Using the AAP 2.6 Self-Service Portal for Network Automation
By Luca Berton · Published 2024-01-01 · Category: troubleshooting
How network teams can use the AAP 2.6 self-service portal to run pre-approved network automation without Ansible experience.
Introduction
Network engineers often need to run routine automation tasks but may not be Ansible experts. The AAP 2.6 self-service portal bridges this gap by providing a guided, point-and-click interface for running pre-approved network automations.
Setting Up Network Automation in the Portal
Step 1: Build Network Job Templates
Create job templates for common network tasks:
Step 2: Add Survey Variables
Configure survey variables that become form fields in the portal:
Step 3: Publish to Portal
In the AAP 2.6 UI: Navigate to the self-service portal settings Select the network automation job templates Assign the "Network Engineering" team Set appropriate permissions
Common Network Portal Use Cases
1. VLAN Management • Create new VLANs • Modify VLAN assignments • Decommission VLANs
2. ACL Updates • Add firewall rules • Modify access lists • Emergency port blocking
3. Device Backup • On-demand configuration backups • Scheduled backup verification • Configuration comparison
4. Interface Management • Enable/disable interfaces • Update interface descriptions • Change speed/duplex settings
5. Troubleshooting • Run show commands across devices • Collect diagnostic information • Generate health reports
Benefits for Network Teams • No Ansible learning curve — Network engineers use familiar terms in a form • Pre-approved changes — All automations are vetted by the platform team • Audit trail — Every action is logged with who, what, and when • Faster execution — No more ticket queues for routine changes • Reduced errors — Guided forms prevent common mistakes
Conclusion
The self-service portal transforms how network teams interact with automation. By providing a simple, guided interface, you can scale network automation to every network engineer in your organization without requiring Ansible expertise.
For more Ansible tutorials and guides, explore the complete article collection on Ansible Pilot.
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Category: troubleshooting