Python Training

PYTHON FOR NETWORK ENGINEERS
A journey from CLI to Python
November 2015. Version 4.18

DISCLAIMER
This course is useful to network engineers with no python
programming knowledge, who wants to use python to manage
junos devices.
What makes this course even more interesting, is that it is
written for beginners in programming, by a beginner in
programming 
The examples and code in this document are for learning and
educational purposes.
The samples were created with the goals of clarity and ease of
understanding.
If you are writing code for a real application, you might write
some code differently 
For more help, you can engage with automation email aliases.
AGENDA
• INTRODUCTION TO NETWORK AUTOMATION
• THE BASICS ABOUT PYTHON PROGRAMMING
• IP ADDRESSES MANIPULATION
• FILES MANIPULATION
• TEMPLATES WITH JINJA2
• VARIABLES DEFINITION WITH YAML
• JUNOS AUTOMATION WITH PYEZ LIBRARY
• REST CALLS HANDLING
• REGULAR EXPRESSIONS
SOME USE CASES
• Handle configuration changes faster

• Add a vlan on all your switches
• Configure a list of interfaces with a vlan
• Modify SNMP community over 100 devices
• Reduces human errors
• Configurations are almost always deployed manually.
Automated configuration deployment reduces human
errors
SOME USE CASES
• Simplify network audit
• One way to handle this task is to manually open an SSH
connection to every device and manually populate a
spreadsheet with relevant information. But we can perform
this task in a more automated/programmatic fashion.
• Some examples:
• Check if your switches uplinks ports are up
• Check the status of your BGP neighbors (state needs to be
“established”)
• Data Collection before and after a change (a configuration
change, an upgrade …)
• Check if there is any issue after a change (do you have a BGP
neighbor not in an “established” state ….)
• Upgrade all your devices, and then check if each of them is running
the new version
EXAMPLE OF OFF-BOX SCRIPTING
• I have 100 devices on the network.
• I have to update all of my devices with a new snmp
community
• Think like a programmer:
• Use Python on a server/laptop as the point-of-control to
remotely manage Junos devices.
• Steps:
• Find/Create a list of all the devices IPs and Credentials
• For every device in the list
• Connect to device
• load the configuration change
• commit the configuration change
• Close the session
• Repeat with the next device until we finish the list
WHEN USING AUTOMATION
• The Build phase
• Around the initial design and installation of a network component.
• ZTP, Python, Openclos, Ansible can help in building network
• The Configure phase
• Deploy on demand configuration and software changes to the platform.
• PyEZ, Puppet, Chef can help in configuring or reconfiguring the network for
new services
• The Audit phase
• Deals with automating the process of monitoring operational state of the
platform
• PyEZ, JUNOS REST API, SNMP can be used to help monitoring or auditing
the network
PYTHON
WHAT IS PYTHON?
• A programming language
• Popular. Widely used.
• Contribution from a very large community
• Lots of modules available (repository) extending the
capabilities of the language
• Easy to learn
• Indentation matters
• Versions:
• Python 2.7 is still mostly in use.
• Recommended version for PyEZ is Python 2.7
• Python 3.5 adoption is coming.
• Python 3.X adoption inhibited because of the many community
modules that require 2.7
PIP (package manager/installer program)
• pip stand for "Pip Installs Packages" or "Pip Installs Python".
• pip is a package management system used to find, install and
manage Python packages.
• Many packages can be found in the Python Package Index
(PyPI).
• This is a repository for Python.
• There are currently 70000 packages.
• https://pypi.python.org/pypi.
• You can use pip to find packages in Python Package Index
(PyPI) and to install them.
LAB 1 - CONNECT TO THE PYTHON SERVER
• From your laptop, use SSH to connect to the server
• Server Address: 172.30.204.10
• FYI in case the server 172.30.204.10 is broken, use the backup server (ip 172.30.204.11)
• Login: pytraining-N
• Password: Poclab123
• Example for user N = 2, the login is pytraining-2
• on Windows use putty or SecureCRT
• on Mac or Linux, use this command:
ssh pytraining-2@172.30.204.10
Password: Poclab123
• FYI, the lab environment description is maintain here:

pytraining@py-automation-master:~$ more /home/administrator/setup/environment/devices.yml
LAB 1 - CONNECT TO THE PYTHON SERVER
• All scripts and examples can be run from your home directory.
pytraining-2@py-automation-master:~$ pwd
/home/pytraining-2
• To start the python interpreter shell, type the command python.

pytraining-2@py-automation-master:~$ python
>>>
• To exit python interpreter shell, type quit() or exit() or use ctrl+d

>>> quit()
pytraining@py-automation-master:~$
LAB 1 – USE PIP
• Use pip –help to understand the various options
pytraining@py-automation-backup:~$ pip --help
• Use pip list to list installed packages.

