21.
Network Programming and
Automation
1. Difficulties in Conventional Network O&M
Conventional Network O&M relies heavily on manual intervention, where
engineers need to log in to each device, check configurations, and execute
commands.
This method is time-consuming and inefficient, and it also poses challenges
in auditing the changes made.
Examples:
Upgrading multiple devices in a network manually.
Performing configuration audits across an entire enterprise network.
Making routine changes like password updates across thousands of
devices.
2. Introduction to Network Automation
Network automation involves using tools to automate deployment,
operations, and O&M tasks, reducing manual dependency and improving
efficiency.
Common Tools: Ansible, SaltStack, Puppet, and Chef are popular in the
industry. They help automate network tasks such as configuration updates
and audits.
3. Programming-Based Network Automation with
Python
Python Automation: Python is widely used in network automation. Scripts
written in Python can automate repetitive tasks like device configuration.
Example Process:
21. Network Programming and Automation 1
1. Write a configuration file in a format understood by the devices (CLI
mode).
2. Write a Python script to upload and push this configuration to the
device using protocols like Telnet or SSH.
4. Overview of Programming Languages
Types:
Compiled Languages (e.g., C, C++): Require compilation before
execution.
Interpreted Languages (e.g., Python, Java): Executed line by line
without pre-compilation.
5. Python Programming for Network Automation
Python's Advantages: Python is popular for network automation because
of its simplicity and readability. The Python interpreter executes code
directly from the source, converting it into bytecode and running it on a
virtual machine (VM).
Functions and Modules:
Function: A block of reusable code (defined using def keyword) to
perform a single task.
Module: A file containing Python code, which can include functions,
classes, and variables, making it reusable across other programs.
6. Classes and Methods in Python
Class: A template for creating objects that bundle data and methods
together.
Method: A function defined within a class, usually referring to the instance
( self ) of the class.
7. Introduction to telnetlib
21. Network Programming and Automation 2
Overview: telnetlib is a Python library for handling Telnet communication.
It defines how commands and data are transmitted over Telnet using a
network virtual terminal (NVT).
Usage: The telnetlib.Telnet class provides methods for logging in and
executing commands on network devices.
7.1 Case Study: Using telnetlib to Log into a Device
Steps:
1. Configure the Telnet Service on the network device.
2. Verify the Telnet login procedure manually before coding.
3. Write and execute the Python code using telnetlib to automate the
login.
4. Verify the result to ensure that the script correctly logs into the device
and performs the required tasks.
21. Network Programming and Automation 3
