Brocade Workflow Composer - Detailed Review
Networking Tools
Brocade Workflow Composer - Product Overview
Brocade Workflow Composer Overview
Primary Function
Brocade Workflow Composer is a network automation platform aimed at streamlining and automating various networking tasks. It focuses on provisioning, validation, troubleshooting, and remediation of multivendor networks, integrating workflows across multiple IT domains for end-to-end automation.
Target Audience
The primary target audience for Brocade Workflow Composer includes enterprises and cloud service providers. This tool is particularly beneficial for IT operations teams that need to enhance their network agility and efficiency, especially those undergoing digital transformation.
Key Features
DevOps-Style Automation
Workflow Composer adopts DevOps methodologies, leveraging popular open source technologies and industry best practices to automate network lifecycle tasks. This includes initial provisioning, configuration validation, troubleshooting, and remediation.
Cross-Domain Integration
The platform integrates workflows across different IT domains, allowing for seamless automation that spans network devices, platforms, and applications. This reduces manual steps and human-induced errors, improving operational efficiency and reducing time-to-resolution.
Flexible Workflow Automation
Workflow Composer supports both turnkey and customizable workflows, enabling IT teams to automate tasks in multivendor network environments. It includes over 1,900 customizable integration points for various platforms and applications such as Linux, Windows, AWS, Azure, and more.
Open and Extensible Framework
Built on an open, microservices-based framework, Workflow Composer leverages StackStorm technology, which includes sensors, actions, and rules. This allows for event-driven automation and peer collaboration within a thriving technical community.
End-to-End Automation
The platform automates the entire network lifecycle, from initial provisioning to troubleshooting and auto-remediation. This comprehensive approach helps minimize network downtime and improve overall IT agility.
By providing these features, Brocade Workflow Composer helps organizations transition from traditional, labor-intensive network management to a more agile and automated network architecture that supports business innovation.
Brocade Workflow Composer - User Interface and Experience
The Brocade Workflow Composer
A key component in the networking tools category, the Brocade Workflow Composer offers a user interface that is designed to be intuitive and efficient for managing and automating network workflows.
Main Interface Components
The interface of Brocade Workflow Composer is built on an open, extensible, microservices-based framework that leverages DevOps methodologies and popular open source technologies. Here are the key components:
- Workflow Automation: The platform allows users to create, execute, and manage workflows across the entire network lifecycle, including initial provisioning, configuration validation, troubleshooting, and remediation. This is achieved through event-driven automation.
- Customizable Integration Points: The tool provides over 1,900 customizable integration points for various platforms and applications such as Linux, Windows, vSphere, AWS, Azure, and more. This enables seamless integration with disparate IT technologies and policies.
- StackStorm Technology: Brocade Workflow Composer leverages StackStorm, which includes over 1,000 customizable sensors and actions. This facilitates quick implementation of automation across different platforms and applications.
Ease of Use
The user interface is designed to be user-friendly, even for operators with limited skills. Here are some aspects that contribute to its ease of use:
- Turnkey Automation Suites: These suites are pre-built and tested, allowing users to deploy automation quickly without extensive configuration. They are also easily customizable as skills and requirements change.
- Microservices-Based Framework: This framework supports a modular and flexible approach to workflow automation, making it easier to manage and update workflows.
User Experience
The overall user experience is enhanced by several features:
- Event-Driven Automation: Workflows are triggered by events from network devices, platforms, or applications, ensuring automated responses to various network conditions. This reduces the time-to-value and time-to-resolution significantly.
- Community Support: The platform benefits from a thriving technical community that contributes to peer collaboration and innovation. This community support helps users find solutions and best practices more easily.
- Visual Interface: While the detailed visual aspects are not explicitly described, the use of customizable integration points, sensors, and actions suggests a structured and organized interface that helps users visualize and manage their workflows effectively.
Conclusion
In summary, the Brocade Workflow Composer offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies network workflow automation through its customizable integration points, turnkey automation suites, and event-driven automation capabilities. This makes it easier for users to manage and automate network processes efficiently.