• ncclient (netconf client used by PyEZ), Paramiko (ssh client used by
PyEZ), junos-eznc (PyEZ), pip, jinja2 to manage templates, netaddr
to manage ip addresses, requests to handle REST calls, …
pytraining@py-automation-master:~$ pip list
• Use pip search to searches packages related to contrail or

Juniper or vpn or regex .
• Other pip options frequently used are install and uninstall ...
LAB 1 – SERVER GRAPHICAL INTERFACE
• If you want to use the server graphical interface, you can RDP
(remote desktop connection) the server.
• So you will be able to use:
• Browse the file system from a graphical interface
• Use Sublime Text (text editor)
• Use a graphical REST client (firefox add-on)
LAB 1 - VARIABLES
• Variables store values

• Declare the name of the variable and use the
assignment operator = to assign the value
• We do not declare the variable type. The value
assigned to the variable determines the type
• Integer, Floats, String, Lists, Dictionaries, and more types.
• Dynamically typed
LAB 1 - INTEGERS
• Assign an integer to a variable
• You can add spaces around '=' for readability:
• a=b or a = b (both work in python. Last option is more readable)
• Integers are whole numbers
>>> a = 192
>>> a
192
>>> type(a)
<type 'int'>
>>>
• You can use Type(a) or Type (a). Both work in python. We

generally do not use a space between function name and
(). This is more readable.
LAB 1 - FLOATS
>>> RU = 4.45
>>> RU
4.45
>>> type(RU)
<type 'float'>
>>>
LAB 1 - INTEGERS
• Manipulate integers with arithmetic operators

>>> a
192
>>> b = 10
>>> type(b)
<type 'int'>
>>> a+b
202
>>> b%3
1
>>> b/3
3
>>> b/3.0
3.3333333333333335
>>>
LAB 1 - INTEGERS
• Convert an integer into a string with the built-in
function str
>>> a
192
>>> str(a)
'192'
>>>
• Convert an integer into an hexadecimal with the built-

in function hex
>>> hex(a)
'0xc0'
>>> 0xff
255
• Convert an integer into an binary with the built-in

function bin
>>> bin(a)
'0b11000000'
>>> 0b1111
15
LAB 1 - COMPARAISON OPERATORS
• Comparison operators compare two values and return a
Boolean
>>> a
192
>>> b
10
>>> a==b
False
>>> a!=b
True
>>> a>b
True
>>> a<=b
False
LAB 1 - DIR
• dir() returns a list of the names in the current

scope
>>> a
192
>>> b
10
>>> dir()
['__builtins__', '__doc__', '__name__', '__package__', 'a', 'b']
>>>
LAB 2 - STRINGS
• Assign a string to a variable

• Use single quotes ' or double quotes "
• Use \n for newline and \t for tab
>>> hostname="ex4200-1"
>>> type(hostname)
<type 'str'>
>>> hostname
'ex4200-1'
>>> print hostname
ex4200-1
>>>
>>> byte="192"
>>> type(byte)
<type 'str'>
>>>
LAB 2 - STRINGS
• To create a multi lines string, use three single quotes

or three double quotes
>>> banner='''you are accessing a restricted system.
be advised your actions are logged and audited are performed daily'''
>>> type(banner)
<type 'str'>
>>> print banner
you are accessing a restricted system.
be advised your actions are logged and audited are performed daily
>>>
LAB 2 - STRINGS
• Read one character of a string
>>> ip='192.168.10.254'
>>> ip[0]
'1'
>>> ip[1]
'9'
>>>
• Do it from the other end using negative index

>>> ip[-1]
'4'
>>> ip[-2]
'5'
>>>
LAB 2 - STRINGS
• Access a substring using this notation:

