6 Advanced AI Tools That Modern Network Engineers Should Know
Network engineers face mounting complexity in their daily work, juggling endless manual tasks while trying to maintain vigilant oversight of critical systems. However, a promising shift is underway as artificial intelligence begins to reshape the landscape of network management. From innovative tools like extracto for intelligent data gathering to comprehensive platforms such as Gluware, Mist, and IBM's networking solutions, AI is offering new ways to automate traditionally time-consuming tasks. These advances, along with robust resource centers like Juniper, are helping engineers reduce manual workload, prevent configuration mistakes, and achieve remarkable gains in operational efficiency. Let's explore how these leading AI solutions are transforming the way network engineers tackle the challenges of modern infrastructure management.
extracto
AI-powered scraping that saves engineers hours of work.
Extracto.bot helps network engineers collect website data without any complicated setup. It works right inside Google Sheets which means you can start gathering information quickly and easily. Just set up your columns, go to the website you want to analyze and hit "extract." This works great when you need to check prices from different vendors track specs from datasheets or keep tabs on what competitors are doing.
The tool is super straightforward to use because there's no tricky configuration needed. You can jump right in and start working with the data in Google Sheets which most people already know how to use. The AI does all the heavy lifting by finding and pulling out exactly what you're looking for which saves a ton of time that you can spend on more important network tasks like design and optimization.
What's really nice is that Extracto.bot has different plans to fit your needs. You can start with the free version or upgrade to get unlimited scraping if you need it. Since it works with Google Drive it's really easy to share information with your team and keep everyone on the same page when you're managing network projects and doing analysis.
Link: https://www.extracto.bot
Gluware
Network automation platform that eliminates manual configuration errors.
Gluware gives network engineers a smart way to automate their networks and cut down on outages and security risks. Using a simplified coding environment and ready-made apps, it lets you automate complex stuff like patches and system upgrades way faster than doing it by hand. In fact, a Cisco/McKinsey study showed it's 300 times quicker with zero mistakes compared to manual work.
The platform keeps an eye on configuration drift which is a big problem that Titania Research has talked about. It can spot these issues early and fix them automatically. What's really helpful is that Gluware works with different vendors and platforms, and can transform your existing network setup within about a month.
For network engineers who are tired of building automation from scratch, Gluware makes things easier. It works well with any Ansible stuff you already have and turns those tasks into smooth automated processes. The system finds network inventory in real-time keeps all your network data in one place and makes sure complex configurations work right across different vendors' equipment.
Engineers can spend less time on repetitive tasks and focus on more important work because of the pre-built automation tools. This means networks run better and costs go down over time. If you want to see how much you could save, Gluware has a value calculator and examples of their top 10 uses that show what you might get back from using their platform.
Link: https://gluware.com/
Mist
AI-driven platform that revolutionizes network management operations
Mist AI from Juniper Networks gives network engineers a powerful toolset that makes network operations simpler and improves how users experience the network. Their solutions work for both campus and branch networks using AI-powered insights and automation with strong security features to help businesses get real results. One of the coolest parts is Marvis - it's like having a virtual network assistant that's always there to help troubleshoot and provide support just like an IT expert would.
The platform is really good at showing network engineers exactly what's happening in their infrastructure which helps them make it work better. It looks at tons of data to spot and fix problems before they cause issues which means less downtime and networks that work more reliably. Mist AI handles a lot of the routine stuff like configuration and security monitoring automatically so network engineers don't have to. This lets them work on more interesting and complex projects instead of doing repetitive tasks and helps create better experiences for everyone using the network. Juniper Networks is focused on providing insights automation and security that actually help businesses succeed, which is changing how we think about managing networks.
Link: https://www.mist.com/
IBM
AI-powered platform revolutionizing network operations management
IBM Cloud Pak for AIOps helps network engineers improve their IT operations with AI-driven insights and smart automation. The platform watches your ITOps environment and lets teams know about potential problems while filtering out unnecessary alerts. It doesn't just spot issues - it figures out why they happened and suggests fixes. This helps teams solve problems faster and even prevent some issues before they cause trouble which keeps important applications running smoothly. Engineers can pull in data from different sources to get a clearer picture of what's happening across their systems.
The platform offers a lot more than just handling incidents. You can run it wherever works best for you - in your own datacenter, in the cloud or both. It makes setting up and managing resources much easier and helps teams work together better by sharing what they learn. Network engineers particularly like how it works with other IBM tools like Instana Observability for checking application performance, Turbonomic for managing resources efficiently and SevOne for keeping an eye on the whole network. All these features working together let network engineers stay ahead of problems, keep everything running well and reduce system downtime.
Link: https://www.ibm.com/cloud/watson-aiops
Juniper
A complete networking resource hub for infrastructure pros
Juniper Networks has built a really comprehensive set of resources that help network engineers tackle their day-to-day challenges. Their website gives you access to detailed product docs and design guides plus a solid knowledge base that covers common problems and real-world scenarios. If you want hands-on experience you can download software and try out demos of their products and services. Network pros can also join the Elevate Community with its discussion forums and tech blogs to connect with others and keep up with new developments in networking. Through training and certification programs Juniper helps professionals build the skills they need for better network performance and security.
The website does more than just technical stuff - it connects engineers directly to support through online resources and live chat when they need help. There's lots of info about solutions for specific networking challenges which lets engineers find the right approach for their infrastructure needs. It's easy to stay in the loop with news and product updates and the image library and blog provide great material for research and learning. Whether you're troubleshooting problems or exploring new tech Juniper Networks' website works as a central resource that helps network engineers grow their expertise and manage their networks better.