Overhauling Data Center Network Automation: Intel's Data-Centric Journey#

Greg Botts — Intel (Senior Network Engineer)

• Why: A rare full-journey DC automation case study at real scale (global, 5k+ devices, new network platform + new automation system simultaneously), with a clear architectural position: data first, everything else is a by-product.
• What: Intel IT replaced a turnkey vendor automation solution (inflection point: roadmap, scale, and cost limits) with a data-centric system built on Nautobot as the network source of truth, plus open-source components, DBaaS, and config generation. Timelines are concrete: 6-month prototype, 8-month pilot, 1-year migrations — delivered on time and under budget. Results: provisioning time reduced ~75%, 100% standardized configs.
• How: Foundation is modeled, centralized, programmatically accessible network data (device inventory, device data, jobs, golden config → intended config). Key learnings: model for scale, right-size and enable log-cleaner (hosting matters), and "relentlessly standardize" — eliminate one-offs. The modeled data is explicitly positioned as the on-ramp for AI ("table is set for AI") and self-service for partners and customers.
• Where applicable: Intel-internal, but the methodology (data-first, NSoT as foundation, staged rollout) is general and vendor-neutral — Nautobot is open source. Most useful if you run a large multi-site DC estate and are weighing build-vs-buy on automation; the talk includes their actual build/buy criteria list.