The world of network management is undergoing a seismic transformation, a "dramatic shift" observed by many professionals. This evolution redefines the network engineer's role, moving from meticulous, device-by-device CLI configuration to a strategic discipline focused on automation, orchestration, and holistic system-level thinking, often managed through powerful centralized platforms like
Digi Remote Manager® (Digi RM).
This transition in the network engineering field, while potentially unsettling for those accustomed to command-line mastery, is also empowering. The shift towards templates and automation, facilitated by tools such as Digi RM's Templates feature, changes how value is delivered and what defines expertise.
In this blog post, we’ll provide 6 key insights on the evolution of network management.
1. Echoes from the Command Line: The Craft of Traditional Network Management
Network management proficiency, once demonstrated by intricate Command Line Interface (CLI) knowledge, is now increasingly characterized by designing resilient automation systems, integrating diverse technologies via unified device management platforms, and deriving insights from network-wide analytics. This mirrors broader IT trends where task automation elevates professional roles to more architectural and impactful positions, changing the network engineer's core value from manual skill to strategic design and automated execution.
To appreciate the current transformation, recall traditional network engineering. For decades, the CLI was the engineer's primary domain, demanding deep protocol knowledge (TCP/IP, OSPF, BGP, VLANs, Spanning Tree) for manual implementation.
Responsibilities included designing and implementing new solutions, physically installing and configuring individual devices, procuring equipment, and managing installation projects. Much time was spent maximizing network performance through manual monitoring and troubleshooting, alongside regular individual device firmware updates and scheduled upgrades. This contrasts sharply with modern capabilities, like those in Digi Remote Manager, allowing bulk configuration using Templates, compliance monitoring, and automated remediation.
Valued skills included analytical thinking, rapid learning of new technologies (often vendor-specific CLIs), and meticulous attention to detail for manual configurations.
This "artisan" approach, crafting configurations command by command, fostered deep expertise but struggled with scalability and agility. As networks, especially dispersed IoT deployments, grew in complexity and business demands for speed intensified, the CLI-centric network management model revealed its limitations. Manual management of numerous devices was time-consuming and error-prone, catalyzing the development of transformative technologies and platforms like Digi Remote Manager.
Today, of course, the CLI is still powerful for situations where the skilled admin must have remote access for things like out-of-band management. But today, most administrators can thankfully bypass manual interventions.
2. Winds of Change: The Technological Forces Reshaping Our Networks
The limitations inherent in traditional, manual network management practices created a fertile ground for innovation. Several powerful technological forces have converged to radically reshape network infrastructures and, consequently, the role of the network engineer.
The automation imperative grew from the relentless business demand for greater speed, consistency, and operational scale. Scripting languages like Python and frameworks like Ansible gained prominence, enabling automation of repetitive tasks and configuration management.
The principles of Infrastructure as Code (IaC), initially popularized in server administration, began to be rigorously applied to networking, treating network configurations as code that can be versioned, tested, and deployed systematically. This drive towards automation was a direct response to the inefficiencies and error-prone nature of manual configurations, pushing for more programmable and less human-intensive network operations.
Cloud's gravitational pull has been another profoundly transformative factor. The large-scale migration from on-premises data centers to public, private, and hybrid cloud models has fundamentally altered network architectures. Network engineers now grapple with Virtual Private Clouds (VPCs), Virtual Networks (VNets), transit gateways, cloud-native firewalls, and load balancers delivered as services.
This necessitates acquiring specialized skills in the networking offerings of major cloud providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). The inherent scalability, flexibility, and API-driven nature of cloud platforms reinforced the need for new network management paradigms that could seamlessly integrate with these dynamic environments.
The dawn of network orchestration and centralized management represents a critical step in managing the increasing complexity. As networks became more distributed and incorporated cloud services, the need for unified control became paramount. Platforms such as Digi Remote Manager that offer centralized network management capabilities emerged to automate the coordination, deployment, and management of network services and infrastructure components, especially for dispersed IoT networks.
The benefits are compelling: reduced operational expenditure (OpEx), enhanced consistency and quality through features like configuration monitoring and remediation, improved adaptability, and faster time-to-market. GUI-based platforms play a crucial role by simplifying complex operations, providing a unified view of the network, automating tasks like firmware updates and health checks, and abstracting away complexities. A platform like Digi RM, for example, can act as a command center for keeping devices updated, secure, and in compliance, enabling mass firmware updates, and centralized troubleshooting.
