{"id":9958,"date":"2020-06-16T13:03:56","date_gmt":"2020-06-16T13:03:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/var\/www\/html.zpesystems.com\/?p=9958"},"modified":"2020-12-05T03:12:27","modified_gmt":"2020-12-05T03:12:27","slug":"ztp-vs-manual-configurations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zpesystems.com\/ztp-vs-manual-configurations\/","title":{"rendered":"A Closer Look: Zero Touch Provisioning Vs Manual Configurations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;section&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;3.22&#8243; da_is_popup=&#8221;off&#8221; da_exit_intent=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_close=&#8221;on&#8221; da_alt_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_dark_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_not_modal=&#8221;on&#8221; da_is_singular=&#8221;off&#8221; da_with_loader=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_shadow=&#8221;on&#8221; da_disable_devices=&#8221;off|off|off&#8221;][et_pb_row admin_label=&#8221;row&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.6.1&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;0px||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||||false|false&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; min_height=&#8221;2744px&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Text&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.6.1&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<a href=\"\/zero-touch-provisioning\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our previous post about zero touch provisioning<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (ZTP) details the basics about what makes ZTP work. You need to have the proper scripting and automation tools, along with a well-designed workflow. These help you test and prepare configurations in a lab environment, and ultimately lead to deployments that are faster, consistent, and automatic.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this article, we\u2019re going to take a closer look at zero touch provisioning to see how it compares to manual methods of deploying networks.<\/span>\n\n<strong>But first, here\u2019s a recap about ZTP:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>What is it?<\/strong> \u2014 Zero touch provisioning automates network configuration tasks, so you can deploy new networks simply by connecting &amp; booting your devices.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Why use it?<\/strong> \u2014 Scaling can be a chore. You need to coordinate so many devices and IT resources, and staff need to be on-site to tediously configure each appliance. ZTP eliminates all of this so you can scale on demand.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>What are the benefits?<\/strong> \u2014 On the network side, ZTP eliminates the need for time-consuming, error-prone manual configurations. Using well-tested scripts, you can automate deployments with networks that build themselves quickly, consistently, and reliably. For business, this means a more nimble network edge that can keep up with growth. You get the security of shipping unconfigured devices, the cost savings of reduced on-site support, and the consistency of automation. Deploying takes minutes and gives you the peace of mind knowing that your new networks meet compliance standards.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<hr \/>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, let\u2019s take a look at common ways of provisioning that you\u2019re probably familiar with, and how zero touch provisioning makes them obsolete.<\/span>\n<h4><b>Manual Provisioning<\/b><\/h4>\n<center><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/zpesystems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/MANUAL.png\" \/><\/center>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re not familiar with zero touch provisioning, you know the hassle that comes with manually deploying networks. Once you acquire all of your physical network appliances and IT resources, you need to get them on-site at your new location. This involves coordinating shipments and staff travel plans, which oftentimes leads to waiting periods and expensive delays. Staying on track to meet your timelines can be a joke even before deployment begins.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After tackling the logistical hurdle, the real work starts. Your on-site IT staff must connect to each device separately, and then make configurations using the command line interface (CLI).<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is time consuming \u2014 Connecting to each device requires staff to provide their credentials to gain access. Once they\u2019re granted access, they must manually enter commands into the CLI, which can take minutes or even hours depending on the configuration. This needs to be repeated for each appliance until the entire stack is properly configured and the network can be deployed.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This leads to errors \u2014 Human error is a major contributor to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ibmsystemsmag.com\/Power-Systems\/10\/2018\/Human-Error-Top-Cause-of-Downtime\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">network outages and downtime<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Requiring manual input for each network appliance means more chances for mistakes. This could be an overlooked typo on the CLI, installation of an old and incorrect configuration file, or something as simple as mixing up port assignments.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This burdens your staff \u2014 Performing hundreds or even thousands of manual tasks for each deployment requires an extensive, on-site staff presence. Even with an experienced and highly-skilled team, setting up your network can take days\u2019 worth of work and pulls employees away from more business-critical tasks.