Network Automation with Python and Ansible (N1_NETPYA)

Day 1 – Critical Python Catchup & Review

• • Overview of Python and Ansible
• • Python white space rules & best practices
• • Printing and more Printing
• • Date types and Variables
• • Packing and Unpacking Variables
• • f Strings
• • Conditional expressions
• • Relational and Boolean operators
• • Lists, Tuples, Dictionaries
• • Indexing and slicing
• • Built-in functions
• • Iterating with Loops (for and while)
• • Working with files
• • Software Control Management (SCM) (Git, Github, Bitbucket, Cloudshare, etc.)
• • Using Python to access REST interfaces
• • Working with JSON
• • Python, Ansible and Paramiko
• • Using Paramiko to SSH with keys and passwords
• • RESTful API review
• • API keys
• • Paramiko Review
• • Using Paramiko to SFTP with keys and passwords

Day 2 – Python and Network Automation

• • 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
• • 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 3 – 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

Day 4 – 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

Lab Outline:

Lab 0 – Setting up the Admin PC for Development

Lab 1 – Build your First Python Script

Lab 2 – More Python

Lab 3 – Strings in Python

Lab 4 – Using argv

Lab 5 – Lists and Dictionaries

Lab 6 – Loops and if-else

Lab 7 – Defining a Function

Lab 8 – Using Python Scripting and the REST API

Lab 9 – Telnetib (Optional)

Lab 10 – Paramiko

Lab 11 – Netmiko

Lab 12 – Ansible Installation

Lab 13 – Verify the Ansible Installation

Lab 14 – CSRX-1 SSH Connectivity

Lab 15 – Cisco IOS Show Command Execution with Ansible

Lab 16 – Configuration Changes with Ansible

Lab 17 – Create a Custom Module for Ansible

Lab 18 – Installing and Using a Role from Galaxy

Lab 19 – Ansible and Jinja2 Templating

Lab 20 – Integrating Template Instantiation and Device Synchronization into a Playbook