Network Automation with Python & Ansible

Course Outline

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 02 – 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 03 – 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 04 – 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