NETCONF, short for Network Configuration Protocol, is a network management protocol developed and standardized by the IETF in RFC 6241. It provides mechanisms to install, manipulate, and delete the configuration of network devices. Unlike SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), which is primarily used for monitoring and basic configuration tasks, NETCONF is designed to offer a more comprehensive set of capabilities for configuring and managing network devices.
Key Features of NETCONF #
- Configuration-focused: Specifically designed to manipulate the configuration of network devices.
- Extensible: Uses an XML-based data encoding for the configuration data as well as protocol messages, making it highly extensible.
- Secure: Runs over Secure Shell (SSH) by default, providing secure communication between the NETCONF client and server.
- Support for Transactions: Supports transactions, allowing for a set of configuration changes to be applied atomically. This means either all changes in the set are applied successfully, or none are, ensuring consistent configurations.
- Capability Negotiation: The protocol allows clients and servers to negotiate capabilities to ensure both sides understand how to communicate properly.
Components of NETCONF #
- NETCONF Client: Initiates the NETCONF session. It sends requests to the NETCONF server to perform network management operations.
- NETCONF Server: Resides on the network device (like a router or switch) and responds to requests from the NETCONF client. It accesses and modifies the device’s configuration based on the client’s requests.
- Configuration Datastore: A conceptual repository that stores the configuration data. NETCONF defines various datastores, such as the running configuration (currently active) and the startup configuration (used at boot time).
How NETCONF is Used #
NETCONF is used for various network management tasks, including:
- Configuration Management: Applying new configurations, modifying existing configurations, or deleting configurations on network devices.
- Retrieving Configuration and State Information: Extracting the current configuration or state information from network devices.
- Monitoring and Event Notifications: Subscribing to and receiving notifications about events or changes in the network configuration or state.
NETCONF operations are performed using a set of standardized RPC (Remote Procedure Call) messages encoded in XML. These operations include:
- get: For retrieving data.
- edit-config: For editing configuration data.
- copy-config: For copying configuration data from one datastore to another.
- delete-config: For deleting a configuration datastore.
- lock/unlock: For locking a configuration datastore to prevent concurrent edits.
Use Cases #
- Automated Configuration Rollouts: Automating the deployment of network configurations across multiple devices.
- Network State Monitoring: Collecting detailed information about the state of network devices for diagnostics and monitoring.
- Configuration Backup and Restore: Backing up device configurations and restoring them when needed.
NETCONF’s transactional capability, secure transport, and detailed configuration manipulation features make it an essential tool for modern network management, especially in environments that require precise control and management of network device configurations.