Brocade Workflow Composer - Key Features and Functionality
The Brocade Workflow Composer
The Brocade Workflow Composer is a server-based network automation platform that offers several key features and functionalities to enhance IT operations and network agility. Here are the main features and how they work:Software-Driven Lifecycle Management
Brocade Workflow Composer automates the entire network lifecycle, including initial provisioning, validation, troubleshooting, and auto-remediation. This comprehensive automation ensures that network operations are streamlined from the beginning to the end of the network’s life cycle, reducing manual errors and increasing efficiency.Cross-Domain Integration
The platform leverages customizable integration points to recognize events from any network device, cross-domain platform, or application. It can then invoke actions by other tools and applications to execute automated workflows. This integration is supported by over 1,900 customizable integration points for popular platforms and applications such as Linux, Windows, vSphere, AWS, Azure, and more.Flexible Workflow Automation for Multivendor Networks
Brocade Workflow Composer supports turnkey, customizable, or do-it-yourself network workflow automation in multivendor network environments. This flexibility allows IT teams to choose the automation approach that best fits their needs, ensuring IT agility and choice.DevOps-Inspired Methodologies
The platform is built on an open, extensible, microservices-based framework that leverages DevOps methodologies, popular open source technologies, and industry best practices. It utilizes StackStorm technology, which includes over 1,000 customizable sensors and actions, to facilitate quick implementation of automation. This approach fosters peer collaboration and innovation within a thriving technical community.Event-Driven Automation
Brocade Workflow Composer enables event-driven automation across the entire network lifecycle. It can execute workflows on physical or virtual networking platforms from Brocade and other vendors, using community-preferred technologies and services. This ensures that automated workflows can respond quickly to various events, such as network issues or changes, to maintain optimal network performance.AI Integration
While the sources do not explicitly mention AI integration, the Brocade Workflow Composer’s use of automated workflows, event-driven actions, and integration with various tools and platforms suggests a high level of automation. However, there is no specific information available indicating the use of AI technologies within this product. The automation is primarily driven by DevOps methodologies and open source technologies rather than AI.Conclusion
In summary, Brocade Workflow Composer is a powerful tool for automating network operations across multiple domains and vendors, enhancing IT agility and efficiency through its comprehensive lifecycle management, cross-domain integration, and flexible automation capabilities. Brocade Workflow Composer - Performance and Accuracy
Automation Capabilities
Brocade Workflow Composer is highly effective in automating the entire network lifecycle, including provisioning, validation, troubleshooting, and remediation of network services. It uses a workflow-centric, cross-domain approach that integrates with various IT domains such as compute, storage, and applications. This integration enables seamless and efficient service delivery, reducing the time and effort required for manual operations.Cross-Domain Workflows
The platform supports cross-domain workflows, allowing it to automate tasks across different functional domains. For example, it can detect a network device issue and automatically create and assign a Helpdesk ticket, or perform link flap auto-remediation to prevent application timeouts. These capabilities significantly improve the speed and reliability of IT service delivery.Integration and Compatibility
Brocade Workflow Composer is highly flexible and compatible with multivendor network environments. It leverages DevOps methodologies, popular open source technologies, and industry-standard APIs (such as REST/NETCONF-based APIs and OpenFlow) to ensure smooth integration with existing tool chains and processes. This flexibility makes it easier for organizations to adopt and customize the automation workflows according to their needs.Real-Time Monitoring and Analytics
The platform, when combined with Brocade SLX switches and routers, provides pervasive real-time network visibility through the Brocade SLX Insight Architecture. This architecture enables dynamic flow identification, intelligent pre-processing, and flexible data streaming, which are crucial for real-time monitoring, troubleshooting, and optimizing network operations without disrupting production traffic.Accuracy and Reliability
The automation workflows in Brocade Workflow Composer are executed programmatically based on predefined rules, ensuring consistent and accurate execution of tasks. For instance, the automated troubleshooting workflow for addressing a BGP-related issue involves precise steps to identify and resolve the problem, including logging into the switch, executing workflows to determine service and interface states, and updating Helpdesk tickets accordingly.Limitations and Areas for Improvement
While Brocade Workflow Composer offers significant benefits, there are a few areas to consider:Initial Setup and Customization
Implementing such a comprehensive automation platform may require substantial initial setup and customization efforts. Organizations need to adapt their network infrastructure, organizational processes, and IT operations to fully leverage the platform’s capabilities.Skill Requirements
Although the platform provides turnkey automation suites, operators may still need some technical skills to fully customize and maintain the workflows. This could be a challenge for organizations with limited IT resources or skills.Vendor Support and Community
While the platform benefits from a thriving technical community and support from Brocade, any changes in vendor support or community engagement could impact the long-term viability and innovation around the product. Overall, Brocade Workflow Composer demonstrates strong performance and accuracy in automating network operations, integrating with various IT domains, and providing real-time network visibility. However, it requires careful planning and implementation to maximize its benefits. Brocade Workflow Composer - Pricing and Plans
Pricing Information for Brocade Workflow Composer
Overview
Based on the available resources, there is no specific information provided about the pricing structure, different tiers, or free options for the Brocade Workflow Composer.
