Summary
In this chapter, we explored how to perform network monitoring via SNMP. We configured SNMP-related commands on the network devices and used our network management VM with SNMP poller to query the devices. We used the PySNMP module to simplify and automate our SNMP queries. You also learned how to save the query results in a flat file to be used for future examples.
Later in the chapter, we used two different Python visualization packages, namely Matplotlib and Pygal, to graph SNMP results. Each package has its distinct advantages. Matplotlib is mature, feature-rich, and widely used in data science projects. Pygal generates SVG format graphs that are flexible and web friendly.
Toward the end of the chapter, we looked at Cacti, an SNMP-based network monitoring system, and how to use Python to extend the platform's monitoring capabilities.
In the next chapter, we will continue to discuss the tools we can use to monitor our networks and gain insight into whether the network is behaving...