>>> ip='192.168.10.254'
>>> ip[0:3]
'192'
>>>
LAB 2 - STRINGS
• Use a membership operator (in, not in) to check if a

string is a substring of another one
>>> ip='192.168.10.254'
>>> ip
'192.168.10.254'
>>> type(ip)
<type 'str'>
>>> '192' in ip
True
>>> '193' in ip
False
>>> '193' not in ip
True
>>>
LAB 2 - STRINGS
• Convert a string into an integer
>>> byte="192"
>>> type(byte)
<type 'str'>
>>> int(byte)
192
>>> type (int(byte))
<type 'int'>
>>>
STRINGS
• To get the list of available functions for strings,
use the built-in function dir with the argument str
(you can also use an instance of str as the
argument)
• Some functions for strings are: upper, lower, join,
split, splitlines, strip, …
>>> dir()
['__builtins__', '__doc__', '__name__', '__package__', 'a', 'b',
'banner', 'byte', 'hostname', 'ip']
>>> dir(str)
[ ... 'capitalize', 'center', 'count', 'decode', 'encode', 'endswith',
'expandtabs', 'find', 'format', 'index', 'isalnum', 'isalpha', 'isdigit',
'islower', 'isspace', 'istitle', 'isupper', 'join', 'ljust', 'lower',
'lstrip', 'partition', 'replace', 'rfind', 'rindex', 'rjust',
'rpartition', 'rsplit', 'rstrip', 'split', 'splitlines', 'startswith',
'strip', 'swapcase', 'title', 'translate', 'upper', 'zfill']
STRINGS
• Get help with strings:

>>> help(str)
• Get help with a function. Example with the function

upper
>>> help(banner.upper)
Help on built-in function upper:
upper(...)
S.upper() -> string
Return a copy of the string S converted to uppercase.

>>>
STRINGS
• Convert a string to uppercase. Use the built-in

function upper
>>> print banner
you are accessing a restricted system.
be advised your actions are logged and audited are performed daily
>>> help (banner.upper)
Help on built-in function upper:
upper(...)
S.upper() -> string
Return a copy of the string S converted to uppercase.
>>> print banner.upper()

YOU ARE ACCESSING A RESTRICTED SYSTEM.
BE ADVISED YOUR ACTIONS ARE LOGGED AND AUDITED ARE PERFORMED DAILY
>>>
LAB - STRINGS
• Split a string into a list of strings. Use the built-in
function split
>>> ip
'192.168.10.254'
>>> help (ip.split)
>>> bytes_list=ip.split('.')
>>> bytes_list
['192', '168', '10', '254']
>>> type (bytes_list)
<type 'list'>
>>> bytes_list[0]
'192'
>>> type (bytes_list[0])
<type 'str'>
>>>
LAB - STRINGS
• Convert a list of strings into a string. Use the built-in

function join
>>> help(str.join)
>>> bytes_list
['192', '168', '10', '254']
>>> ".".join(bytes_list)
'192.168.10.254'
>>>
DELETE VARIABLES
• Use del to delete variables

>>> hostname
'ex4200-1'
>>> ip
'192.168.10.254'
>>> dir()
['__builtins__', '__doc__', '__name__', '__package__', 'a', 'b', 'banner',
'byte', 'bytes_list', 'hostname', 'ip']
>>> del hostname, ip
>>> dir()
['__builtins__', '__doc__', '__name__', '__package__', 'a', 'b', 'banner',
'byte', 'bytes_list']
>>> ip
…
NameError: name 'ip' is not defined
>>> hostname
…
NameError: name 'hostname' is not defined
>>>
COMMENTS
• The symbol # indicates a comment

>>> # this is a comment
>>> domain="juniper.net" #this is another comment
>>> domain
'juniper.net'
>>> print domain
juniper.net
>>>
PRINT
>>> hostname="ex4200-1"
>>> ip="172.30.179.101"
>>>
>>> # use + to concatenate strings
>>> print "the device hostname is " + hostname
the device hostname is ex4200-1
>>> print "the device " + hostname + " has the ip " + ip
the device ex4200-1 has the ip 172.30.179.101
>>>
>>> print "the device %s has the ip %s" % (hostname, ip)
the device ex4200-1 has the ip 172.30.179.101 Deprecated syntax, does not work in 3.x
>>> print "%s %s" % (hostname,ip) Prefer format() for forward compatibility
ex4200-1 172.30.179.101
>>>
>>> print "the device {0} has the ip {1}".format(hostname, ip)
the device ex4200-1 has the ip 172.30.179.101
>>> help (str.format)
LISTS
• A collection of items
• Items are ordered
• Items separated by commas and enclosed within
square brackets ([])
• A list is iterable: a “for loop” iterates over its items
LAB 3 - LISTS
• Create a list
>>> my_devices_list=["172.30.108.11", "172.30.108.14", "172.30.108.141",
"172.30.108.133", "172.30.108.254"]
>>> my_devices_list
['172.30.108.11', '172.30.108.14', '172.30.108.141', '172.30.108.133',
'172.30.108.254']
>>> type (my_devices_list)
<type 'list'>
>>>
LAB 3 - LISTS
• Use [] to create an empty list
>>> this_is_an_empty_list=[]
>>> this_is_an_empty_list
[]
>>>
LAB 3 - LISTS
• Read an item from a list

