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What is Zero Touch Provisioning?

Zero Touch Provisioning or ZTP is a method in which devices are set up so that devices can be configured automatically using a switch feature. ZTP makes it easy for the IT team to quickly station network devices in a wide-ranging environment. In addition, this method eliminates most manual labor.

ZTP can be discovered in different tools and devices, including routers, firewalls, and network switches. The goal is to provide IT personnel and network operators with the ease of installing networking devices without manual intervention.

Manual configuration is a time-consuming process and also leaves scope for human errors. ZTP is way too fast in situations like these, reducing the chances of human errors and ensuring the consistency of the configurations.

Zero Touch Provisioning is also utilized to automate the updating process of the system. With the use of scripts, ZTP connects configuration management platforms and other tools that are used for configurations or updates.

How does Zero-Touch Provisioning work?
ZTP differs in different setups; however, the base requirements are always the same, which include:
• A network device with Zero-Touch Provisioning.
• A Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) or a Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) server.
• A file server

When we switch on ZTP powered device, it immediately runs a boot file that helps set up the device’s configuration parameters. Then a request is sent from the side of the network switch with the help of DHCP or TFTP to locate its images and configurations that are centrally stored. The images are then downloaded and operated. The IP address and port configuration are provisioned automatically based on the requirements of the location. The protocol easily provides the domain, gateway address and the server’s location.

ZTP runs the basic configuration, and after that, the switch can be deployed in an environment where changes in the custom configurations are made. ZTP can utilize a user-provided script in order to connect to the configuration management platform, such as CFEngine, Chef, Puppet etc.
Advantages of ZTP

There are quite a number of advantages of ZTP; some of them are mentioned below:
• Network devices are set up automatically.
• Manual jobs require less time, as the work of IT time is limited to only simple tasks like; device booting and connecting network and power cables.
• Cost is cut, as less time is spent on manual tasks.
• Less time is required to get network devices in the operational state.
• With ZTP, updates become a lot easier and quicker.
• Human errors are almost nullified.

Summing up!
Zero Touch Provisioning makes it much easier for enterprises to configure and operate devices. Apart from reducing the chances of human errors, it also reduces a lot of burden on the IT team, as with ZTP, they are only required to perform simple tasks like booting the devices. Moreover, ZTP automates most of the processes.

By now, you must have declared ZTP as the perfect provisioning for your company; ZTP may make many things automatic but moving to ZTP is not an automated process. Hence, cloud service providers like TOOLS4EVER have the perfect Zero Touch Provisioning solutions. And with their help, your process of switching to ZTP can also become automatic.