Day 01
Python Basics Review

• • Overview of Python and Ansible
• • Python whitespace rules & best practices
• • Conditional expressions
• • Relational and Boolean operators
• • Lists, Tuples, Dictionaries
• • Indexing and slicing
• • Built-in functions
• • Writing custom functions
• • Getting at methods
• • Iterating with Loops (for and while)
• • Working with files
• • Software Control Management (SCM) (Git, Github, Bitbucket, Cloudshare, etc.)
• • Getting at RESTful interfaces with Python
• • Working with JSON
• • Python, Ansible and Paramiko
• • Using Paramiko to SSH with keys and passwords
  
  

Day 02
Python and Network Automation

• • RESTful API review
• • API keys
• • Paramiko Review
• • Using Paramiko to SFTP with keys and passwords
• • Introduction to Netmiko (automating routers and switches)
• • Using Netmiko to send commands to / from network devices
• • Working with YAML
• • Converting JSON to YAML with Python

 

Day 03
Basic Ansible Review

• • Ansible keywords
• • YAML and JSON for data exchange
• • Ansible and YAML
• • Ansible Playbook components
• • Tying together Python and Ansible – Using Python within Ansible
• • Ansible Network Modules
• • What is new in Ansible (most current updates / release notes)
• • Network Agnostic modules
• • Writing network playbooks
• • Reviewing the construction of network playbooks
• • Writing Ansible playbooks that respond to network failures

 

Day 04
Blending Python and Ansible Skillsets

• • Review how to use Python within Ansible
• • Calling Python scripts with Ansible
• • Jinja2 Templating Engine for Python (and Ansible)
• • Using Templates in Ansible playbooks
• • Jinja2 filters, looping, and other useful tricks for automating with Ansible
• • Playbook tagging for selective runs
• • When to use Python and when to use Ansible
• • “Big Picture” options for using Python & Ansible within your Network
• • Ansible Roles
• • Extending Ansible to support Palo Alto (Optional - Case Study)
• • Extending Ansible to support Juniper vendor modules (Optional - Case Study)
• • Extending Ansible to support NAPALM (Optional - Case Study)
  
  

Day 05
Customizing Ansible with Python

• • Review – Running Scripts with Ansible
• • Prompting for Ansible user input
• • Ansible Galaxy & Getting at Roles
• • Writing a custom Ansible Module with Python
• • Ansible “Engine” vs Ansible “Tower” – marketing hype, capabilities, costs, etc.
• • Case Study: Automate your Enterprise Network
• • When to use Python and when to use Ansible
• • Writing your own Ansible modules in Python
• • “Big Picture” options for using Python & Ansible within your Network
• • Overview - NETCONF / YANG and what they mean for Python and Ansible
• • Molecule – Testing your roles