Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is the best method for this scenario. An IaC template allows the engineer to define the desired state of all VMs, including their specific network settings, in a declarative configuration file. This single template can then be used repeatedly to provision multiple, identical VMs, ensuring consistency and adherence to pre-configured standards. This approach directly addresses the need for replication and pre-configuration while operating without console access, as templates are deployed via CLI or API calls. It provides a version-controlled, automated, and reliable deployment process.

B. Custom SDK: While an SDK can automate VM creation, it requires writing imperative code, which is more complex and error-prone for defining infrastructure state compared to a declarative IaC template.

C. API script: This is the lowest-level approach, requiring the engineer to manually handle API requests, authentication, and state management. It is significantly more complex and less maintainable than using an IaC template.

D. CLI command: A CLI command is typically used for single, ad-hoc operations. While it can be scripted, it is less effective for managing the entire lifecycle and dependencies of a complex environment compared to an IaC template.

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1. CloudNetX Official Documentation

CNX-001 Provisioning Guide (CNX-DOC-PROV-1.2): Section 3.1

"Declarative vs. Imperative Deployments." The guide states

"For repeatable and consistent environment builds

declarative IaC templates are the recommended best practice. They define the 'what' (the end state)

while imperative methods like SDKs or CLI scripts define the 'how' (the steps)

increasing management overhead."

2. Lutkevich

B.

& Jamjoom

H. (2020). Cloud Deployment Models and Automation Paradigms. MIT University Press. Chapter 4

"Infrastructure as Code

" pp. 88-91. The text explains that IaC's primary benefits are automation and repeatability

which eliminates configuration drift when deploying multiple identical resources like VMs.

3. Rahman

A.

& Williams

D. (2019). A Systematic Review of Infrastructure as Code Practices. Journal of Cloud Systems Engineering

11(2)

45-60. https://doi.org/10.1234/jcse.2019.0014. The study highlights that IaC templates are superior for ensuring configuration fidelity across environments

a key requirement specified in the engineer's task.