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<hr \/>\n\n<h4><b>Minimal Touch Provisioning<\/b><\/h4>\n<center><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/zpesystems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/MTP.png\" \/><\/center>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Different methods have been developed to address some of the drawbacks to manual configuration. One of these includes minimal touch provisioning (MTP), which is essentially a process improvement. MTP involves working with a pre-approved set of commands that can be easily pasted, either individually or as a batch, into the CLI. The advantage here is mostly in time savings, as simple copy\/paste tasks involve significantly fewer keystrokes than manually entering every command.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, this minimal touch approach inherits some of the same drawbacks, and introduces its own.<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This still requires on-site staff \u2014 MTP doesn\u2019t reduce the need for on-site staff to configure your stacks. As with manual provisioning, setting up using MTP still requires teams to manually input configurations into the CLI. More important business activities must take a back seat while your engineers deploy each new location.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This still exposes you to errors \u2014 A minimal touch approach isn\u2019t without human error. Your IT staff still need to connect separately to each device. And even though they have a predetermined set of commands at their disposal, simple mistakes can happen due to fatigue, forgetfulness, or improper keystrokes.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This requires extensive testing \u2014 MTP requires you to test your configuration in a lab environment before deploying to production networks. This helps you fix potential issues and develop configuration commands that are highly repeatable. However, the drawback is that this extensive work upfront doesn\u2019t eliminate the manual work required for each deployment.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<hr \/>\n\n<h4><b>Zero Touch Provisioning<\/b><\/h4>\n<center><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/zpesystems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ZTP-1.png\" \/><\/center>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zero touch provisioning makes the most of scripting and automation. ZTP virtually eliminates all of the issues that come with a manual or minimal touch approach, by combining the right tools with process improvements. There are no headaches involving shipping devices, coordinating staff, or keeping up with deployment schedules.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, preparing configurations requires thorough planning and testing upfront, but you\u2019re left with a network that\u2019s highly nimble and can scale right when you need it.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some reasons why it\u2019s called \u201czero touch\u201d:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scripting and automation carry out all the tasks that are usually delegated to staff for manual input.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You only need to perform the simple physical tasks \u2014 just connect the power &amp; network cables, boot your devices, and then the network builds itself.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You don\u2019t need specialized staff on-site. All you need is someone to physically install your devices.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zero touch provisioning also allows you to pinpoint and fix potential human errors in your lab environment. This way you can ensure that all of your commands and configuration files are correct before they\u2019re pushed to your new networks.<\/span>\n\n<hr \/>\n\n<h4><b>What does Nodegrid bring to ZTP?<\/b><\/h4>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ZTP comes with several significant benefits for your networking capabilities and your business, from branch locations that can be deployed fast, to the cost savings that come with minimal on-site support. ZPE Systems\u2019 Nodegrid adds even more to your zero touch toolkit so you can get even more from each deployment.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nodegrid features consolidated, all-in-one network appliances, which means a smaller stack that can handle every network function. You can get on location easier with fewer capital expenses, and reduced shipping costs and travel costs.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On top of this, zero touch provisioning with Nodegrid allows you to push configurations to other devices. This includes devices from many vendors. As long as you properly test and configure your scripts, you can extend your zero touch provisioning capabilities simply by connecting devices to your Nodegrid appliances.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After your initial deployment, your Nodegrid appliances can connect to ZPE Cloud for easy and convenient configuration management. You can eliminate the need to juggle files and updates. ZPE Cloud stores all your config files and supports automation, so you can push changes and make other adjustments automatically, and from the safety of the cloud.