>>> len(my_devices_list)
5
>>> my_devices_list[0]
'172.30.108.11'
>>> my_devices_list[-1]
'172.30.108.254'
>>>
LAB 3 - LISTS
• You can also create a list of integers with the built-in

function range from module __builtin__
>>> range (5)
[0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
>>> range (2,5)
[2, 3, 4]
>>> range (-2, 3)
[-2, -1, 0, 1, 2]
>>> help(range)
LAB 3 - LISTS
• You can also call the class list to create a list
• list() returns an empty list
• list(iterable) returns a list initialized from iterable's items
• with a string, this class returns a list with its characters
• with a dictionary, this class returns a list with its keys
• …
>>> list()
[]
>>> list("whatever")
['w', 'h', 'a', 't', 'e', 'v', 'e', 'r']
>>> this_is_a_dictionary={'domain': 'jnpr.net', 'hostname': 'LAB-EX-VC-Backbone',

"time_zone": 'Europe/Paris', "name_server": "195.68.0.1"}
>>> type(this_is_a_dictionary)
<type 'dict'>
>>> list (this_is_a_dictionary)
['domain', 'hostname', 'time_zone', 'name_server']
>>> type(list(this_is_a_dictionary))
<type 'list'>
>>>
LAB 3 - LISTS
• Get part of a list

>>> my_devices_list
['172.30.108.11', '172.30.108.14', '172.30.108.141', '172.30.108.133',
'172.30.108.254']
>>> my_devices_list [0]
'172.30.108.11'
>>> my_devices_list[-1]
'172.30.108.254'
>>> my_devices_list [1:]
['172.30.108.14', '172.30.108.141', '172.30.108.133', '172.30.108.254']
>>> my_devices_list [1:-1]
['172.30.108.14', '172.30.108.141', '172.30.108.133']
>>> my_devices_list [1:3]
['172.30.108.14', '172.30.108.141']
>>>
LISTS
• Replace an element
>>> my_devices_list
['172.30.108.11', '172.30.108.14', '172.30.108.141', '172.30.108.133',
'172.30.108.254']
>>> my_devices_list[2]='172.30.108.254'
>>> my_devices_list
['172.30.108.11', '172.30.108.14', '172.30.108.254', '172.30.108.133',
'172.30.108.254']
>>>
LISTS
• Remove an element
>>> my_devices_list
['172.30.108.11', '172.30.108.14', '172.30.108.254', '172.30.108.133',
'172.30.108.254']
>>> del my_devices_list[2]
>>> my_devices_list
['172.30.108.11', '172.30.108.14', '172.30.108.133', '172.30.108.254']
>>>
LAB 3 -LISTS
• Check if an item is a list with a membership operator (in,

not in)
>>> my_devices_list
['172.30.108.11', '172.30.108.14', '172.30.108.133', '172.30.108.254']
>>> "172.30.108.14" in my_devices_list
True
>>> "172.30.108.14" not in my_devices_list
False
>>> "172.30.108.187" in my_devices_list
False
>>>
LAB 3 - LISTS
• Get the list of available functions

