Automate Your Network Introducing The Modern Approach To Enterprise Network Management

Network automation is one of the hottest topics in Information Technology today. This revolutionary book aims to illustrate the transformative journey towards full enterprise network automation. This book outlines the tools, technologies and processes required to fully automate an enterprise network. Automated network configuration management is more than converting your network configurations to code. The benefits of source control, version control, automated builds, automated testing and automated releases are realized in the world of networking using well established software development practices. The next-generation network administrative toolkit is introduced including Microsoft Team Foundation Server, Microsoft Visual Studio Code, Git, Linux, and the Ansible framework. Not only will these new technologies be covered at length, a new and continuously integrated / continuously delivered pipeline is also introduced. Starting with safe, simple, non-intrusive, non-disruptive information gathering organizations can ease into network automation while building a dynamic library of documentation and on-demand utilities for network operations. Once comfortable with the new ecosystem, administrators can begin making fully automated, orchestrated, and tactical changes to the network. The next evolutionary leap occurs when fully automated network configuration management is implemented. Important information from the network running-configurations is abstracted into data models in a human readable format. Device configurations are dynamically templated creating a scalable, intent-based, source of truth. Much like in the world of software development, full automation of the network using a CI/CD pipeline can be realized. Automated builds, automated testing and automated scheduled releases are orchestrated and executed when changes are approved and checked into the central repository. This book is unlike any on the market today as it includes multiple Ansible playbooks, sample YAML data models and Jinja2 templates for network devices, and a whole new methodology and approach to enterprise network administration and management. The CLI no longer cuts it. Readers should take away from this book a new approach to enterprise network management and administration as well as the full knowledge and understanding of how to use TFS, VS Code, Git, and Ansible to create an automation ecosystem. Readers should have some basic understanding of modern network design, operation, and configuration. No prior programming or software development experience is required. John Capobianco has over 20 years of IT experience and is currently a Technical Advisor for the Canadian House of Commons. A graduate of St. Lawrence College's Computer Programmer Analyst program, John is also a former Professor at St. Lawrence College in the Computer Networking and Technical Support (CNTS) program. John has achieved CCNP, CCDP, CCNA: Data Center, MCITP: EA/SA, CompTIA A+ / Network+, and ITIL Foundation certifications. Having discovered a new way to interface with the network John felt compelled to share this new methodology in hopes of revolutionizing the industry and bringing network automation to the world.

Practical strategies and techniques for automating network infrastructure As networks grow ever more complex, network professionals are seeking to automate processes for configuration, management, testing, deployment, and operation. Using automation, they aim to lower expenses, improve productivity, reduce human error, shorten time to market, and improve agility. In this guide, expert practitioner Ivo Pinto presents all the concepts and techniques you'll need to move your entire physical and virtual infrastructure towards greater automation and maximize the value it delivers. Writing for experienced professionals, the author reviews today's leading use cases for automation, compares leading tools, and presents a deep dive into using the open source Ansible engine to automate common tasks. You'll find everything you need: from practical code snippets to real-world case studies to a complete methodology for planning strategy. This guide is for everyone seeking to improve network operations and productivity, including system, network, storage, and virtualization administrators, network and security engineers, and many other technical professionals and managers. You can apply its vendor-neutral concepts throughout your entire environment—from servers to the cloud, switches to security. Explore modern use cases for network automation, and compare today's most widely used automation tools Capture essential data for use in network automation, using standard formats such as JSON, XML, and YAML Get more value from the data your network can provide Install Ansible and master its building blocks, including plays, tasks, modules, variables, conditionals, loops, and roles Perform common networking tasks with Ansible playbooks: manage files, devices, VMs, cloud constructs, APIs, and more See how Ansible can be used to automate even the largest global network architectures Discover how NetDevOps can transform your approach to automation--and create a new NetDevOps pipeline, step by step Build a network automation strategy from the ground up, reflecting lessons from the world's largest enterprises