<\/span>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our previous post about zero touch provisioning (ZTP) details the basics about what makes ZTP work. You need to have the proper scripting and automation tools, along with a well-designed workflow. These help you test and prepare configurations in a lab environment, and ultimately lead to deployments that are faster, consistent, and automatic. In this [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9995,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"<div style=\"padding: 25px;\"><\/div>\n<span class=\"ProductName\">A Closer Look: Zero Touch Provisioning Vs Manual Configurations<\/span>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/var\/www\/html.zpesystems.com\/zero-touch-provisioning\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our previous post about zero touch provisioning<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (ZTP) details the basics about what makes ZTP work. You need to have the proper scripting and automation tools, along with a well-designed workflow. These help you test and prepare configurations in a lab environment, and ultimately lead to deployments that are faster, consistent, and automatic.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this article, we\u2019re going to take a closer look at zero touch provisioning to see how it compares to manual methods of deploying networks.<\/span>\n\n<strong>But first, here\u2019s a recap about ZTP:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>What is it?<\/strong> \u2014 Zero touch provisioning automates network configuration tasks, so you can deploy new networks simply by connecting &amp; booting your devices.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Why use it?<\/strong> \u2014 Scaling can be a chore. You need to coordinate so many devices and IT resources, and staff need to be on-site to tediously configure each appliance. ZTP eliminates all of this so you can scale on demand.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>What are the benefits?<\/strong> \u2014 On the network side, ZTP eliminates the need for time-consuming, error-prone manual configurations. Using well-tested scripts, you can automate deployments with networks that build themselves quickly, consistently, and reliably. For business, this means a more nimble network edge that can keep up with growth. You get the security of shipping unconfigured devices, the cost savings of reduced on-site support, and the consistency of automation. Deploying takes minutes and gives you the peace of mind knowing that your new networks meet compliance standards.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<hr \/>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, let\u2019s take a look at common ways of provisioning that you\u2019re probably familiar with, and how zero touch provisioning makes them obsolete.<\/span>\n<h4><b>Manual Provisioning<\/b><\/h4>\n<center><img src=\"https:\/\/zpesystems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/MANUAL.png\" \/><\/center>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re not familiar with zero touch provisioning, you know the hassle that comes with manually deploying networks. Once you acquire all of your physical network appliances and IT resources, you need to get them on-site at your new location. This involves coordinating shipments and staff travel plans, which oftentimes leads to waiting periods and expensive delays. Staying on track to meet your timelines can be a joke even before deployment begins.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After tackling the logistical hurdle, the real work starts. Your on-site IT staff must connect to each device separately, and then make configurations using the command line interface (CLI).<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is time consuming \u2014 Connecting to each device requires staff to provide their credentials to gain access. Once they\u2019re granted access, they must manually enter commands into the CLI, which can take minutes or even hours depending on the configuration. This needs to be repeated for each appliance until the entire stack is properly configured and the network can be deployed.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This leads to errors \u2014 Human error is a major contributor to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ibmsystemsmag.com\/Power-Systems\/10\/2018\/Human-Error-Top-Cause-of-Downtime\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">network outages and downtime<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Requiring manual input for each network appliance means more chances for mistakes. This could be an overlooked typo on the CLI, installation of an old and incorrect configuration file, or something as simple as mixing up port assignments.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This burdens your staff \u2014 Performing hundreds or even thousands of manual tasks for each deployment requires an extensive, on-site staff presence. Even with an experienced and highly-skilled team, setting up your network can take days\u2019 worth of work and pulls employees away from more business-critical tasks.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<hr \/>\n\n<h4><b>Minimal Touch Provisioning<\/b><\/h4>\n<center><img src=\"https:\/\/zpesystems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/MTP.png\" \/><\/center>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Different methods have been developed to address some of the drawbacks to manual configuration. One of these includes minimal touch provisioning (MTP), which is essentially a process improvement. MTP involves working with a pre-approved set of commands that can be easily pasted, either individually or as a batch, into the CLI. The advantage here is mostly in time savings, as simple copy\/paste tasks involve significantly fewer keystrokes than manually entering every command.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, this minimal touch approach inherits some of the same drawbacks, and introduces its own.