Features and Capabilities
The sources focus on the features, capabilities, and benefits of the Brocade Workflow Composer, such as its workflow-centric approach, cross-domain integration, and automation across the entire network lifecycle. However, they do not mention any details about pricing models or plans.
Contact for Pricing Details
If you need precise pricing information, it would be best to contact Brocade (now part of Broadcom) directly or check their official website for any updates or contact their sales team.
Brocade Workflow Composer - Integration and Compatibility
Brocade Workflow Composer Overview
Brocade Workflow Composer is a network automation platform that stands out for its extensive integration capabilities and compatibility across various tools, platforms, and devices. Here are some key points on how it achieves this:
Cross-Domain Integration
Workflow Composer is built on a workflow-centric approach that allows for cross-domain automation. This means it can integrate with multiple IT domains, including network, server, and application layers. It leverages technologies from StackStorm, such as sensors and actions, to enable integration with external systems. For example, sensors can watch for specific events from systems like SolarWinds or PagerDuty, triggering corresponding workflows.
Multi-Vendor Support
The platform is designed to work in multivendor network environments, allowing it to integrate with devices and systems from various vendors, not just Brocade. This flexibility makes it useful even in environments where Brocade is not the primary vendor. It supports the execution of workflows on physical or virtual networking platforms from multiple vendors.
Open Source Technologies
Workflow Composer utilizes popular open source technologies such as Python, Puppet, Ruby, and Mistral to enable event-driven automation. This openness allows for seamless integration with other tools and platforms that use these technologies, enhancing its compatibility and flexibility.
Customizable Workflows
The platform allows customers to build their own custom workflows, which can be turnkey, customizable, or do-it-yourself. This customization enables organizations to align the automation workflows with their specific business needs and integrate them with existing tool chains and processes from other IT domains.
Community and Industry Best Practices
Workflow Composer benefits from a thriving technical community and industry best practices. It leverages DevOps methodologies and popular open source technologies, which facilitates peer collaboration and innovation. This community-driven approach ensures that the platform remains adaptable and compatible with a wide range of IT environments.
Event-Driven Automation
The platform’s microservices-based framework supports event-driven automation, allowing workflows to be triggered by specific events. For instance, when a new leaf switch registers, a sensor can trigger the “Configure IP Fabric Leaf” workflow. This capability ensures that automation can be executed across the entire network lifecycle, from provisioning to remediation.
Conclusion
In summary, Brocade Workflow Composer integrates seamlessly with various tools and platforms through its cross-domain approach, multi-vendor support, use of open source technologies, customizable workflows, and adherence to industry best practices. This makes it a versatile and compatible solution for network automation across diverse IT environments.
Brocade Workflow Composer - Customer Support and Resources
Customer Support Options
Brocade, now a part of Broadcom, offers several support services to ensure customers get the help they need promptly.
Brocade Premier Support
This service provides priority access to Brocade Technical Support, reducing the time to resolution. It includes a single point of contact, a Support Account Manager (SAM), who coordinates all support activities, including event management and customer operational reviews. This service also offers proactive engagement on upcoming projects, hardware service-level agreements (SLAs), and online technical support tools.
Technical Assistance Center (TAC)
Customers have 24×7 access to the TAC via phone and web, ensuring round-the-clock support for critical issues.
