Network engineer. Building labs. Learning automation.
I'm Antoin Damba, a CCIE Network & Security Consultant with a background in enterprise networking.
I've been working with networks for many years, covering LAN, WAN, data center, MPLS, SD-WAN, VXLAN, EVPN, Cisco ACI and network security.
I started my CCIE journey in 2008. Since then, I've spent a lot of time designing, building, troubleshooting and sometimes breaking networks.
This site
This site is where I document my labs, projects and the technologies I'm working with.
After recently completing a large network automation project, I've been putting more focus on automation and network programmability. I want to take that further by exploring how automation, APIs, infrastructure as code and AI can work together in network operations.
This site is where I experiment with those ideas.
You'll find labs covering network automation, Python, APIs, Ansible, network programmability, routing and switching, data center technologies, VXLAN and EVPN, SDN, monitoring, security and AI-assisted network operations.
Some labs are completely new experiments. Others are recreations or extensions of things I've worked with professionally.
Automation & AI
Automation is becoming a bigger part of my work and the direction I want to take my career.
Having recently completed a large-scale network automation project, I'm interested in going deeper into Python, APIs, infrastructure as code, automated testing and network automation frameworks.
I'm also exploring how AI can be used alongside these technologies.
My current lab project looks at using MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers to connect AI models with network automation tools such as Netmiko, NAPALM and Nornir.
The goal isn't to replace traditional network engineering. It's to understand where AI can actually be useful: from executing commands and gathering information to troubleshooting and eventually helping automate more complex network operations.
The labs
Most of the labs are built using tools such as EVE-NG and Netlab, together with virtual network devices and containers.
I document the actual process: the architecture, configuration, automation, troubleshooting and the problems along the way.
The goal isn't to create perfect tutorials. It's to build, test, break things and keep a useful record of what works and what doesn't.
Work
I'm a Network & Security Consultant, helping organizations design and build enterprise networks.
My experience includes LAN and WAN, data centers, VXLAN and EVPN, Cisco ACI, SD-WAN, MPLS, network security and network automation.
Outside of work, I spend time building and testing things in the lab.