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Mastering Python Networking
Mastering Python Networking

Mastering Python Networking: Your one-stop solution to using Python for network automation, DevOps, and Test-Driven Development , Second Edition

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Mastering Python Networking

Low-Level Network Device Interactions

In Chapter 1, Review of TCP/IP Protocol Suite and Python, we looked at the theories and specifications behind network communication protocols. We also took a quick tour of the Python language. In this chapter, we will start to dive deeper into the management of network devices using Python. In particular, we will examine the different ways in which we can use Python to programmatically communicate with legacy network routers and switches.

What do I mean by legacy network routers and switches? While it is hard to imagine any networking device coming out today without an Application Program Interface (API) for programmatic communication, it is a known fact that many of the network devices deployed in previous years did not contain API interfaces. The intended method of management for those devices was through Command Line Interfaces (CLIs) using...

The challenges of the CLI

At the Interop expo in Las Vegas in 2014, BigSwitch Networks' CEO Douglas Murray displayed the following slide to illustrate what had changed in Data Center Networking (DCN) in the 20 years between 1993 to 2013:

His point was apparent: not much had changed in those 20 years in the way we manage network devices. While he might have been negatively biased toward the incumbent vendors when displaying this slide, his point is well taken. In his opinion, the only thing that had changed about managing routers and switches in 20 years was the protocol changing from the less secure Telnet to the more secure SSH.

It was right around the same time in 2014 that we started to see the industry coming to a consensus about...

Constructing a virtual lab

Before we dive into the packages, let's examine the options of putting together a lab for the benefit of learning. As the old saying goes, practice makes perfect: we need an isolated sandbox to safely make mistakes, try out new ways of doing things, and repeat some of the steps to reinforce concepts that were not clear in the first try. It is easy enough to install Python and the necessary packages for the management host, but what about those routers and switches that we want to simulate?

To put together a network lab, we basically have two options, each with its advantages and disadvantages:

  • Physical device: This option consists of physical devices that you can see and touch. If you are lucky enough, you might be able to put together a lab that is an exact replication of your production environment:
    • Advantages: It is an easy transition from...

Python Pexpect library

Pexpect is a pure Python module for spawning child applications, controlling them, and responding to expected patterns in their output. Pexpect works like Don Libes' Expect. Pexpct allows your script to spawn a child application and control it as if a human were typing commands. Pexpect, Read the Docs: https://pexpect.readthedocs.io/en/stable/index.html

Let's take a look at the Python Pexpect library. Similar to the original Tcl Expect module by Don Libe, Pexpect launches or spawns another process and watches over it in order to control the interaction. The Expect tool was originally developed to automate interactive processes such as FTP, Telnet, and rlogin, and was later expanded to include network automation. Unlike the original Expect, Pexpect is entirely written in Python, which does not require TCL or C extensions to be compiled. This allows...

The Python Paramiko library

Paramiko is a Python implementation of the SSHv2 protocol. Just like the pxssh subclass of Pexpect, Paramiko simplifies the SSHv2 interaction between the host and the remote device. Unlike pxssh, Paramiko focuses only on SSHv2 with no Telnet support. It also provides both client and server operations.

Paramiko is the low-level SSH client behind the high-level automation framework Ansible for its network modules. We will cover Ansible in later chapters. Let's take a look at the Paramiko library.

Installation of Paramiko

Installing Paramiko is pretty straightforward with Python pip. However, there is a hard dependency on the cryptography library. The library provides low-level, C-based encryption...

Looking ahead

We have taken a pretty huge leap forward in this chapter as far as automating our network using Python is concerned. However, the method we have used feels like somewhat of a workaround for automation. We attempted to trick the remote devices into thinking they were interacting with a human on the other end.

Downsides of Pexpect and Paramiko compared to other tools

The biggest downside of our method so far is that the remote devices do not return structured data. They return data that is ideal to be fitted on a terminal to be interpreted by a human, not by a computer program. The human eye can easily interpret a space, while a computer only sees a return character.

We will take a look at a better way in the...

Summary

In this chapter, we covered low-level ways to communicate directly with network devices. Without a way to programmatically communicate and make changes to network devices, there is no automation. We looked at two libraries in Python that allow us to manage devices that were meant to be managed by the CLI. Although useful, it is easy to see how the process can be somewhat fragile. This is mostly due to the fact that the network gears in question were meant to be managed by human beings and not computers.