Hardware Replacement Options
Brocade Premier Support offers various hardware SLA options, such as 4-Hour Onsite (4OS), Next-Business-Day Onsite (NDO), 4-Hour Parts (4P), and Next-Business-Day Parts (NDP), providing flexibility based on the customer’s needs.
Additional Resources
Brocade Workflow Composer is supported by a variety of resources that help users get the most out of the product.
Integration Points and Tools
The platform offers over 1,900 customizable integration points for popular platforms and applications like Linux, Windows, vSphere, AWS, Azure, OpenStack, Docker, Kubernetes, and more. This allows for seamless integration with existing tool chains and processes.
StackStorm Open Source Technology
Brocade Workflow Composer leverages StackStorm, an open source automation platform, which adds enterprise-class features and support. This integration enables DevOps-inspired, event-driven automation and supports ChatOps, auto-remediation, and other repetitive workflows.
Automation Suites
Brocade Workflow Composer Automation Suites are pre-built to automate the entire network lifecycle, including provisioning, validation, troubleshooting, and remediation. These suites are easy to deploy and can be customized as skills and requirements change.
Community and Documentation
Users can access a wealth of documentation, including data sheets, at-a-glance guides, and community resources. For example, the Brocade Workflow Composer At-A-Glance document provides detailed examples of customizable workflows and their benefits.
Online Tools and Knowledge Base
Through the Broadcom Support Portal, customers have access to case management tools, downloads for OS firmware and code updates, and a robust knowledge base to research and solve technical questions.
These resources and support options are designed to help customers maximize the value of their networks, ensure high uptime, and resolve issues efficiently.
Brocade Workflow Composer - Pros and Cons
Advantages of Brocade Workflow Composer
Cross-Domain Automation
Brocade Workflow Composer stands out for its ability to automate workflows across multiple IT domains, breaking down silos and enabling end-to-end automation. This allows for seamless integration with various network devices, platforms, and applications, such as AWS, Azure, OpenStack, and more.
DevOps-Inspired Automation
The platform leverages DevOps methodologies, popular open source technologies, and industry best practices. This approach enables IT organizations to adopt automation at their own pace, using turnkey, customizable, or do-it-yourself network workflow automation.
Comprehensive Network Lifecycle Management
Workflow Composer automates the entire network lifecycle, including provisioning, validation, troubleshooting, and remediation. This ensures that network operations are efficient, consistent, and minimally resource-intensive.
Customizable Integration Points
With over 1,900 customizable integration points for popular platforms and applications, Workflow Composer provides extensive flexibility. It supports integration with tools like Linux, Windows, vSphere, Docker, Kubernetes, and various monitoring and management tools.
Event-Driven Automation
The platform uses customizable sensors and actions to trigger workflows based on specific events, enabling real-time automation and auto-remediation. This helps in managing alerts, disk space cleanup, node failure remediation, and other critical tasks automatically.
Community and Open Source Support
Workflow Composer benefits from a thriving technical community and the use of open source technologies. Many components of the platform are available on GitHub, fostering peer collaboration and innovation.
Disadvantages of Brocade Workflow Composer
Initial Learning Curve
Implementing Brocade Workflow Composer may require significant initial effort and learning, especially for organizations new to DevOps and automation. The complexity of setting up and customizing workflows can be challenging.
Dependency on StackStorm Technology
The platform’s functionality is heavily dependent on StackStorm technology, which, while powerful, may introduce additional layers of complexity and potential points of failure if not managed properly.
Resource Requirements
While the platform aims to minimize manual operations, it still requires skilled personnel to develop, customize, and maintain the automated workflows. This can be resource-intensive, especially in the initial phases of implementation.
Compatibility Issues
Although Workflow Composer supports multivendor network environments, there could be compatibility issues with certain legacy systems or specific vendor technologies, which might need additional configuration or workarounds.
In summary, Brocade Workflow Composer offers significant advantages in terms of cross-domain automation, DevOps-inspired methodologies, and comprehensive network lifecycle management. However, it also presents some challenges, such as an initial learning curve, dependency on specific technologies, resource requirements, and potential compatibility issues.
Brocade Workflow Composer - Comparison with Competitors
Brocade Workflow Composer
- This platform takes a workflow-centric approach to network automation, integrating across multiple IT domains such as network, compute, storage, and applications. It automates the entire network lifecycle, including provisioning, validation, troubleshooting, and remediation.