These primary forces — the automation imperative, cloud's gravitational pull, and the dawn of network orchestration — are deeply interconnected and mutually reinforcing:
- Automation tools are essential for managing dynamic network and cloud resources and implementing the programmability offered by modern architectures
- Cloud environments are inherently designed for API-driven automation and centralized control
- Orchestration platforms then leverage these underlying capabilities to deliver end-to-end service management
This interconnectedness means that a modern network engineer must develop a holistic understanding of how these foundational shifts integrate and complement each other.
3. The Modern Network Architect: Conductor Enabled by Centralized Management
The contemporary network engineer is an architect and conductor, orchestrating automated systems rather than manually tuning individual devices. This marks a shift from device-level CLI interactions to system-level design, policy definition, and implementing standardized, automated workflows, often facilitated by comprehensive management platforms featuring capabilities like those in Digi Remote Manager. Templates and standardized configurations, deployed via automation, are replacing bespoke setups.
Centralized management and orchestration platforms are pivotal, providing unified control and abstracting complexity.
- Platforms like Digi Remote Manager are particularly useful for managing geographically dispersed IoT and enterprise networks, serving as a "command center" for connected devices. Its Templates functionality enables rapid deployment of common configurations to device groups and can monitor for configuration drift, automatically remediating unplanned config changes to ensure security compliance. Automations allow for automated tasks like firmware updates, system tests, and health metric checks. API integration with cloud platforms and business applications extends its power for custom dashboards, workflows, and edge computing deployments.
- Cisco DNA Center acts as a comprehensive management hub for enterprise networks, simplifying operations through automation and providing insights via analytics. It automates device deployment, provisioning, and management, reducing errors. Key features include policy-based segmentation for enhanced security and machine learning-driven assurance for proactive issue identification and performance optimization. It aims to simplify segmentation and enforce consistent policies across wired and wireless networks.
- Juniper Mist AI leverages AI and machine learning to optimize user experiences and simplify management across wireless, wired, and data center domains. As an AI-native system, it automates troubleshooting by correlating events, detecting anomalies, and proactively resolving issues, aiming for a "self-driving network" that self-configures, self-heals, and self-optimizes. The Marvis AI assistant provides real-time insights, and the platform extends AI to access assurance and location services.
Leveraging such platforms to their fullest demands modern skills: programming/scripting (Python, Ansible) for custom integrations; API integration for programmatic interaction with management platforms; deep cloud networking expertise (AWS, Azure, GCP); data analysis to interpret telemetry; security in automated environments; and a DevOps mindset.
The modern network engineer, empowered by such tools, focuses on designing and managing these automated systems. Their output is often configuration templates, automation schedules, and integration workflows. While GUIs and platforms simplify tasks, understanding their capabilities, limitations, and troubleshooting methods is key.
Traditional vs. Modern Network Engineering: A Comparative Snapshot
| Feature |
Traditional Network Engineer |
Modern Network Engineer |
| Primary Interface |
CLI (Command Line Interface) |
Management platform GUI/API (e.g., Digi RM), cloud consoles, CLI (for deep dives |
| Core Technical Skills |
Deep protocol knowledge (TCP/IP, OSPF, BGP), vendor-specific CLI |
Platform proficiency, scripting (Python), automation (Ansible), cloud APIs, data analysis, API integration |
| Key Tools |
Putty/SecureCRT, Wireshark, manual documentation |
Centralized management platforms, Ansible, Python, cloud consoles, telemetry systems, version control (Git) |
| Focus of Work |
Individual device configuration and troubleshooting |
System-wide design, automation strategy via management platforms, service delivery and orchestration, compliance management |
| Configuration Approach |
Manual, per-device, often bespoke |
Templated, policy-driven, automated deployment and remediation |
| Troubleshooting Style |
Box-by-box diagnosis, packet dumps, log analysis on device |
Centralized monitoring and alerts, health metrics analysis, OOB console access, debugging automation schedules |
| Pace of Change |
Incremental, scheduled maintenance windows |
Agile, automated deployments, continuous monitoring and remediation |
| Primary Value Metric |
Network uptime, device stability |
Service agility, time-to-market, security compliance, operational efficiency via centralized management |
4. Troubleshooting in the Abstract: Navigating Complexity with Centralized Network Management
Troubleshooting is evolving with automated and abstracted network environments managed by centralized platforms. The focus shifts from isolated device issues to systemic problems across potentially vast, dispersed networks.
Abstraction layers can create "black box" challenges when platform dashboards or alerts are unclear. Diagnosis requires using the platform's tools. For instance, a platform like Digi Remote Manager offers:
- Advanced monitoring and telemetry: Centralized dashboards with device health metrics and configurable alerts for proactive issue identification.
