Network Automation with Python and Ansible Training
Managing networks can be repetitive and error-prone, but Python can make incredible changes to how you automate with all major (and most minor) network vendors. This course is driven by lessons and labs designed to utilize Python libraries designed to interact with and configure your network devices. At the conclusion of this course, you’ll be empowered with the tools and skills necessary to take your network to the next level. This class is a combination of live demonstrations and hands-on labs with virtual network devices and endpoints as targets for your configuration.
Python for Network Automation
Course Overview
- Sending HTTP Requests to APIs with builtin and 3rd party libraries
- Opening Telnet Sessions with builtin libraries
- Automating SSH commands with Paramiko
- Performing ICMP Pings
- Transforming Data between JSON, YAML, and Python
- Retrieve and Push network device configuration via Netmiko and Napalm
- Use Pandas to manipulate data in a variety of formats (CSV, Excel, JSON)
- Database manipulation
- Capturing and Parsing Network Traffic
- AI LLM prompt engineering for Python snippets and jumpstarting solutions
All notes and scripts will be made available to students by the end of each day via a cloud-share or email. Lab time will reinforce that day’s topics and demonstrations.
Class is appropriate for those interested in automation, specifically network automation, and those looking to marry a Python and Ansible skill-set.
Course Outline
- Summary
- Up And Running
- Using vim
- Introduction to VScode
- Tmux Basics
- Certification
- Python for Network Automation - Certification Project
- AI LLM Toolkit
- Large Language Model toolkit for AI Solution Assistance
- Software Control Management
- SCM Option #1 - GitHub
- SCM Option #2 - GitLab
- Python
- Installing Python
- Data And File Manipulation
- Read from Files
- Python Data to JSON
- Python Data to YAML
- Pandas dataframes with Excel, csv, json, HTML and beyond
- CSV data - Standard Library and pandas dataframes
- List and Dict Modeling
- APIs And HTTP
- Interacting with APIs
- APIs, pip, and requests
- Restful Open APIS with Standard Library
- Restful Open APIS with requests
- Troubleshooting
- Python for Network Captures and Wireshark
- Examining Network Capture pcaps Files with termshark
- ICMP (Ping)
- Performing ICMP Checks
- Automating Email
- Automating SMTP
- Exploring Network Interfaces
- Front End Web Calls
- Web Scraping Data with Beautiful Soup
- Automating Front-End Web Forms
- Connecting With Python
- Python Telnet Client
- Introducing Paramiko
- Paramiko and SFTP
- Automating Commands Across SSH
- Python And Network Devices
- Python to Cisco NX-OS
- Netmiko for Router and Switch Automation
- Lightweight Database Interactions
- NAPALM
- Getting Switch Configuration with NAPALM
- Switch Validation and NAPALM
- Building APIs
- Building APIs with Python Flask
- Intro to Building Django Apps
- CI/CD Automation
- Introduction to CI CD with GitLab
- Running Python in a Container
- CI CD with Python, Webhooks, and GitLab Runner
- Lifecycling a Python App with GitLab
- Testing
- Testing Code with PyTest
- Optimizing Code For Automation
- Using Argparse
- Controlling run time with Environmental Variables
- Python and Regular Expression for Searching
- Concurrency
- Automating HTTP Requests
- Automating HTTP Requests with Async IO
- Enterprise Applications
- VMWare NSX Automation
- scapy - Network Traffic as Code
- Ansible Primer (Optional)
- Introduction to Ansible and Playbooks
- Retrieving Switch Config with Ansible
- Using Agnostic Networking Modules
- Appendix
- Glossary
Intended Audience
- Network Administrators
- Ansible devs
- Python devs
- Administrators interested in Automation
- Individuals interested in devops, specifically for networking
Prerequisites
- Basic Linux skills are helpful.
- Familiarity with a text editor like vi, vim, or nano is helpful.
Follow-On Courses
Related training topics
Justify your training
Use this sample request letter — copy it into an email to your manager and personalize the bracketed details to make the case for the time and budget.
Sample training request letter
Subject: Request for Networking & Wireless training from Applied Technology Academy
[Decision Maker Name],
I'm writing to request time and budget approval to complete Applied Technology Academy's course, Network Automation with Python and Ansible Training. The information below outlines how this training benefits our organization, the tasks I'll be able to perform after completing it, and relevant cost and funding details.
Course Description
Managing networks can be repetitive and error-prone, but Python can make incredible changes to how you automate with all major (and most minor) network vendors. This course is driven by lessons and labs designed to utilize Python libraries designed to interact with and configure your network devices. At the conclusion of this course, you’ll be empowered with the tools and skills necessary to take your network to the next level. This class is a combination of live demonstrations and hands-on labs with virtual network devices and endpoints as targets for your configuration. Applied Technology Academy is an award-winning, SBA-certified woman-owned training provider (est. 2008) whose instructors are active practitioners; the course is hands-on with virtual labs and a learn-by-doing methodology.
Course Objectives
Once I've completed the course, I'll have hands-on, job-ready skills in networking & wireless that I can apply immediately to our work.
Expected Organizational Benefits
After completing this course, I will be better equipped to apply these skills directly to our projects, reduce our reliance on outside expertise, strengthen our team's capabilities, and share what I learn with colleagues.
Expected Cost & Funding
Course fee: [request an itemized quote at the link below]. Applied Technology Academy supports multiple funding paths that may reduce or cover this cost: GSA MAS purchasing and government purchase orders, military credentialing funding (Army CA, AF COOL, CG COOL), VA GI Bill and VR&E, ATA Flexible Spending, and student financing. Private team cohorts are available if colleagues should attend with me.
Conclusion
This training provides practical, hands-on experience I can apply immediately to strengthen our work in networking & wireless. Additional course information is available at https://appliedtechnologyacademy.com/alta3-research-training/network-automation-with-python-and-ansible-training/.
Thank you for your consideration,
[Your Name]
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