When people think about network automation, they often imagine lines of code, complex configuration scripts, and blinking servers humming with precision. But what most don’t realize is that troubleshooting network automation issues isn’t just about the tech. It’s equally about understanding the psychology behind those who built the system before you. Welcome to a world where bug-fixing often involves reverse-engineering human logic, undocumented quick fixes, and ancient configurations that somehow still power critical services.
In this blog, we’re diving deep into the human-centric side of network automation troubleshooting. Whether you’re a network engineer, DevOps specialist, or just a curious learner, this guide will open your eyes to the real challenges — and how to master them.
The Hidden Psychology of Network Automation
You’re Not Just Fixing Bugs — You’re Reverse Engineering Minds
Think about it: when something breaks in an automated network setup, you’re rarely dealing with a clean, well-documented system. Instead, you’re often thrown into a maze of legacy configurations, cryptic scripts, and the ghosts of engineers past.
You’re not just tracing technical errors — you’re decoding:
- Someone’s logic: What was their approach? Did they follow any design patterns? Were they thinking short-term or long-term?
- Undocumented configurations: Why is there a random hardcoded IP address in the middle of an otherwise dynamic playbook?
- Old “quick fixes”: That “temporary” patch from 2021? It’s still running in production — and causing issues today.
Understanding human behavior and decision-making becomes a core skill here. You’re reading between the lines — or, more accurately, between the lines of YAML and Python.
The Pitfalls of Poorly Structured Automation
Structured automation isn’t just a best practice; it’s your lifeline when things go wrong. Without it, you’ll run into massive barriers:
You Can’t Tell What Broke
Without consistent naming conventions, proper logging, and modular architecture, identifying the root cause of a failure is like looking for a needle in a haystack. You’ll find yourself asking:
- Was this variable overwritten?
- Is this behavior expected or a bug?
- Why does this task fail only sometimes?
You Can’t Test Changes Safely
Imagine pushing a change to your automation system, hoping it fixes the issue — and suddenly, your network crashes. Without simulation environments or dry runs, every fix is a gamble.
You can’t safely troubleshoot or make improvements unless you have a structured testing process. Without one, you’ll spend hours (or days) undoing one mistake.
You Lose Hours Guessing
Guesswork is the enemy of progress. When there’s no structure, no versioning, and no documentation, your only option is trial-and-error. That’s where many engineers lose hours — or worse, break things even more.
The Cure: Predictable, Structured Automation
To eliminate chaos and bring clarity, you need automation that is predictable — not magical.
Modular Configs
Modular configurations let you isolate and fix issues faster. Instead of hunting through one giant playbook, you can:
- Pinpoint problems to a single role or module
- Reuse well-tested components
- Scale your automation efficiently
Tip: Stick to atomic playbooks and role-based templates. Keep each module focused on a single job.
Versioned Playbooks
Would you run production code without version control? No? Then don’t run automation scripts without it either. Use Git or other versioning tools to:
- Track changes over time
- Roll back to previous states
- See who made what change (and why)
Bonus: Good commit messages are golden breadcrumbs when troubleshooting.
Simulated Tests Before Production
Before anything touches your live environment, it should go through a simulated test:
- Use tools like Ansible Dry Run, Batfish, or Cisco VIRL
- Validate syntax, logic, and performance
- Prevent surprises (and outages)
Your tests should mimic production as closely as possible. The more realistic your simulation, the safer your deployments.
How To Think Like a Network Automation Detective
Let’s walk through a mindset shift that can help you become a top-tier troubleshooter:
1. Assume Nothing
Every automation error starts with an assumption: “This should work.”
- Validate every input
- Log every step
- Don’t trust legacy scripts or undocumented workarounds
2. Follow the Human Trail
Ask yourself:
- What would I do if I were trying to fix this quickly?
- Is this a clever hack, or an oversight?
- Could this have been a copy-paste from Stack Overflow?
This helps you empathize with the engineer who built it, making it easier to understand the choices they made.
3. Document As You Go
You’re not just fixing the problem — you’re improving the system.
- Write clear commit messages
- Update internal documentation
- Leave logs, comments, and rationales for future maintainers (maybe even your future self)
Real-World Scenarios You’ll Face
The “It Used To Work” Incident
You inherit a playbook that hasn’t been touched in 2 years. Suddenly, it starts failing. Turns out, it relied on an external API that changed its response format. No one documented this dependency.
Fix: Add a validation step and mock the API response in your test suite.
The “Mystery IP Address”
While debugging a routing issue, you discover a hardcoded IP in a role. It points to a now-defunct test server. Removing it breaks a dependent task you didn’t even know existed.
Fix: Replace magic values with variables. Document their purpose and origin.
The “One-Character Disaster”
An engineer pushes a change that removes a single character (:) from a YAML file. The script still runs — but behaves unpredictably. It takes hours to trace the issue.
Fix: Use schema validation tools and automated linters.
Your Action Plan for Smarter Network Automation
Here’s a checklist to keep your automation efficient and sane:
Design Smart
- Break down tasks into reusable modules
- Follow naming conventions
- Keep roles minimal and focused
Document Continuously
- Use inline comments and markdown files
- Track dependencies and assumptions
- Maintain a changelog for all scripts
Test Relentlessly
- Validate every change in a staging environment
- Use linting and syntax checkers
- Automate regression tests
Version Everything
- Track your playbooks with Git
- Tag stable versions
- Roll back with confidence
Think Like a Human
- Ask why decisions were made
- Look for signs of shortcuts
- Be empathetic — even when the system is a mess
Final Thoughts: Predictability Over Magic
In network automation, predictability is power. You don’t want scripts that magically work — you want automation that’s transparent, testable, and repeatable.
By combining technical knowledge with human insight, you can master the art of troubleshooting. It’s not just about commands and configs — it’s about understanding why they were written in the first place.
So next time something breaks, take a breath. Step back. And remember:
Network Automation Troubleshooting = 50% Tech, 50% Psychology.
Be the engineer who not only fixes problems — but builds systems that don’t need fixing later.
English