In Chapter 3, APIs and Intent-Driven Networking, we will look at network devices supporting API and intent-driven networking.

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Key benefits

  • Explore the power of Python libraries to tackle difficult network problems efficiently and effectively
  • Use Python for network device automation, DevOps, and software-defined networking
  • Become an expert in implementing advanced network-related tasks with Python

Description

Networks in your infrastructure set the foundation for how your application can be deployed, maintained, and serviced. Python is the ideal language for network engineers to explore tools that were previously available to systems engineers and application developers. In this second edition of Mastering Python Networking, you’ll embark on a Python-based journey to transition from traditional network engineers to network developers ready for the next-generation of networks. This book begins by reviewing the basics of Python and teaches you how Python can interact with both legacy and API-enabled network devices. As you make your way through the chapters, you will then learn to leverage high-level Python packages and frameworks to perform network engineering tasks for automation, monitoring, management, and enhanced security. In the concluding chapters, you will use Jenkins for continuous network integration as well as testing tools to verify your network. By the end of this book, you will be able to perform all networking tasks with ease using Python.

Who is this book for?

Mastering Python Networking is for network engineers and programmers who want to use Python for networking. Basic familiarity with Python programming and networking-related concepts such as Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) will be useful.

What you will learn

  • Use Python libraries to interact with your network
  • Integrate Ansible 2.5 using Python to control Cisco, Juniper, and Arista eAPI network devices
  • Leverage existing frameworks to construct high-level APIs
  • Learn how to build virtual networks in the AWS Cloud
  • Understand how Jenkins can be used to automatically deploy changes in your network
  • Use PyTest and Unittest for Test-Driven Network Development

Product Details

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Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : Aug 29, 2018
Length: 466 pages
Edition : 2nd
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781789135992
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Product Details

Publication date : Aug 29, 2018
Length: 466 pages
Edition : 2nd
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781789135992
Languages :
Concepts :
Tools :

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Table of Contents

14 Chapters
Review of TCP/IP Protocol Suite and Python Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Low-Level Network Device Interactions Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
APIs and Intent-Driven Networking Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
The Python Automation Framework – Ansible Basics Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
The Python Automation Framework – Beyond Basics Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Network Security with Python Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Network Monitoring with Python – Part 1 Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Network Monitoring with Python – Part 2 Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Building Network Web Services with Python Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
AWS Cloud Networking Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Working with Git Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Continuous Integration with Jenkins Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Test-Driven Development for Networks Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Other Books You May Enjoy Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

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Rating distribution
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon 4.9
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5 star 90%
4 star 10%
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crchang Sep 13, 2018
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Network engineering is in a paradigm shift. Mastering Python Networking (2nd edition) covers network industry trends, CLIs automation using Python pexepct library for low-level network device interactions, Cisco/Juniper/Arista python APIs library and examples, and Python Automation Framework - Ansible etc. This is a great book for network professionals seriously interested in network automation and programming using Python.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Soham Shah Sep 13, 2018
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
This book, right from the start till the very end continues to impress me with the intricacies and the well-developed practical focus on solving current network problems. There are so many facets of networking today which demand attention, amongst which Network Automation and Network Software are probably the most significant. It is here that Eric Chou does a splendid job of simplifying concepts and making the reader focus on the skills to excel in this industry.The best part of the book is how it helps me to test out features in a simulated lab environment so that rather than just going through the paces of reading, we can actually try and test things ourselves. Some of the highlights include having more Ansible 2.5 examples (so awesome!), and a detailed overview on the rapidly changing CI-CD pipeline modules (Git, Jenkins, Testing). There is a complete chapter on AWS networking, which helped me get to terms with the cloud world.Overall, I highly recommend this book for all budding network engineers, software developers and Internet enthusiasts. It thoroughly deserves a place on any network engineer's bookshelf.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Mayank Nauni Nov 06, 2018
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
I would like to recommend this book to kick start your python learning.It is a must read for Network Engineers planning to learn Python and explore NetDevOps.I’ve read four chapters randomly and loved the details (while maintaining simplicity) of the topics and sample codes were extremely helpful for the first time learners. Amazing piece of work by Eric Chou!
Amazon Verified review Amazon
TCHIMWA CEDRIC SOUGANG Nov 07, 2019
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Perfect !
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Miguel Dec 23, 2018
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
This is one of the best books I have read about networking and automation. Well written and explained, this book is a must for those who want to start into the new trends of networking world.I tooked some courses from Eric online and he really has expertise on network automation and this is shown on this book. Highly recommended.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
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