- Centralized logging and reporting: Data aggregation and report generation for trend analysis.
- Automation for diagnostics: Scheduled tasks for running diagnostic checks across device groups.
- Direct device interaction (when needed): Secure out-of-band (OOB) management via console access, vital for deep diagnostics and recovery even if the primary network is down.
While platforms automate and provide remote tools, fundamental knowledge remains essential. If a platform indicates an issue or automated remediation fails, engineers need underlying knowledge to interpret symptoms correctly. Understanding the platform's automation logic is part of troubleshooting.
Effective troubleshooting requires proficiency in platform diagnostic tools, understanding automation workflows, interpreting data, and retaining fundamental network knowledge for deeper dives, potentially using features like OOB console access.
5. Foundations Reimagined: Is Deep Protocol Knowledge Still a Superpower?
If platforms automate configuration and monitoring, is deep traditional networking knowledge obsolete? No. Fundamental network management knowledge remains critical, but its application evolves.
This understanding is indispensable for effectively utilizing advanced platforms. Configuring robust policies using a platform's templates, designing meaningful automation, or interpreting health metrics requires understanding underlying network principles. Designing a "gold standard" configuration for compliance monitoring requires knowing what constitutes a secure, efficient setup.
Deep knowledge is essential for troubleshooting complex issues, especially when automated tools falter. Engineers must fall back on first principles, perhaps using a platform's OOB console access for traditional CLI diagnostics informed by protocol expertise. Understanding why a platform-pushed configuration isn't working as expected often requires this deeper knowledge. Advanced platform courses still list foundational networking as a prerequisite.
Understanding protocols allows engineers to critically interpret abstracted data. Is an alert a real problem or a symptom? Is a health metric acceptable? In security, protocol understanding is vital for defining effective policies within a management platform. Finally, innovation and advanced design, including architecting robust solutions that leverage modern automation and cloud integration, demand profound networking fundamentals.
The application has shifted. OSPF knowledge once meant manual CLI configuration; today, it might inform a template design deployed via a platform or diagnose unexpected routing behavior. Core knowledge underpins intelligent use of modern platforms. The breadth of knowledge has also expanded to platform features, APIs, and cloud concepts.
6. Charting the Future: Thriving with Modern Networking Platforms
Navigating this evolving landscape requires proactive skill development around modern tools. Network engineers must blend traditional expertise with modern competencies, particularly proficiency with management platforms.
Continuous learning and adaptability are paramount. Mastering network management platforms — their full feature sets from configuration using templates and automation to monitoring, OOB access, and API integration — is key. Skills in software development practices (version control, CI/CD for network configurations) are valuable.
An enhanced security focus, leveraging platform features like compliance monitoring and security framework integration, is essential. Business acumen and soft skills (communication, collaboration) are critical for translating technical capabilities into business value.
New roles like Network Automation Engineer and Cloud Network Engineer are emerging, often requiring platform expertise, especially in IoT, distributed enterprise, and cloud contexts. Mastering these platforms and related skills (APIs, scripting) is crucial. Embracing an innovation mindset involves using platforms not just for maintenance but for proactive optimization and enabling new business capabilities. Relevant certifications can validate expertise. Effectively utilizing sophisticated platforms defines the successful modern network engineer.
Conclusion: The Network Engineer — Empowered by Modern Platforms
The network engineer's role has profoundly metamorphosed. The journey from CLI artisan to automation architect, often leveraging powerful management platforms, highlights technology's impact. The automation imperative, cloud's gravitational pull, and the dawn of netowrk orchestration have reshaped the job's skills, tools, and daily realities.
The network engineer's importance has only increased. Modern platforms empower them to manage larger, more complex, and dispersed networks with unprecedented efficiency. While methods have shifted from manual CLI to configuring policies and automation within platforms, the core responsibility of ensuring reliable, secure connectivity remains.
Modern platforms augment, not replace, engineers, allowing them to operate at higher abstraction levels and manage previously unimaginable scale. Engineers mastering these platforms, combining expertise with foundational knowledge and understanding modern network architectures, become strategic assets. They build and manage the intelligent, automated, resilient networks underpinning digital transformation.
The network has been rewired; the engineer, equipped with modern tools, has evolved into a more critical, efficient, and indispensable figure. And at Digi, we are integrating Digi Remote Manager into every Digi cellular solution to ensure network managers have the right tools to keep their deployed devices secure, compliant, and up-to-date.
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