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Capturing data center networking requirements that drive real outcomes

by Scott Robohn
27 Jan 2026
Data center migration install switch

Ahmed Abutaleb explains how Nokia IT defined requirements for a next-gen, global data-center network and why they pursued a NetOps approach. The goal was to operate on-prem infrastructure with cloud-like consistency: simple intent expression, repeatable automation and predictable outcomes. Their first attempt (on a different platform) fell short, but moving to an open, Kubernetes-based platform—and surrounding it with open-source tooling—let a small team (three–four engineers) learn fast, customize and automate deeply.

Architecturally, Nokia shifted from inherited “flat” designs to a modular, flexible topology that can stitch in remote sites and support dual, geo-redundant data centers in each region (Europe, U.S., Asia) for disaster resilience. The tooling had to understand and enforce that flexibility at scale. This modernization, part of Nokia IT’s broader NetOps journey with Nokia SR Linux and Nokia Event-Driven Automation (EDA), contributed to major operational gains, including roughly an 80% reduction in trouble tickets.

This blog post is the second in a series of five with Ahmed Abutaleb and Scott Robohn on Nokia’s data center network migration. To see the other posts, visit: Data center networks blogs.

Scott Robohn

About Scott Robohn

Scott Robohn has over 30 years of experience designing, building and operating large-scale Internet and IT Infrastructure and associated technologies for Data Center Operators, CSPs, ISPs, US Government organizations and enterprises. He has served in a variety of end-user and vendor roles in operations, support, engineering, architecture, technical sales, training, community development and leadership. He is Co-Founder and CEO of Solutional, delivering fractional CTO, technology consulting, and GTM services; creator and host of the Total Network Operations project and podcast (TNOps); and co-founder of the Network Automation Forum (NAF). Scott's engagements span a wide variety of interesting clients and projects in networking, AI, automation, data centers, operations, mobility, security, and silicon, staying up-to-date with critical trends and technologies.

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