• Some functions are: len, sort, index, insert, append, count, ...
>>> dir(my_devices_list)
['__add__', '__class__', '__contains__', '__delattr__', '__delitem__',
'__delslice__', '__doc__', '__eq__', '__format__', '__ge__', '__getattribute__',
'__getitem__', '__getslice__', '__gt__', '__hash__', '__iadd__', '__imul__',
'__init__', '__iter__', '__le__', '__len__', '__lt__', '__mul__', '__ne__',
'__new__', '__reduce__', '__reduce_ex__', '__repr__', '__reversed__', '__rmul__',
'__setattr__', '__setitem__', '__setslice__', '__sizeof__', '__str__',
'__subclasshook__', 'append', 'count', 'extend', 'index', 'insert', 'pop', 'remove',
'reverse', 'sort']
LAB 3 - LISTS
• Get help
>>> help(my_devices_list)
• Get help for one function. Example with the function

insert.
>>> help(my_devices_list.insert)
LISTS
• Get the index of an item with the built-in function index

• Remember that order matters with list.
>>> my_devices_list.index("172.30.108.14")
1
>>> help (my_devices_list.index)
LISTS
• Add an element at the end of the list with the built-in

function append
>>> my_devices_list
['172.30.108.11', '172.30.108.14', '172.30.108.133', '172.30.108.254']
>>> my_devices_list.append("172.30.108.133")
>>> my_devices_list
['172.30.108.11', '172.30.108.14', '172.30.108.133', '172.30.108.254',
'172.30.108.133']
>>> help(my_devices_list.append)
LAB 3 - LISTS
• Insert an element with the built-in function insert
>>> my_devices_list
['172.30.108.11', '172.30.108.14', '172.30.108.133', '172.30.108.254',
'172.30.108.133']
>>>
>>> my_devices_list.insert(2,'172.30.108.176')
>>> my_devices_list
['172.30.108.11', '172.30.108.14', '172.30.108.176', '172.30.108.133',
'172.30.108.254', '172.30.108.133']
>>>
>>> my_devices_list.insert(0,'172.30.108.10')
>>> my_devices_list
['172.30.108.10', '172.30.108.11', '172.30.108.14', '172.30.108.176',
'172.30.108.133', '172.30.108.254', '172.30.108.133']
>>>
>>> my_devices_list.insert(-1,'172.30.108.132')
>>> my_devices_list
['172.30.108.10', '172.30.108.11', '172.30.108.14', '172.30.108.176',
'172.30.108.133', '172.30.108.254', '172.30.108.132’, '172.30.108.133']
>>>
>>> help(my_devices_list.insert)
LISTS
• Get the number of occurrences of a value in a list

with the built-in function count
>>> my_devices_list
['172.30.108.11', '172.30.108.14', '172.30.108.176', '172.30.108.133',
'172.30.108.254', '172.30.108.133']
>>> my_devices_list.count('172.30.108.133')
2
>>>
LISTS
• Sort a list (remember that order matters with list).
>>> my_vlan_id_list=[4,12,45,1,7,22,2] #items are int
>>> my_vlan_id_list
[4, 12, 45, 1, 7, 22, 2]
>>> my_vlan_id_list[0]
4
>>> my_vlan_id_list.reverse()
>>> my_vlan_id_list
[2, 22, 7, 1, 45, 12, 4]
>>> my_vlan_id_list.sort()
>>> my_vlan_id_list
[1, 2, 4, 7, 12, 22, 45]
>>> my_vlan_id_list.reverse()
>>> my_vlan_id_list
[45, 22, 12, 7, 4, 2, 1]
>>> my_vlan_id_list[0]
45
>>> my_devices_list=['172.30.108.11', '172.30.108.14', '172.30.108.176', '172.30.108.133',
'172.30.108.254', '172.30.108.133'] #items are str
>>> my_devices_list
['172.30.108.11', '172.30.108.14', '172.30.108.176', '172.30.108.133', '172.30.108.254',
'172.30.108.133']
>>> my_devices_list.sort()
>>> my_devices_list
['172.30.108.11', '172.30.108.133', '172.30.108.133', '172.30.108.14', '172.30.108.176',
'172.30.108.254']
DICTIONARIES
• Collection of key-value pairs
• We use dictionaries to associate values to keys
• Keys are unique
• Items are unordered
• Use curly {} brackets to declare the dictionary.
• Separate the key and value with colons
• Use commas between each pair
• Use square brackets [] to retrieve the value for a key
• A dictionary is iterable: a “for loop” iterates over its
keys.
LAB 4 - DICTIONARIES
>>> this_is_a_dictionary={'domain': 'jnpr.net', 'hostname': 'LAB-EX-VC-

