Cisco Digital Network Architecture (DNA)
Cisco DNA Center is a complete management and control platform for the network, designed by Cisco. This single, extensible software platform includes integrated tools for network management, automation, virtualization, analytics and assurance, security and IoT connectivity.
Launched by Cisco in the summer of 2017 toward building an intuitive network, IBN (Intent-Based Networking) technology includes significant improvements for managing campus and branch networks. Cisco DNA encompasses Cisco's overall strategy for enterprise network design, deployment and operation.
Policy
Cisco DNA provides a robust environment in which network architects and administrators can define and deploy policies network-wide, end to end. These can include QoS policies to provide application prioritization, security policies that control user and service access, or policies for collecting network data for capacity planning and problem identification/remediation. Policies within Cisco DNA are generally expressed at the intent level and then translated into the appropriate device-level configurations through tools such as Cisco DNA Center.
Automation
Cisco DNA's automation capabilities provide an understanding of the device families present in the network, the roles of the devices and the overall topology of the network. Automation realizes the deployment intent set by IT teams and translates it into the standardized, automated configurations pushed to network devices. Cisco DNA Center applies simplified but powerful automation capabilities for the enterprise network.
Analytics and Assurance
Analytics enables Cisco DNA to collect relevant data from the network, store it in highly efficient industry-leading databases, and use intelligent algorithms to correlate this data. From this, conclusions can be drawn, problems detected and remediation applied to ensure that the intent specified by the end user is actually realized. Cisco DNA Assurance allows the network administrator to easily consume the large amount of data generated by the enterprise network. This data is aggregated and transformed into an easy-to-understand form to identify problems, determine the root causes of those problems, and guide remediation efforts as the problems are resolved.
Virtualizations
Virtualization allows network services to be deployed on a physical (device) or virtual (software) basis, as determined by the network administrator. By leveraging virtualization, core capabilities can be designed, deployed and managed faster in various locations across the Cisco DNA-based network system. Virtualization provides flexibility and increases deployment speed, making network deployment and organization more agile.
Programmable Infrastructure
Programmable Infrastructure encompasses two important features in a Cisco DNA deployment. First, network elements can incorporate flexible hardware components. An example of this is the Catalyst 9000 switches, which leverage the UADP (Unified Access Data Plane) ASIC (essentially the heart of the switch platform). The UADP is flexible and can be adapted to new protocols and encapsulations over time through a simple software upgrade. This allows even brownfield devices based on UADP (such as the Catalyst 3850) to be upgraded to support new market-leading solutions such as Software-Defined Access, and to implement new and more advanced capabilities in a simplified manner. In addition, Cisco DNA-enabled network devices and functions leverage a set of API (Application Programming Interface) frameworks that enable simplified interaction between devices. Selected sets of these APIs can then be routed both northbound and southbound from network and management elements, supporting custom use cases and the integration of different systems.
Cloud Integration
Cloud integration allows Cisco DNA functions to integrate with cloud-based components as well as on-premises components. By leveraging the best of cloud integration and on-premises deployments, Cisco DNA enables the organization to benefit from the advantages of cloud-based services, including simplified integration, rapid deployment and consistent service across the enterprise.
Security
Finally, all functions deployed on the network must incorporate a secure approach, both for the device itself and for its deployment and usage methods. In today's enterprise network, an inherently secure system is the key to the organization's continuous operation. To this end, the Cisco DNA approach incorporates security at every level within the system, and in every device and solution deployed.
