Modern network automation and analysis platforms automatically create an up-to-date model of the enterprise network by collecting configuration, topology, routing, and operational state information directly from network devices.
Compared with traditional SNMP-based network monitoring, these solutions provide significantly deeper visibility into how the network actually operates. The automatically generated digital twin helps organizations understand not only which devices exist in the network but also how the network is structured, how routing behaves, and which path traffic takes from source to destination.
These solutions are particularly valuable in large, multi-vendor environments that use dynamic routing, redundant connectivity, SD-WAN and SDN technologies, cloud networking, and multiple data centers.
Automatic and Dynamic Network Documentation
Network documentation is generated directly from information collected from the network and can be automatically updated as the environment changes.
Depending on the solution, the digital network model can include:
1. Device layer – physical and virtual network devices
2. Topology layer – L2 and L3 connectivity, VLANs, IP networks, and VRFs
3. Routing layer – BGP, OSPF, and other routing protocols
4. Traffic and policy layer – traffic paths, segmentation, and network policies
5. Historical state – changes in network configuration and topology over time
Documentation, therefore, no longer has to rely on manually maintained diagrams. Instead, it can be derived from the network’s actual operational state.
L2/L3 and BGP Visibility
Dynamic L3 visualization provides substantially better insight into routing behavior in large networks than traditional static network diagrams.
Depending on the platform, it is possible to analyze:
- L2 and L3 topology
- BGP neighbors and AS topology
- BGP routes and AS_PATH information
- routing tables
- VRF structures
- OSPF and other routing protocols
- primary and backup paths
- overlay and underlay architectures
- dependencies between data centers and WAN connections
This is particularly valuable in networks where traffic can follow several alternative paths and routing changes dynamically.
End-to-End Path Analysis
In addition to physical and logical network maps, modern platforms can analyze the actual end-to-end path of network traffic.
For example, a question such as: *Which network path does traffic from this branch office take to the SAP server?”*
Can be answered using information derived from network configurations, routing tables, and policies.
This differs significantly from ICMP traceroute because the analysis is based on information collected from the network infrastructure rather than a single test packet at a specific point in time.
End-to-end path analysis can significantly improve:
- troubleshooting
- routing problem analysis
- impact assessment for planned changes
- validation of redundant paths
- application path documentation
Change Tracking and Network Validation
Automated snapshots can be taken of the network state and compared across different points in time.
This makes it possible to determine, for example:
- what changed before an incident
- whether a routing table changed
- whether a BGP route disappeared or appeared
- whether the network path changed
- whether a configuration change altered network behavior
- whether the current configuration deviates from defined standards
Continuous validation can identify configuration errors and deviations before they result in service disruption.
Multi-Vendor Networks
Enterprise networks increasingly consist of technologies from multiple vendors. One of the key roles of a network analysis and automation platform is therefore to combine information from different technologies into a single coherent network view.
The analyzed environment can include, for example:
- LAN and WLAN networks
- Internet and MPLS WAN networks
- SD-WAN
- firewalls
- data center networks
- SDN solutions
- cloud networks
- virtual network components
The objective is to create a unified view of the network regardless of how many different vendors are involved in its implementation.
Integrations and Automation
Modern network platforms can integrate with ITSM, CMDB, SIEM, and network monitoring systems through APIs.
Collected network information can therefore be used in areas such as:
- Service Desk processes
- incident management
- change management
- CMDB enrichment
- security monitoring
- compliance validation
- automated troubleshooting
Recurring operational tasks can also be automated without building each function as a separate vendor-specific script.
Key Benefits
- Automatically updated network documentation
- Dynamic L2 and L3 network maps
- BGP, routing and VRF visibility
- End-to-end network path analysis
- Faster troubleshooting
- Network change and historical state comparison
- Continuous configuration and architecture validation
- Better visibility across multi-vendor environments
- Reduced dependency on manually maintained network diagrams and individual scripts
- A shared operational view for network specialists, Service Desk teams, and other IT stakeholders
Selecting the Right Solution
Network automation, digital twin, and network assurance platforms differ significantly in their capabilities and focus areas. Some emphasize automation, while others focus more strongly on digital twin technology, routing and path analysis, or continuous network validation.
5Feet Networks helps organizations independently evaluate and select technologies that best fit their network environment and operational requirements.
We provide solution comparisons, Proof of Concept projects, deployment planning, and expert consulting related to network automation, dynamic documentation, and network visibility.
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