Backbone', "time_zone": 'Europe/Paris', "name_server": "195.68.0.1"}
>>> this_is_a_dictionary
{'domain': 'jnpr.net', 'hostname': 'LAB-EX-VC-Backbone', 'time_zone':
'Europe/Paris', 'name_server': '195.68.0.1'}
>>> type (this_is_a_dictionary)
<type 'dict'>
>>>
• Print a dictionary with pprint (pretty print)
• pprint is not a built-in function, pprint is provided by the module ‘pprint’
>>> print this_is_a_dictionary
>>>
>>> from pprint import pprint
>>> dir()
>>> pprint (this_is_a_dictionary)
{'domain': 'jnpr.net',
'hostname': 'LAB-EX-VC-Backbone',
'name_server': '195.68.0.1',
'time_zone': 'Europe/Paris'}
>>>
>>> from pprint import pprint as pp
>>> dir()
>>> pp (this_is_a_dictionary)
{'domain': 'jnpr.net',
'hostname': 'LAB-EX-VC-Backbone',
'name_server': '195.68.0.1',
• Get the keys and values

>>> this_is_a_dictionary.keys()
['domain', 'hostname', 'time_zone', 'name_server']
>>> this_is_a_dictionary.values()
['jnpr.net', 'LAB-EX-VC-Backbone', 'Europe/Paris', '195.68.0.1']
>>>
• Query the dictionary using square brackets [ ]

>>> this_is_a_dictionary["hostname"]
'LAB-EX-VC-Backbone'
>>> this_is_a_dictionary["domain"]
'jnpr.net'
>>>
• Add an item to a dictionary
• Lets add the key "ntp_server" with the value "172.17.28.5 "
>>> this_is_a_dictionary["ntp_server"]="172.17.28.5"
{'ntp_server': '172.17.28.5', 'domain': 'jnpr.net', 'hostname': 'LAB-EX-VC-
Backbone', 'time_zone': 'Europe/Paris', 'name_server': '195.68.0.1'}
>>> this_is_a_dictionary["ntp_server"]
'172.17.28.5'
>>>
• Remove an item from a dictionary

• Lets remove the key "ntp_server" with its value
{'ntp_server': '172.17.28.5', 'domain': 'jnpr.net', 'hostname': 'LAB-EX-VC-
Backbone', 'time_zone': 'Europe/Paris', 'name_server': '195.68.0.1'}
>>> del this_is_a_dictionary["name_server"]
{'ntp_server': '172.17.28.5', 'hostname': 'LAB-EX-VC-Backbone', 'domain':
'jnpr.net', 'time_zone': 'Europe/Paris‘}
>>>
• membership operators (in, not in) can be used with

dictionaries as well
{'ntp_server': '172.17.28.5', 'hostname': 'LAB-EX-VC-Backbone', 'domain': 'jnpr.net',
>>> "domain" in this_is_a_dictionary
True
>>>
FOR LOOPS
• Syntax
• Indentation matters: use spaces for the indented block of statements
for (expression):
⎵statement(s)
• Use “for loops” if you have something you need to iterate

• with a list, it iterates over its items
• with a dictionary, it iterates over its keys
• with a file, it iterates over its lines
• with a string, it iterates over its characters.
• …
• For each iteration of the iterable, the “for loop” execute the
statements in the loop body
• Alternatively, use a “for loop” to do something a fixed
number of times
LAB 5 - FOR LOOPS WITH A LIST
• If we use a for loop with a list, it iterates over its items.
>>> my_devices_list
['172.30.108.11', '172.30.108.133', '172.30.108.133', '172.30.108.14',
'172.30.108.176', '172.30.108.254']
>>> for device in my_devices_list:
print ("the current device is: " + device)
the current device is: 172.30.108.11

>>>
FOR LOOPS WITH A LIST
• If we use a for loop with a list, it iterates over its items.
>>> range (2,6)

[2, 3, 4, 5]
>>> for i in range (2,6):
print "set interface xe-0/0/%s unit 0 family Ethernet-switching" %i
set interface xe-0/0/2 unit 0 family Ethernet-switching