<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This still requires on-site staff \u2014 MTP doesn\u2019t reduce the need for on-site staff to configure your stacks. As with manual provisioning, setting up using MTP still requires teams to manually input configurations into the CLI. More important business activities must take a back seat while your engineers deploy each new location.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This still exposes you to errors \u2014 A minimal touch approach isn\u2019t without human error. Your IT staff still need to connect separately to each device. And even though they have a predetermined set of commands at their disposal, simple mistakes can happen due to fatigue, forgetfulness, or improper keystrokes.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This requires extensive testing \u2014 MTP requires you to test your configuration in a lab environment before deploying to production networks. This helps you fix potential issues and develop configuration commands that are highly repeatable. However, the drawback is that this extensive work upfront doesn\u2019t eliminate the manual work required for each deployment.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<hr \/>\n\n<h4><b>Zero Touch Provisioning<\/b><\/h4>\n<center><img src=\"https:\/\/zpesystems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ZTP-1.png\" \/><\/center>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zero touch provisioning makes the most of scripting and automation. ZTP virtually eliminates all of the issues that come with a manual or minimal touch approach, by combining the right tools with process improvements. There are no headaches involving shipping devices, coordinating staff, or keeping up with deployment schedules.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, preparing configurations requires thorough planning and testing upfront, but you\u2019re left with a network that\u2019s highly nimble and can scale right when you need it.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some reasons why it\u2019s called \u201czero touch\u201d:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scripting and automation carry out all the tasks that are usually delegated to staff for manual input.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You only need to perform the simple physical tasks \u2014 just connect the power &amp; network cables, boot your devices, and then the network builds itself.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You don\u2019t need specialized staff on-site. All you need is someone to physically install your devices.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zero touch provisioning also allows you to pinpoint and fix potential human errors in your lab environment. This way you can ensure that all of your commands and configuration files are correct before they\u2019re pushed to your new networks.<\/span>\n\n<hr \/>\n\n<h4><b>What does Nodegrid bring to ZTP?<\/b><\/h4>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ZTP comes with several significant benefits for your networking capabilities and your business, from branch locations that can be deployed fast, to the cost savings that come with minimal on-site support. ZPE Systems\u2019 Nodegrid adds even more to your zero touch toolkit so you can get even more from each deployment.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nodegrid features consolidated, all-in-one network appliances, which means a smaller stack that can handle every network function. You can get on location easier with fewer capital expenses, and reduced shipping costs and travel costs.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On top of this, zero touch provisioning with Nodegrid allows you to push configurations to other devices. This includes devices from many vendors. As long as you properly test and configure your scripts, you can extend your zero touch provisioning capabilities simply by connecting devices to your Nodegrid appliances.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After your initial deployment, your Nodegrid appliances can connect to ZPE Cloud for easy and convenient configuration management. You can eliminate the need to juggle files and updates. ZPE Cloud stores all your config files and supports automation, so you can push changes and make other adjustments automatically, and from the safety of the cloud.<\/span>","_et_gb_content_width":"","content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[112],"tags":[58,59,48,49],"class_list":["post-9958","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-zero-touch-provisioning","tag-minimal-touch-provisioning","tag-mtp","tag-zero-touch-provisioning","tag-ztp"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v26.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>A Closer Look: Zero Touch Provisioning Vs Manual Configurations - ZPE Systems<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/zpesystems.com\/ztp-vs-manual-configurations\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Closer Look: Zero Touch Provisioning Vs Manual Configurations\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"You waste time &amp; money when you deploy networks manually. 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Systems","author_link":"https:\/\/zpesystems.com\/author\/alvin-chan\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/zpesystems.com\/category\/streamline-deployments\/zero-touch-provisioning\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP)<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"Our previous post about zero touch provisioning (ZTP) details the basics about what makes ZTP work. 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