Modern network infrastructure faces challenges due to multi-vendor environments, historical legacy, and constant dynamic changes. Manual testing processes often fail to prevent outages, as they lack sufficient scale and accuracy. Experts suggest using a digital twin approach to manage network changes throughout their lifecycle.
The proposed framework combines three distinct tools. A physical laboratory provides high-fidelity validation for critical hardware components. Emulation environments, such as uInfraTwin, allow for safe testing of configurations and user scenarios before deployment. Simulation models, including tools like Batfish or Hadal, map the network state to analyze traffic paths and policy compliance at scale.
The digital twin lifecycle consists of three stages. First, network archaeology involves automatically gathering actual configurations and topology data. Second, pre-production testing integrates physical labs and emulation to validate releases and configurations. Finally, post-deployment monitoring compares actual network states against expected outcomes to detect drifts and ensure service continuity.
