AMPL Team
March 8, 2024
While traditional network management often relies on manual configuration and troubleshooting, these approaches can become increasingly time-consuming and error-prone as networks scale. Enter Python, a powerful and versatile programming language emerging as a game-changer for network engineers.
This article delves into the world of Python for network automation, equipping you with the knowledge and practical examples to leverage its capabilities. By incorporating Python into your workflow, you can:
Before diving into network automation with Python, let’s establish a solid foundation in the language’s core concepts. This section provides a concise overview of essential elements you’ll encounter:
Additional tools that a python trained network engineer might use are:
These are just a few examples, and the specific tools used depend on the individual engineer’s needs and the network environment they manage. However, these tools offer valuable functionalities to enhance efficiency, automate tasks, and gain deeper insights into network operations.
Here are some code samples a network engineer might run in Python to automate common tasks:
from netmiko import ConnectHandler
# Device information
device_type = "cisco_ios"
ip_address = "10.0.0.1"
username = "admin"
password = "password"
# Connect to the device
connection = ConnectHandler(device_type=device_type, ip=ip_address, username=username, password=password)
# Get hostname and show ip interface brief output
hostname = connection.find_prompt()
show_ip_brief = connection.send_command("show ip interface brief")
# Print the information
print(f"Hostname: {hostname}")
print(show_ip_brief)
# Close the connection
connection.disconnect()2. Backing up a network device configuration (using Paramiko):
import paramiko
# Device information
ip_address = "10.0.0.1"
username = "admin"
password = "password"
# Establish SSH connection
ssh_client = paramiko.SSHClient()
ssh_client.set_missing_host_key_policy(paramiko.AutoAddPolicy())
ssh_client.connect(hostname=ip_address, username=username, password=password)
# Open a file for writing the configuration
with open("device_config.txt", "w") as f:
# Get the configuration
stdin, stdout, stderr = ssh_client.exec_command("show running-config")
# Write the configuration to the file
f.write(stdout.read().decode())
# Close the connection
ssh_client.close()
3. Looping through a list of devices and executing a command (using NAPALM):
from napalm import napalm
# Define device list and credentials
devices = [
{"hostname": "device1", "ip": "10.1.1.1", "username": "admin", "password": "password"},
{"hostname": "device2", "ip": "10.1.1.2", "username": "admin", "password": "password"},
]
# Loop through each device
for device in devices:
# Connect to the device
try:
with napalm.open(
driver="ios", hostname=device["hostname"], ip=device["ip"], username=device["username"], password=device["password"]
) as connection:
# Execute the command
output = connection.cli.show("show ip route")
# Process the output (e.g., print, save to file)
print(f"Output for {device['hostname']}:")
print(output)
except Exception as e:
print(f"Error connecting to {device['hostname']}: {e}")
These are just a few basic examples, and the complexity of Python code used by network engineers can vary greatly depending on the specific task and desired functionality. However, these samples demonstrate how Python can be used to automate various network management tasks, improving efficiency and reducing manual effort.
Each post is a collaborative effort by the AMPL development team – a group of dedicated developers, mathematicians, and optimization experts. We combine our diverse expertise to bring you insights into the world of mathematical optimization, sharing our experiences, challenges, and innovations in the field.
Absolutely! Python is known for being beginner-friendly. While some experience is helpful, many resources are available specifically for network engineers with no prior coding background. Online courses, tutorials, and even bootcamps can teach you Python basics and network automation concepts.
Python helps network engineers in several ways:
Several libraries simplify network automation tasks:
While the specific tools depend on individual needs, some popular options include:
The complexity varies depending on the task. The provided code samples showcase basic examples, but network engineers can write intricate scripts for specific functionalities. Regardless of complexity, Python helps automate tasks, improve efficiency, and gain deeper insights into network operations.
Technical Development Team