Ansible

Ansible is an open-source automation tool that uses simple, human-readable YAML files called playbooks to automate the configuration and management of servers, network devices, and cloud infrastructure. Unlike some automation tools, Ansible is agentless — it communicates with devices directly over SSH or APIs without requiring any software to be installed on the target device first. For network engineers, Ansible is particularly valuable for pushing configuration changes to many routers and switches simultaneously, ensuring consistency across the network and eliminating the need to log into each device manually.