Introduction to Python Network Automation. Volume II: Stepping up Beyond the Essentials for Success. 2 Ed

Table of Contents....5 About the Author....11 About the Technical Reviewer....12 Acknowledgments....13 Introduction....14 Chapter 1: Building a Python Network Automation Lab Environment....17 Embarking on the Next Phase of Your Python Network Automation Journey....18 Empowering Your Network Automation Journey with GNS3 and Cisco CML Integration....19 Before Integrating Cisco CML Images in GNS3....20 Integrating Cisco CML L2 and CML L3 Images on Your GNS3....22 Installing Cisco CML L2 Switch on GNS3....24 Quick Ping Test on CML L2 Switch....34 Installing the Cisco CML L3 Router on GNS3 Using the Import Appliance Option....40 Quick Ping Test on the CML L3 Router....54 Building a CML Lab Topology....56 Summary....66 Storytime 1: Still Enjoying the Most Expensive Sandwich in the World....67 Chapter 2: Python Network Automation Labs - Basic Telnet....69 Outline Placeholder....70 Python Network Automation: Network Engineer’s interface....72 Telnet Lab 1: Interactive Telnet Session to Cisco Devices on a Python Interpreter....76 Telnet Lab 2: Configure a Single Switch with a Python Telnet Template....88 Telnet Lab 3: Configure Random VLANs Using a for Loop....95 Telnet Lab 4: Configure Random VLANs Using a while Loop....102 Telnet Lab 5: Configure 100 VLANs Using the for ~ in range Loop....112 Telnet Lab 6: Add a Privilege 3 User on Multiple Devices Using IP Addresses from an External File....118 Telnet Lab 7: Taking Backups of running-config (or startup-config) to Local Server Storage....128 Summary....135 Chapter 3: Python Network Automation Labs: SSH in Action, paramiko and netmiko Labs....136 The Enduring Role of SSH in Network Infrastructure: Navigating the Evolution of Remote Management Tools....137 Python Network Automation Labs Using the paramiko and netmiko Libraries....138 Checking the SSH in Action on a Linux Server....139 Checking the SSH in Action on Cisco Devices....142 Python SSH Labs: paramiko....144 paramiko Lab 1: Configure the Clock and Time Zone of All Devices Interactively in the Python Interpreter....144 paramiko Lab 2: Configuring an NTP Server on Cisco Devices Without User Interaction (NTP Lab)....177 paramiko Lab 3: Create an Interactive paramiko SSH Script to Save Running Configurations to the TFTP Server....190 Python SSH Labs: netmiko....201 Installing the netmiko Library....202 netmiko Lab 1: netmiko Uses a Dictionary for Device Information, Not a JSON Object....203 netmiko Lab 2: Develop a Simple Port Scanner Using a Socket Module and Then Develop a netmiko Disable Telnet Script....218 netmiko Lab 3: config compare....228 Summary....241 Chapter 4: Python Network Automation Labs cron....243 Unveiling the Power of cron in Python Networking....243 Cloning a GNS3 Project for the Next Lab....244 Router Failure Simulation, P1 Network Recovery....252 Lab Pre-Task, Deleting VPCS and Adding More L2 Switches....258 Quick-Start to the Linux Scheduler, cron....264 Ubuntu LTS Task Scheduler: crontab....265 Fedora Task Scheduler: crond....272 Learn cron Job Definitions with Examples....281 Summary....284 Chapter 5: Python Network Automation Labs: SNMP Discovery with Python....286 Bridging Theory and Practice: Learning About SNMP with Python....287 Quick-Start Guide to SNMP....288 Quick SNMP History....289 Types of System Monitoring....290 Comparison Table: SNMP vs. Syslog vs. APIs....292 SNMP Standard Operation....294 SNMP Polling vs. the Trap (Event Reporting) Method....296 SNMP Versions....296 Understanding the SNMP Protocol in the TCP/IP Stack....297 About SNMP Message Types....298 Understanding SNMP’s SMI, MIB, and OID....299 SNMP Access Policy....299 Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Communication While Using SNMP Traps....300 SNMP Tools and Python Integrations....301 Using Python to Run an SNMPv3 Query....303 SNMP-Related Python Libraries....303 Understanding MIBs and OIDs and Browsing OIDs Directly....304 Learning to Use SNMPwalk on a Linux Server....305 Installing and Configuring SNMP Server on Fedora....306 Configuring Cisco Routers and Switches to Support SNMPv3 Using a Python Script....309 Troubleshooting SSH Connections Between Fedora and Cisco Devices....311 Configuring SNMP Agents (engineID, group, and user) on Cisco Devices....325 Doing the