Leverage the power of Python, Ansible and other network automation tools to make your network robust and more secure Key FeaturesGet introduced to the concept of network automation with relevant use casesApply Continuous Integration and DevOps to improve your network performanceImplement effective automation using tools such as Python, Ansible, and moreBook Description Network automation is the use of IT controls to supervise and carry out everyday network management functions. It plays a key role in network virtualization technologies and network functions. The book starts by providing an introduction to network automation, and its applications, which include integrating DevOps tools to automate the network efficiently. It then guides you through different network automation tasks and covers various data digging and performing tasks such as ensuring golden state configurations using templates, interface parsing. This book also focuses on Intelligent Operations using Artificial Intelligence and troubleshooting using chatbots and voice commands. The book then moves on to the use of Python and the management of SSH keys for machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, all followed by practical use cases. The book also covers the importance of Ansible for network automation, including best practices in automation; ways to test automated networks using tools such as Puppet, SaltStack, and Chef; and other important techniques. Through practical use-cases and examples, this book will acquaint you with the various aspects of network automation. It will give you the solid foundation you need to automate your own network without any hassle. What you will learnGet started with the fundamental concepts of network automationPerform intelligent data mining and remediation based on triggersUnderstand how AIOps works in operationsTrigger automation through data factorsImprove your data center's robustness and security through data diggingGet access infrastructure through API Framework for chatbot and voice interactive troubleshootingsSet up communication with SSH-based devices using NetmikoWho this book is for If you are a network engineer or a DevOps professional looking for an extensive guide to help you automate and manage your network efficiently, then this book is for you. No prior experience with network automation is required to get started, however you will need some exposure to Python programming to get the most out of this book.

Improve operations and agility in any data center, campus, LAN, or WAN Today, the best way to stay in control of your network is to address devices programmatically and automate network interactions. In this book, Cisco experts Ryan Tischer and Jason Gooley show you how to do just that. You’ll learn how to use programmability and automation to solve business problems, reduce costs, promote agility and innovation, handle accelerating complexity, and add value in any data center, campus, LAN, or WAN. The authors show you how to create production solutions that run on or interact with Nexus NX-OS-based switches, Cisco ACI, Campus, and WAN technologies.You’ll learn how to use advanced Cisco tools together with industry-standard languages and platforms, including Python, JSON, and Linux. The authors demonstrate how to support dynamic application environments, tighten links between apps and infrastructure, and make DevOps work better. This book will be an indispensable resource for network and cloud designers, architects, DevOps engineers, security specialists, and every professional who wants to build or operate high-efficiency networks. Drive more value through programmability and automation, freeing resources for high-value innovation Move beyond error-prone, box-by-box network management Bridge management gaps arising from current operational models Write NX-OS software to run on, access, or extend your Nexus switch Master Cisco’s powerful on-box automation and operation tools Manage complex WANs with NetConf/Yang, ConfD, and Cisco SDN Controller Interact with and enhance Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) Build self-service catalogs to accelerate application delivery Find resources for deepening your expertise in network automation

Learn and implement network automation within the Enterprise network using Python 3. This introductory book will be your guide to building an integrated virtual networking lab to begin your Network Automation journey and master the basics of Python Network Automation. The book features a review of the practical Python network automation scripting skills and tips learned from the production network, so you can safely test and practice in a lab environment first, various Python modules such as paramiko and netmiko, pandas, re, and much more. You'll also develop essential skills such as Python scripting, regular expressions, Linux and Windows administration, VMware virtualization, and Cisco networking from the comfort of your laptop/PC with no actual networking hardware. Finally, you will learn to write a fully automated and working Cisco IOS XE upgrade application using Python. Introduction to Python Network Automation uses a canonical order, where you begin at the bottom and by the time you have completed this book, you will at least reach the intermediate level of Python coding for enterprise networking automation using native Python tools. What You'll Learn Build a proper GNS3-based networking lab for Python network automation needs. Write the basics of Python codes in both the Windows and Linux environments. Control network devices using telnet, SSH, and SNMP protocols using Python codes. Understand virtualization and how to use VMware workstation Examine virtualization and how to use VMware Workstation Pro Develop a working Cisco IOS upgrade application Who This Book Is For IT Engineers and developers, network managers and students, who would like to learn network automation using Python.

