------------------------------- ### Related content * Blog post [Data-driven automation with Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform](/en/blog/data-driven-automation-red-hat-ansible-automation-platform) * Overview [Ansible Certified Content Collection for ServiceNow ITSM](/en/resources/servicenow-itsm-overview) * Blog post [Enterprise automation resilience with EDB and Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform](/en/blog/enterprise-automation-resilience-edb-and-ansible-automation-platform) * Blog post [Accelerating NetOps transformation with Ansible Automation Platform](/en/blog/accelerating-netops-transformation-ansible-automation-platform) ### Related articles * [What is DevOps automation?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-devops-automation) * [What is IT service management (ITSM)?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-it-service-management-itsm) * [What is Infrastructure as Code (IaC)?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-infrastructure-as-code-iac) * [Ansible vs. Kubernetes: how they work together](/en/topics/automation/Ansible-vs-Kubernetes) * [What is a configuration management database (CMDB)?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-a-configuration-management-database-cmdb) * [What is cloud migration? 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