SNMPwalk on the Linux Server....338 Borrowing Some Example Python SNMP Code....344 SNMP Lab Source Code....345 SNMPv3 Python Code to Query Cisco Device Information....348 Using Python SNMP Code to Run a Query for an Interface Description....355 Summary....360 Chapter 6: Python Network Automation Virtual Lab 1: Ansible and pyATS in Python virtualenv....361 Python Virtual Lab 1: Ansible and pyATS in Python virtualenv....362 Navigating the Ansible and pyATS Networking Tools....363 Lab 1: Quick-Start Guide to Ansible in virtualenv....364 Installing virtualenv and Getting Started with Ansible....368 Lab 2: Quick-Start Guide to pyATS (Genie) in virtualenv....387 Summary....413 Storytime 2: Doubling Down!....413 Chapter 7: Python Network Automation Virtual Lab 2: Sendmail Email Notification and Twilio SMS Notification on Docker....416 Cost-Efficient IT Operations: Leveraging Docker for Python Networks....417 Expense Optimization in Python Networking: Docker, Kubernetes Impact....419 Python Network Automation Virtual Lab 2: Docker and Twilio SMS....420 Lab 1: Sendmail Lab Using an Imported Docker Image....421 Docker Components, Account Registration, and Installation....423 Docker Installation Procedure....423 Test-Driving Docker....426 Lab 2: Sendmail Python Lab Using Docker....435 Lab Prerequisites....435 Lab 3: Sendmail Email Notification Script Development in Docker....447 Lab 4: CPU Utilization Monitoring Lab: Send an SMS Message Using Twilio....458 Lab 5: TWILIO Account Creation: Install Twilio Python Module and Set Up an SMS Message....459 Lab 6: CPU Utilization Monitoring Lab with an SMS Message....467 Summary....482 Chapter 8: Upgrading Multiple Cisco IOS Routers....483 Empowering Python Network Automation: Unveiling OOP and Real-world Scenarios....483 Applying OOP Concepts to Your Network....484 Managing Flow Control and User Input: UID, PWD, and Information Collection....492 Proactive Patch Management and Zero Trust: Shaping Network Security....501 Router IOS Upgrade Lab Preparation....502 Cisco Catalyst 8000v IOS XE Software and Download....503 Cisco Catalyst 8000v Installation on VMware Workstation....505 How an IOS (IOS XE/XR) Is Upgraded on Cisco Devices....519 Tasks Involved in a Cisco IOS Upgrade....520 Summary....524 Chapter 9: Cisco IOS-XE Upgrade Tools Development Part 1....525 Mastering Cisco IOS Upgrades using Python: A Comprehensive Guide for Network Engineers....525 Tools Development 1: Network Connectivity and Socket Validation Tool....528 Tools Development 2: Login Credentials and User Input Collector....546 Tools Development 3: Collect a New IOS File Name and MD5 Value from a CSV File....553 Tools Development 4: Check the MD5 Value of the New IOS on the Server....566 Tools Development 5: Check the Flash Size on Cisco Routers....574 Tools Development 6: Make Backups of running-config, Interface Status, and Routing Table....580 Summary....585 Chapter 10: Cisco IOS-XE Upgrade Tools Development: Part 2....586 Cisco IOS Upgrade Application Development (Continued)....587 Tools Development 7: IOS Uploading and More Pre-check Tools Development....587 Tools Development 8: Check the New IOS MD5 Value on the Cisco Device’s Flash....606 Tools Development 9: Options to Stop or Reload the Routers....620 Tools Development 10: Check the Reloading Device and Perform a Post-Reload Configuration Verification....639 Summary....654 Storytime 3: IT Evolution: Unraveling the Cloud's Impact with Chicken Littles....655 Chapter 11: Upgrading the Application and Routers....657 Python Mastery for Network Automation: Building the Final IOS Upgrade Tool....658 Summary....722 Chapter 12: Installing NetBox (IPAM/DCIM) with Python....723 What Is NetBox, and Why Do You Need It?....723 Some NetBox Features....726 What NetBox Is Not....726 Server Specifications, Dependencies, and Functions....726 NetBox Concept: The “Site” Is the Core of NetBox....728 NetBox IP Address Management (IPAM): High-Level Overview....728 Changing NetBox into Multi-tenancy IPAM....729 NetBox 3 Manual Installation on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS....730 NetBox 3 Automated Python Script Installation on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS....750 Summary....773 Storytime 4: Embarking on the Python Programming Odyssey: A Journey of Network Automation and Career Advancement....774 Index....776