# Using netlab to Configure Live Devices

DevFeed: [Using netlab to Configure Live Devices](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/using-netlab-to-configure-live-devices-11401.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://blog.ipspace.net/2026/06/netlab-live-device-config/>)

Published: 2026-06-11T06:02:00Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [ipSpace.net blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/ipspace-net-blog.md>)

Topics: [Automation](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/automation.md>), [Network](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/network.md>), [configuration](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/configuration.md>), [YAML](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/yaml.md>), [NetBox](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/netbox.md>), [Ansible](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ansible.md>)

Tags: [automation](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/automation.md>), [configuration](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/configuration.md>), [documentation](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/documentation.md>), [netlab](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/netlab.md>), [network](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/network.md>), [yaml](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/yaml.md>)

## AI overview

The article examines whether netlab could eventually configure devices in a live network. It identifies hurdles including missing feature and IPAM integrations, incomplete configuration generation, difficulty merging changes safely, assumptions about unconfigured devices, and the limitations of representing a production network in one YAML file.

## Source excerpt

Leo Fleskes sent me an interesting question after reading my Generate Partial Device Configurations with netlab blog post: What is stopping us from eventually, given enough usage and coverage, using netlab to configure devices in the live network? In theory, nothing. In practice, you might hit a few hurdles: Read more ...