PyOhio
Useful Python Libraries for Network Engineers
By
Hank Preston
Python has quickly become THE language for network automation and programmability due to it’s combined simplicity and power. If you are a network engineer looking to get started with automation and Python, it can be tough to now where to start. This session proposes the modules and libraries every engineer should have in their tool bag.
Sunday 3:15 p.m.–4 p.m. in Cartoon 1
Python has quickly become THE language for network automation and programmability due to it’s combined simplicity and power. Add to that the robust assortment of tools, libraries and modules related to networking available to “import" and I doubt another language will take over the title anytime soon. In this session we’ll explore some of the most useful libraries for network engineers and developers looking to interact with the network from a configuration and operational perspective. Plenty of code will be shown, and all examples will be available to take away and leverage in your own environments.
Through the session you'll learn how to leverage the tried and true interfaces of CLI and SNMP to manage your network before we jump up to newer options like NETCONF, RESTCONF and REST APIs. We'll even explore full configuration management solutions and discuss when and how they should fit into your overall automation strategy.
Some of the great modules that will be covered include:
- netmiko
- PySNMP
- ncclient
- requests
- Ansible
- NAPALM
Hank Preston
Hank is a long time technophile, and loves learning and helping other learn about technology in exciting ways. His experience in IT is wide and varied including web/database development and infrastructure engineering. After many years away from “code”, he fell back in love with algorithms and IDEs when he discovered Python and how much fun coding had become (goodbye Java!). Hank’s day job is as a Developer Evenagelist and Advocate with Cisco DevNet where he gets to work in the land of network programmability and NetDevOps!