>>>
LAB 5 - FOR LOOPS WITH A DICTIONARY
• If we use a for loop with a dictionary, it iterates over its keys
{'ntp_server': '172.17.28.5', 'hostname': 'LAB-EX-VC-Backbone',
'domain': 'jnpr.net', 'name_server': '195.68.0.1', 'time_zone':
'Europe/Paris'}
>>> for key in this_is_a_dictionary:
print key
ntp_server
hostname
domain
name_server
time_zone
>>>
LAB 5 - FOR LOOPS WITH A DICTIONARY
• If we use a for loop with a dictionary, it iterates over its keys
{'ntp_server': '172.17.28.5', 'hostname': 'LAB-EX-VC-Backbone',
'domain': 'jnpr.net', 'name_server': '195.68.0.1', 'time_zone':
'Europe/Paris'}
>>> for key in this_is_a_dictionary:
print this_is_a_dictionary[key]
172.17.28.5
LAB-EX-VC-Backbone
jnpr.net
195.68.0.1
Europe/Paris
>>>
LAB 5 - FOR LOOPS WITH A FILE
• If we use a for loop with a file, it iterates over its lines
pytraining@py-automation-master:~$ more "python_basics/list_of_ip.txt"
172.30.179.101
172.30.179.102
172.30.179.103
172.30.179.104
172.30.179.105
>>> f=open("python_basics/list_of_ip.txt")
>>> type(f)
<type 'file'>
>>> f
<open file 'python_basics/listofip.txt', mode 'r' at 0x000000000317A810>
>>> for line in f:
print line
172.30.179.101
172.30.179.102
172.30.179.103
172.30.179.104
172.30.179.105
>>> f.close()
 Execute the extract_hostname.py file and look at its contents
 It search for the hostname of a device in a junos
configuration file with the format set
pytraining@py-automation-master:~$ python python_basics/extract_hostname.py

FR-EX2200-110
more python_basics/regex_hostname.py
# show_config.txt is a JUNOS conf file in set format
f=open("python_basics/show_config.txt")
for line in f:
if "host-name" in line:
hostname=line.split(" ")[-1].strip()
print hostname
f.close()
 These are the details about the previous program
>>> f=open("python_basics/show_config.txt") # this file is a junos configuration in set format
>>> # lets iterate the file line by line. Lets get the line that matches "host-name"
>>> for line in f:
if "host-name" in line:
hostname_line=line
>>> hostname_line
'set system host-name FR-EX2200-110\n'
>>> help(str.split)
>>> hostname_line_list = hostname_line.split(" ")
>>> hostname_line_list
['set', 'system', 'host-name', 'FR-EX2200-110\n']
>>> hostname_line_list[-1]
'FR-EX2200-110\n'
>>> help(str.strip)
>>> hostname=hostname_line_list[-1].strip()
>>> hostname
'FR-EX2200-110'
>>> print hostname
FR-EX2200-110
>>> f.close()
LAB 5 - FOR LOOPS WITH A STRING
• If we use a for loop with a string, it iterates over its characters.
>>> for characters in "whatever":

print characters
w
h
a
t
e
v
e
r
>>>
WHILE LOOPS
• Syntax:
while (expression):
statement(s)
• Executes the statements in the loop body while the

expression evaluates to true
• When the expression evaluates to false, the loop body is
skipped and the first statement after the while loop is
executed.
• Please note that a “while” loop might not ever run.
• Please make sure you are not creating an infinite loop
• It has to be something in your loop to cause the loop to break
CONDITIONALS: IF…ELIF…ELSE
• Syntax:
• Indentation matters: use spaces for the indented blocks of statements
if expression:
⎵statement(s)
elif expression:
⎵statement(s)
elif expression:
⎵statement(s)
else:
⎵statement(s)
• Executes some statements if an expression evaluates to true

• Elif and Else are optional
• Elif means “else if”
• Else specify actions to take if no condition was met previously.
LAB 6 - IF…ELIF…ELSE
• Use a comparison operator in the if or elif expression

>>> my_devices_list
['172.30.108.11', '172.30.108.133', '172.30.108.133', '172.30.108.14', '172.30.108.176',
'172.30.108.254']
>>> for device in my_devices_list:
if device=='172.30.108.14':
print "172.30.108.14 was found in my_devices_list"
172.30.108.14 was found in my_devices_list

>>>
• Use a comparison operator in the if or elif expression

>>> for key in this_is_a_dictionary :
if key=='domain':
print "the domain is " + this_is_a_dictionary[key]
the domain is jnpr.net