- Built on an open, extensible, microservices-based framework, it leverages StackStorm technology, DevOps methodologies, and popular open-source technologies. This allows for customizable integration points and the execution of automated workflows across multivendor network environments.
- It supports cross-domain integration, enabling events from any network device, platform, or application to trigger automated workflows. This feature is crucial for bridging functional silos and optimizing service delivery.
Juniper Networks AI-Native Networking Platform
- Juniper’s platform unifies campus, branch, and data center networking operations through a common AI engine and the Mist Marvis Virtual Network Assistant (VNA). It has been trained on seven years of insights and data science development to ensure reliable, measurable, and secure connections for all devices and applications.
- This platform promises significant reductions in networking trouble tickets (up to 90%), operational expenses (up to 85%), and incident resolution time (up to 50%).
- Unlike Brocade Workflow Composer, Juniper’s platform is more focused on AI-driven assurance and optimization rather than a broad workflow-centric approach.
Nile AI Services Platform
- Nile’s platform focuses on automating network design, configuration, and management using AI. It includes features like AI-based network design, automated network deployment, and AI-powered network monitoring and operations through Nile Copilot and Nile Autopilot applications.
- This platform integrates security, cloud-native service delivery, and AI-powered closed-loop automation, which is particularly beneficial for campus and branch IT infrastructures.
- While Nile’s platform is strong in AI-driven automation for specific tasks, it may not offer the same level of cross-domain workflow automation as Brocade Workflow Composer.
LogicMonitor, Auvik, and NinjaOne
- These tools are more focused on AI-driven network monitoring rather than comprehensive workflow automation. They offer features such as anomaly detection, predictive analytics, and automated task management like network mapping and device discovery.
- LogicMonitor, for example, uses AI for anomaly detection and predictive analytics to anticipate network problems proactively. Auvik and NinjaOne also provide similar AI-driven insights for network monitoring and management.
- These tools are excellent for real-time monitoring and proactive issue resolution but do not offer the same level of workflow automation across multiple IT domains as Brocade Workflow Composer.
Unique Features and Alternatives
- Brocade Workflow Composer stands out for its ability to automate workflows across the entire network lifecycle and integrate across multiple IT domains. This makes it a strong choice for organizations seeking end-to-end automation.
- Juniper Networks AI-Native Networking Platform and Nile AI Services Platform are better suited for organizations looking to leverage AI for specific aspects of network management, such as assurance and optimization or network design and deployment.
- For organizations primarily interested in AI-driven network monitoring, LogicMonitor, Auvik, and NinjaOne offer powerful tools with advanced anomaly detection and predictive analytics capabilities.
Each of these tools has its unique strengths and is tailored to different aspects of network automation and management, allowing organizations to choose the best fit based on their specific needs.
Brocade Workflow Composer - Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions about Brocade Workflow Composer
What is Brocade Workflow Composer?
Brocade Workflow Composer is a server-based network automation platform that automates the entire network lifecycle, from initial provisioning and validation to troubleshooting and auto-remediation. It takes a workflow-centric approach to network automation, integrating with various IT domains and tools to improve business agility.
What are the key features of Brocade Workflow Composer?
Key features include software-driven lifecycle management, cross-domain integration, flexible workflow automation for multivendor networks, and DevOps-inspired methodologies. It leverages customizable integration points, sensors, and actions to execute automated workflows across different network devices, platforms, and applications.
How does Brocade Workflow Composer handle cross-domain integration?
Brocade Workflow Composer uses customizable integration points such as sensors and actions to recognize events from any network device, cross-domain platform, or application. These integration points trigger corresponding workflows and invoke actions on external systems, enabling seamless cross-domain automation.
What technologies and frameworks does Brocade Workflow Composer use?
The platform is built on an open, extensible, microservices-based framework that leverages technologies acquired from StackStorm, DevOps methodologies, and popular open-source technologies like Python, Puppet, Ruby, and Mistral. This framework supports event-driven automation across multiple domains.
Can Brocade Workflow Composer be used in multivendor network environments?
