Gluware Inc. today debuted a new release of its network automation platform that will allow enterprises to use the software’s capabilities in their public cloud environments.

The update, the company says, will ease reduce network-related operational complexity for companies adopting multicloud models. It could open new deal opportunities for Gluware by better addressing the needs of the many organizations shifting their infrastructure off-premises. 

Sacramento-based Gluware’s network automation platform, also called Gluware, enables information technology teams to manage all their network infrastructure through a single console. It provides features for performing day-to-day maintenance tasks such as configuring switches and applying security patches. 

The new release debuted today, Gluware 4.0, extends the platform’s automation capabilities to Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Corp.’s Azure and Google Cloud Platform using the open-source Terraform technology. Terraform is a popular software tool for managing cloud infrastructure. Using the tool, Gluware 4.0 gives IT teams the ability control off-premises network resources from the same console they rely on to configure on-premises gear.

Administrators can write scripts to automate the task of spinning up new network components and modifying existing ones. From within the Gluware interface, they can preview changes before implementing them to make sure they don’t contain any issues. If a bug somehow still makes it to production, there’s an undo option for reverting modifications.

The new Gluware release also adds support for EVPN-VXLAN, an industry standard that makes it easier to manage networks comprising hardware from multiple suppliers. The feature will allow companies adopting the standard to use Gluware 4.0 to automate their infrastructure. EVPN-VXLAN is mainly used by large organizations because they are more likely to have networking gear from multiple suppliers, for instance because different subsidiaries choose to build their networks with different kinds of equipment.

The shift to the cloud is only adding more complexity to the mix, Gluware argues. “Cloud-enabled network automation is a vital lifeline to those in I&O [infrastructure and operations] roles who need to mitigate the complexity of rapidly evolving enterprise networks,” said Gluware Chief Executive Officer Jeff Gray. 

On top of expanding the number of network types Gluware can manage, the update also brings user experience improvements. The emphasis is on helping administrators find technical information faster. It’s now possible for IT teams to customize operational metrics the Gluware monitoring console displays, so they can quickly access important network data, while a new search feature provides the ability to pull up details about how infrastructure assets are configured.

Other additions in Gluware 4.0 include better infrastructure change notifications and features for managing Cisco Systems Inc. software licenses. The release is also compatible with a broader set of networking products from Juniper Networks Inc. and Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co.’s Aruba unit.

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