The complete guide to transforming enterprise networks with Cisco DNA As networks become more complex and dynamic, organizations need better ways to manage and secure them. With the Cisco Digital Network Architecture, network operators can run entire network fabrics as a single, programmable system by defining rules that span their devices and move with their users. Using Cisco intent-based networking, you spend less time programming devices, managing configurations, and troubleshooting problems so you have more time for driving value from your network, your applications, and most of all, your users. This guide systematically introduces Cisco DNA, highlighting its business value propositions, design philosophy, tenets, blueprints, components, and solutions.Combining insider information with content previously scattered through multiple technical documents, it provides a single source for evaluation, planning, implementation, and operation. The authors bring together authoritative insights for multiple business and technical audiences. Senior executives will learn how DNA can help them drive digital transformation for competitive advantage. Technical decision-makers will discover powerful emerging solutions for their specific needs. Architects will find essential recommendations, interdependencies, and caveats for planning deployments. Finally, network operators will learn how to use DNA Center’s modern interface to streamline, automate, and improve virtually any network management task. · Accelerate the digital transformation of your business by adopting an intent-based network architecture that is open, extensible, and programmable · Integrate virtualization, automation, analytics, and cloud services to streamline operations and create new business opportunities · Dive deep into hardware, software, and protocol innovations that lay the programmable infrastructure foundation for DNA · Virtualize advanced network functions for fast, easy, and flexible deployments · Translate business intent into device configurations and simplify, scale, and automate network operations using controllers · Use analytics to tune performance, plan capacity, prevent threats, and simplify troubleshooting · Learn how Software-Defined Access improves network flexibility, security, mobility, visibility, and performance · Use DNA Assurance to track the health of clients, network devices, and applications to reveal hundreds of actionable insights · See how DNA Application Policy supports granular application recognition and end-to-end treatment, for even encrypted applications · Identify malware, ransomware, and other threats in encrypted traffic

Get More from your Network with Automation tools to increase its effectiveness. About This Book Get started with network automation (and different automation tasks) with relevant use cases Apply software design principles such as Continuous Integration and DevOps to your network toolkit Guides you through some best practices in automation Who This Book Is For If you are a network engineer looking for an extensive guide to help you automate and manage your network efficiently, then this book is for you. What You Will Learn Get the detailed analysis of Network automation Trigger automations through available data factors Improve data center robustness and security through specific access and data digging Get an Access to APIs from Excel for dynamic reporting Set up a communication with SSH-based devices using netmiko Make full use of practical use cases and best practices to get accustomed with the various aspects of network automation In Detail Network automation is the use of IT controls to supervise and carry out every-day network management functions. It plays a key role in network virtualization technologies and network functions. The book starts by providing an introduction to network automation, SDN, and its applications, which include integrating DevOps tools to automate the network efficiently. It then guides you through different network automation tasks and covers various data digging and reporting methodologies such as IPv6 migration, DC relocations, and interface parsing, all the while retaining security and improving data center robustness. The book then moves on to the use of Python and the management of SSH keys for machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, all followed by practical use cases. The book also covers the importance of Ansible for network automation including best practices in automation, ways to test automated networks using different tools, and other important techniques. By the end of the book, you will be well acquainted with the various aspects of network automation. Style and approach A clear, concise, and straightforward book that will enable you to automate networks and improve performance.

Take your network automation skills to the next level with practical recipes on managing network devices from a variety of vendors like Cisco, Juniper, and Arista Key FeaturesUse Ansible to automate network infrastructure with the help of step-by-step instructionsImplement network automation best practices to save cost, avoid critical errors, and reduce downtimeDeliver a robust automation framework by integrating Ansible with NAPALM, NetBox, and BatfishBook Description Network Automation Cookbook is designed to help system administrators, network engineers, and infrastructure automation engineers to centrally manage switches, routers, and other devices in their organization's network. This book will help you gain hands-on experience in automating enterprise networks and take you through core network automation techniques using the latest version of Ansible and Python. With the help of practical recipes, you'll learn how to build a network infrastructure that can be easily managed and updated as it scales through a large number of devices. You'll also cover topics related to security automation and get to grips with essential techniques to maintain network robustness. As you make progress, the book will show you how to automate networks on public cloud providers such as AWS, Google Cloud Platform, and Azure. Finally, you will get up and running with Ansible 2.9 and discover troubleshooting techniques and network automation best practices. By the end of this book, you'll be able to use Ansible to automate modern network devices and integrate third-party tools such as NAPALM, NetBox, and Batfish easily to build robust network automation solutions. What you will learnUnderstand the various components of AnsibleAutomate network resources in AWS, GCP, and Azure cloud solutionsUse IaC concepts to design and build network solutionsAutomate network devices such as Cisco, Juniper, Arista, and F5Use NetBox to build network inventory and integrate it with AnsibleValidate networks using Ansible and BatfishWho this book is for This Ansible network automation book is for network and DevOps engineers interested in automating complex network tasks. Prior understanding of networking and basic Linux knowledge is required.