NETCONF / RESTCONF

What it does: model-driven device APIs. NETCONF (SSH/830): <get-config> and <get> retrieve config and operational state as structured XML; <edit-config> + commit apply changes on a candidate datastore. RESTCONF is the same over HTTPS (GET /restconf/data/…).

Use it for: config backup and diff, structured operational state (interfaces, routing), and gated config push.

Notes: <edit-config> is a WRITE — always pair with commit-confirmed / rollback.