Yes, Brocade Workflow Composer supports turnkey, customizable, or do-it-yourself network workflow automation in multivendor network environments. This flexibility allows IT operations to automate tasks across different vendors’ equipment.
How does Brocade Workflow Composer improve IT operations?
By automating networking tasks such as provisioning, validation, troubleshooting, and remediation, Brocade Workflow Composer reduces manual processes and human delays. It enables IT operations to move at digital speed, improving customer satisfaction by resolving network issues faster and more efficiently.
What kind of workflows can be automated with Brocade Workflow Composer?
The platform can automate a wide range of workflows, including provisioning network devices, managing alerts through ChatOps, disk space cleanup, node failure auto-remediation, link flap auto-remediation, and more. These workflows can be single-domain or cross-domain, integrating with various tools and applications like SolarWinds, PagerDuty, OpenStack, and Slack.
How can I get started with Brocade Workflow Composer?
To get started, you need to download the software from the MyBrocade portal. You can sign up for free if you are not already a member. Once logged in, you can search for “Workflow Composer” and follow the steps to download and install the software.
Does Brocade Workflow Composer offer any professional services for implementation?
Yes, Brocade offers NetDev Professional Services, which are staffed with experienced network software developers. These services help customers accelerate their automation journey by leveraging solutions from Brocade and other vendors.
What kind of community and support does Brocade Workflow Composer have?
Brocade Workflow Composer benefits from a thriving community that supports peer collaboration and innovation. The platform leverages popular open-source technologies and industry best practices, ensuring there is a strong community and support ecosystem available.
Is Brocade Workflow Composer compatible with various industry tools and platforms?
Yes, Brocade Workflow Composer provides more than 1,900 customizable integration points for popular platforms and applications such as Linux, Windows, vSphere, AWS, Azure, CloudFoundry, OpenStack, Docker, Kubernetes, and many others. This ensures broad compatibility and integration with existing tool chains and processes.
Brocade Workflow Composer - Conclusion and Recommendation
Final Assessment of Brocade Workflow Composer
Brocade Workflow Composer is a sophisticated network automation platform that stands out in the networking tools category, particularly for its comprehensive and integrated approach to network lifecycle management.Key Benefits and Features
- Software-Driven Lifecycle Management: The platform automates the entire network lifecycle, from initial provisioning and validation to troubleshooting and auto-remediation. This ensures seamless and efficient network operations.
- Cross-Domain Integration: Brocade Workflow Composer integrates with various network devices, cross-domain platforms, and applications, allowing for automated workflows that span multiple IT domains. It supports over 1,900 customizable integration points for popular platforms like Linux, Windows, AWS, Azure, and more.
- Flexible Workflow Automation: The platform offers turnkey, customizable, or do-it-yourself network workflow automation, making it versatile for multivendor network environments. This flexibility is crucial for organizations with diverse infrastructure needs.
- DevOps-Inspired Methodologies: Built on an open, extensible, microservices-based framework leveraging StackStorm and other open-source DevOps technologies, Brocade Workflow Composer aligns well with DevOps practices, enhancing IT agility and collaboration.
Who Would Benefit Most
Brocade Workflow Composer is particularly beneficial for:- Enterprises and Cloud Service Providers: Organizations looking to improve their IT operations and capitalize on digital transformation will find this platform invaluable. It helps bridge the gap between network automation and other IT operations, enhancing overall business agility.
- Multivendor Network Environments: Companies with mixed infrastructure from various vendors can leverage the platform’s flexibility and customization options to automate workflows across different domains.
- IT Teams Embracing DevOps: Teams that have adopted or are transitioning to DevOps methodologies will appreciate the platform’s alignment with these practices, facilitating smoother and more integrated automation processes.
Overall Recommendation
Brocade Workflow Composer is a strong choice for any organization seeking to automate and integrate their network operations across multiple domains. Here are some key points to consider:- Automation and Integration: If your organization struggles with manual network management and siloed IT operations, Brocade Workflow Composer can significantly streamline these processes.
- Customization and Flexibility: The platform’s extensive customization options and support for multivendor environments make it highly adaptable to various organizational needs.
- DevOps Alignment: For teams already invested in DevOps, this platform integrates seamlessly with existing methodologies, enhancing collaboration and efficiency.