Network Programmability And Automation

Like sysadmins before them, network engineers are finding that they cannot do their work manually anymore. As the field faces new protocols, technologies, delivery models, and a pressing need for businesses to be more agile and flexible, network automation is becoming essential. This practical guide shows network engineers how to use a range of technologies and tools—including Linux, Python, JSON, and XML—to automate their systems through code. Network programming and automation will help you simplify tasks involved in configuring, managing, and operating network equipment, topologies, services, and connectivity. Through the course of the book, you’ll learn the basic skills and tools you need to make this critical transition. This book covers: Python programming basics: data types, conditionals, loops, functions, classes, and modules Linux fundamentals to provide the foundation you need on your network automation journey Data formats and models: JSON, XML, YAML, and YANG for networking Jinja templating and its applicability for creating network device configurations The role of application programming interfaces (APIs) in network automation Source control with Git to manage code changes during the automation process How Ansible, Salt, and StackStorm open source automation tools can be used to automate network devices Key tools and technologies required for a Continuous Integration (CI) pipeline in network operations

Today, networks must evolve and scale faster than ever. You can’t manage everything by hand anymore: You need to automate relentlessly. YANG, along with the NETCONF, RESTCONF, or gRPC/gNMI protocols, is the most practical solution, but most implementers have had to learn by trial and error. Now, Network Programmability with YANG gives you complete and reliable guidance for unlocking the full power of network automation using model-driven APIs and protocols. Authored by three YANG pioneers, this plain-spoken book guides you through successfully applying software practices based on YANG data models. The authors focus on the network operations layer, emphasizing model-driven APIs, and underlying transports. Whether you’re a network operator, DevOps engineer, software developer, orchestration engineer, NMS/OSS architect, service engineer, or manager, this guide can help you dramatically improve value, agility, and manageability throughout your network. Discover the value of implementing YANG and Data Model-Driven Management in your network Explore the layers and components of a complete working solution Build a business case where value increases as your solution grows Drill down into transport protocols: NETCONF, RESTCONF, and gNMI/gRPC See how telemetry can establish a valuable automated feedback loop Find data models you can build on, and evaluate models with similar functionality Understand models, metadata, and tools from several viewpoints: architect, operator, module author, and application developer Walk through a complete automation journey: business case, service model, service implementation, device integration, and operation Leverage the authors’ experience to design successful YANG models and avoid pitfalls

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

New edition of the bestselling guide to mastering Python Networking, updated to Python 3 and including the latest on network data analysis, Cloud Networking, Ansible 2.8, and new libraries Key FeaturesExplore the power of Python libraries to tackle difficult network problems efficiently and effectively, including pyATS, Nornir, and Ansible 2.8Use Python and Ansible for DevOps, network device automation, DevOps, and software-defined networkingBecome an expert in implementing advanced network-related tasks with Python 3Book Description Networks in your infrastructure set the foundation for how your application can be deployed, maintained, and serviced. Python is the ideal language for network engineers to explore tools that were previously available to systems engineers and application developers. In Mastering Python Networking, Third edition, you’ll embark on a Python-based journey to transition from traditional network engineers to network developers ready for the next-generation of networks. This new edition is completely revised and updated to work with Python 3. In addition to new chapters on network data analysis with ELK stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana, and Beats) and Azure Cloud Networking, it includes updates on using newer libraries such as pyATS and Nornir, as well as Ansible 2.8. Each chapter is updated with the latest libraries with working examples to ensure compatibility and understanding of the concepts. Starting with a basic overview of Python, the book teaches you how it can interact with both legacy and API-enabled network devices. You will learn to leverage high-level Python packages and frameworks to perform network automation tasks, monitoring, management, and enhanced network security followed by Azure and AWS Cloud networking. Finally, you will use Jenkins for continuous integration as well as testing tools to verify your network. What you will learnUse Python libraries to interact with your networkIntegrate Ansible 2.8 using Python to control Cisco, Juniper, and Arista network devicesLeverage existing Flask web frameworks to construct high-level APIsLearn how to build virtual networks in the AWS & Azure CloudLearn how to use Elastic Stack for network data analysisUnderstand how Jenkins can be used to automatically deploy changes in your networkUse PyTest and Unittest for Test-Driven Network Development in networking engineering with PythonWho this book is for Mastering Python Networking, Third edition is for network engineers, developers, and SREs who want to use Python for network automation, programmability, and data analysis. Basic familiarity with Python programming and networking-related concepts such as Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) will be useful.

Pick up where certification exams leave off. With this practical, in-depth guide to the entire network infrastructure, you’ll learn how to deal with real Cisco networks, rather than the hypothetical situations presented on exams like the CCNA. Network Warrior takes you step by step through the world of routers, switches, firewalls, and other technologies based on the author's extensive field experience. You'll find new content for MPLS, IPv6, VoIP, and wireless in this completely revised second edition, along with examples of Cisco Nexus 5000 and 7000 switches throughout. Topics include: An in-depth view of routers and routing Switching, using Cisco Catalyst and Nexus switches as examples SOHO VoIP and SOHO wireless access point design and configuration Introduction to IPv6 with configuration examples Telecom technologies in the data-networking world, including T1, DS3, frame relay, and MPLS Security, firewall theory, and configuration, as well as ACL and authentication Quality of Service (QoS), with an emphasis on low-latency queuing (LLQ) IP address allocation, Network Time Protocol (NTP), and device failures

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.

Become well-versed with network programmability by solving the most commonly encountered problems using Python 3 and open-source packages Key FeaturesExplore different Python packages to automate your infrastructureLeverage AWS APIs and the Python library Boto3 to administer your public cloud network efficientlyGet started with infrastructure automation by enhancing your network programming knowledgeBook Description Network automation offers a powerful new way of changing your infrastructure network. Gone are the days of manually logging on to different devices to type the same configuration commands over and over again. With this book, you'll find out how you can automate your network infrastructure using Python. You'll get started on your network automation journey with a hands-on introduction to the network programming basics to complement your infrastructure knowledge. You'll learn how to tackle different aspects of network automation using Python programming and a variety of open source libraries. In the book, you'll learn everything from templating, testing, and deploying your configuration on a device-by-device basis to using high-level REST APIs to manage your cloud-based infrastructure. Finally, you'll see how to automate network security with Cisco's Firepower APIs. By the end of this Python network programming book, you'll have not only gained a holistic overview of the different methods to automate the configuration and maintenance of network devices, but also learned how to automate simple to complex networking tasks and overcome common network programming challenges. What you will learnProgrammatically connect to network devices using SSH (secure shell) to execute commandsCreate complex configuration templates using PythonManage multi-vendor or multi-device environments using network controller APIs or unified interfacesUse model-driven programmability to retrieve and change device configurationsDiscover how to automate post modification network infrastructure testsAutomate your network security using Python and Firepower APIsWho this book is for This book is for network engineers who want to make the most of Python to automate their infrastructure. A basic understanding of Python programming and common networking principles is necessary.