Just Claim It: Simplifying Network Automation with NetBox Operator

This conference talk explores how Swisscom developed the open-source NetBox Operator to bridge network management and Kubernetes as part of their cloud-native transformation. Discover how this tool leverages the Kubernetes API to enable GitOps practices for IP address management using a familiar "claim" model similar to Kubernetes PersistentVolume Controller. Learn how the operator processes high-level intent to reserve resources like IPs in NetBox, simplifying network automation. See a demonstration of how NetBox Operator automates MetalLB IP Address Pools for zero-touch ingress networking configuration in Kubernetes clusters. Explore advanced features including sticky IP assignments designed for power users. Understand how this approach to resource management allows engineers to focus on higher-level tasks while enhancing scalability and agility across infrastructures, including 5G core deployments.