Netconf

NETCONF stands for Network Configuration Protocol and is a standardised protocol for managing and configuring network devices. Developed by the IETF, it enables management systems to retrieve, modify and transfer configuration data in a structured manner. NETCONF uses a Remote Procedure Call model and is commonly combined with YANG data models, which define the structure and properties of managed network data. SSH is typically used as the transport protocol, providing authenticated and encrypted communication. Network administrators and automation platforms can use NETCONF to configure routers and switches and retrieve operational information. The protocol is particularly relevant to Network Automation and Software-Defined Networking because it enables configuration changes to be applied to network components in a standardised and automated manner.