{"podcast":{"title":"Heavy Networking","slug":"heavy-networking","podcast_index_feed_id":163010,"rss_url":"https://feeds.packetpushers.net/PacketPushersWeeklyPodcast","website_url":"https://packetpushers.net/","image_url":"https://static.feedpress.com/logo/packetpushersweeklypodcast-653bc236a0040.png","author":"Packet Pushers","episode_count":250,"summary":"Heavy Networking is an unabashedly nerdy dive into all things networking. Described by one listener as \"verbal white papers,\" the weekly episodes feature network engineers, industry experts, and vendors sharing useful information to keep your professional knowledge sharp and your career growing. Hosts Greg Ferro, Ethan Banks and Drew Conry-Murray cut through the marketing spin to explore what works—and what doesn't—in networking today, while keeping an eye on what's ahead for the industry. On air since 2010, Heavy Networking is the flagship show of the Packet Pushers podcast network.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-25T06:21:53.014209+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/heavy-networking"},"episode":{"title":"HN814: ﻿Automating Your Network with Cisco Crosswork Workflow Manager (Sponsored)","slug":"hn814-automating-your-network-with-cisco-crosswork-workflow-manager-sponsored","published_at":"2026-02-13T17:01:43+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/heavy-networking/hn814-automating-your-network-with-cisco-crosswork-workflow-manager-sponsored","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/heavy-networking","url":"https://packetpushers.net/podcasts/heavy-networking/hn814-automating-your-network-with-cisco-crosswork-workflow-manager-sponsored/","audio_url":"https://feeds.packetpushers.net/link/12486/17275927/HN814.mp3","summary":"Moving network workflows out of spreadsheets and into an execution engine is essential for operational scalability. This episode explores how Cisco Crosswork Workflow Manager automates complex, multi-step network tasks like OS upgrades and configuration compliance.","meta_description":"Learn how Cisco Crosswork Workflow Manager brings consistency and repeatability to network operations through automated, multi-system workflows.","key_points":["Main idea: Network workflows should transition from manual documents to an execution engine to ensure repeatability and reduce human error","Practical takeaway: Use adapters to integrate workflows with external sources of truth like SQL databases, NSO, or REST APIs","Failure mode: Relying on manual, step-by-step instructions in spreadsheets leads to configuration drift and unscalable operations","Practical takeaway: Engineers can use either a drag-and-drop canvas for visual design or a JSON-based code editor for bulk operations and complex logic","Future trend: AI-assisted 'vibe coding' and LLMs can be leveraged to generate workflow code using public specifications"],"chapters":[{"start_ms":60000,"title":"The Need for Workflow Management","summary":"Why moving workflows from spreadsheets and heads into a formal manager is critical for network scalability."},{"start_ms":270000,"title":"Common Automation Use Cases","summary":"Automating router OS upgrades, configuration compliance, and device migrations with traffic rerouting."},{"start_ms":480000,"title":"Ecosystem and Integration","summary":"How Crosswork integrates with NSO and other Cisco software components."},{"start_ms":695000,"title":"Extending Functionality with Adapters","summary":"Using pre-packaged and custom adapters for REST, NSO, and SQL databases."},{"start_ms":940000,"title":"Workflow Signaling and Orchestration","summary":"Managing dependencies and signaling between different workflows and external systems."},{"start_ms":1370000,"title":"The Developer vs. Operator Experience","summary":"Balancing the use of JSON code editors for power users with drag-and-drop canvases for visual designers."},{"start_ms":1785000,"title":"The Future of AI in Networking","summary":"Exploring the role of AI agents and LLMs in generating and executing network workflows."}],"topics":["Network Automation","Cisco Crosswork","Workflow Management","Network Operations","Infrastructure as Code","Network Orchestration","SDN","API Integration"],"duration_seconds":2895,"processing_state":"processed","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/heavy-networking/episodes/hn814-automating-your-network-with-cisco-crosswork-workflow-manager-sponsored/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/heavy-networking/hn814-automating-your-network-with-cisco-crosswork-workflow-manager-sponsored.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}