Python Network Programming

coverpage

Title Page

Copyright

Python Network Programming

About Packt

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Packt.com

Contributors

About the authors

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Preface

Who this book is for

What this book covers

To get the most out of this book

Download the example code files

Download the color images

Conventions used

Get in touch

Reviews

Fundamental Concepts

Network automation

DevOps

Software-defined networking

OpenFlow

Program concepts

Variables

Data types

Decision makers

Loops

Arrays

Functions

Best practices

Readability of a program

Support information

Indentation

Sample best practice example

Language choices (Python/PowerShell)

Writing your first program

PowerShell IDE

Python IDE

Representational State Transfer (REST) framework

Summary

Python for Network Engineers

Python interpreter and data types

Conditions and loops

Nested and multiple conditions

Loops

For next loop

While loop

Writing Python scripts

Functions

Passing arguments from the command line

Python modules and packages

Multithreading for parallel processing

Using Netmiko for SSH and network device interaction

Network automation use case

Summary

Continuous Integration for Network Engineers

Interaction with Splunk

Automation examples on various technology domains

BGP and routing table

Configuring Cisco switchport for access point

Configuring Cisco switchport for IP Phone

Wireless LAN (WLAN)

Access of IP Address Management (IPAM)

Example and use case

Create a web-based pre and post check tool for validations

Step 1 – Create the main HTML file

Step 2 – Create the backend Python code

Step 3 – Create web server based files for the tool

Step 4 – Create server based files for pre and post files comparison

Summary

SDN Concepts in Network Automation

Managing cloud platforms

Programmable network devices

Controller-based network fabric

Network automation tools

Summary

Low-Level Network Device Interactions

The challenges of the CLI

Constructing a virtual lab

Cisco VIRL

VIRL tips

Cisco DevNet and dCloud

GNS3

Python Pexpect library

Pexpect installation

Pexpect overview

Our first Pexpect program

More Pexpect features

Pexpect and SSH

Putting things together for Pexpect

The Python Paramiko library

Installation of Paramiko

Paramiko overview

Our first Paramiko program

More Paramiko features

Paramiko for servers

Putting things together for Paramiko

Looking ahead