What type of operations does NETCONF primarily support?

NETCONF primarily supports configuration management, which involves the retrieval and manipulation of device configurations in a standardized manner. It enables network engineers and operators to modify device settings, update configurations, and apply changes across multiple devices consistently. This is crucial for maintaining a network's operational integrity and ensuring that all devices are configured according to organizational standards or policies.

NETCONF provides mechanisms for installing, manipulating, and deleting the configuration of network devices, making it easier to manage changes and automate configuration tasks. This capability allows for a more efficient process in managing devices and ensures that configurations can be versioned, rolled back, and audited as necessary.

In contrast, monitoring and alerts focus more on observing network performance and status rather than directly changing configurations. Data analysis involves interpreting network data to gain insights, while traffic shaping deals with controlling the flow of data packets to optimize performance and enforce policies. These areas are outside the primary purpose and functionality of NETCONF, which centers around configuration management.