>>>
• Use a membership operator in the if or elif expression
>>> my_devices_list
['172.30.108.11', '172.30.108.133', '172.30.108.133', '172.30.108.14', '172.30.108.176',
'172.30.108.254']
>>> '172.30.108.14' in my_devices_list
True
>>> if '172.30.108.14' in my_devices_list:
print "172.30.108.14 was found in my_devices_list"
else:
print "172.30.108.14 was not found in my_devices_list "
172.30.108.14 was found in my_devices_list

>>>
• Use a membership operator in the if or elif expression
>>> "domain" in this_is_a_dictionary
True
>>> if "domain" in this_is_a_dictionary :
print "domain is " + this_is_a_dictionary["domain"]
else:
print "domain was not found in my_devices_list "
domain is jnpr.net
PYTHON BUILDING BLOCKS
• Module:
• A file with Python code. A python file.
• The file name is the module name with the suffix .py
appended (module.py).
• A module can define functions, classes, variables ...
• Package: several python modules all together in a
directory, accompanied with a file named __init__.py.
The file __init__.py can be empty.
• Function:
• A function returns a value. Call a function passing
arguments.
• There are many built-in functions. You can also create your
own functions.
• A function is defined once and can be called multiple times.
• Class:
• Classes define objects.
• Call a class passing arguments. The returned value is an
object. So each instance of a class is an object.
• A class defines functions available for this object (in a class,
these functions are called methods)
• Method:
• A method is a function defined in a class.
• To call a method, we first need to create an instance of the
class. Once you have an instance of a class, you can call a
method for this object.
MODULE __builtin__
• Python has a number of functions built into it that are
always available.
• The module __builtins__ contains built-in functions
which are automatically available. You don’t have to
import this module. You don’t have to import these
built-in functions.
MODULE __builtin__
• Some classes of the module __builtin__
• Str (methods upper, lower, join, split, splitlines, strip, …)
• Int
• List (methods append, count, index, insert, pop, remove,
sort …)
• File (methods: open, close, read, readline, readlines, write,
…)
• Some functions of the module __builtin__
• bin
• hex
• dir
• range
• open
• raw_input
MODULES FOR NETWORK ENGINEERS
• Python allows you to import modules to reuse code.
• Good programmers write good code; great programmers
reuse/steal code 
• Importing a module is done without using the .py extension
• Anyone can create modules for private uses or to share
with community
• Some very nice Python modules for network engineers:
• netaddr: a Python library for representing and manipulating
network addresses
• re: regular expressions
• requests: rest api manipulation
• jinja2: generate documents based on templates
• Yaml: “users to programs” communication (to define variables)
• PyEZ: Python library to interact with Junos devices
HOW PYTHON FINDS ITS MODULES
• Python looks for its modules and packages in $PYTHONPATH.
• To find out what is included in $PYTHONPATH, run the following code in python
>>> import sys
>>> type(sys)
<type 'module'>
>>> type(sys.path)
<type 'list'>
>>> pprint (sys.path)
['',
'/usr/lib/python2.7',
'/usr/lib/python2.7/plat-x86_64-linux-gnu',
'/usr/lib/python2.7/lib-tk',
'/usr/lib/python2.7/lib-old',
'/usr/lib/python2.7/lib-dynload',
'/usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages',
'/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages']
>>> sys.path[6]
'/usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages'
• sys.path is a list so you can use sys.path.append or sys.path.insert to add

more directories to $PYTHONPATH
MANIPULATE IP ADDRESSES
WITH PYTHON
PYTHON NETADDR PACKAGE
• There are many Python modules to manipulate IP
addresses: ipaddr (google contribution), ipaddress (easy
but requires python 3), IPy, netaddr, …
• netaddr is a Python package to manipulate IP addresses
and subnets.
• IPAddress is a class in module netaddr.ip. An IPAddress instance
is an individual IPv4 or IPv6 address object (without net mask)
• IPNetwork is a class in module netaddr.ip. An IPNetwork
instance is an IPv4 or IPv6 network or subnet object
THE CLASS IPADDRESS
• Import the class IPAddress
>>> from netaddr import IPAddress
• Instantiate the class IPAddress

To instantiate a class, declare a variable and call the
class passing arguments. This assigns the returned
value (the newly created object) to the variable.
>>> ip=IPAddress('192.0.2.1')
>>> type(ip)
<class 'netaddr.ip.IPAddress'>
>>> ip
IPAddress('192.0.2.1')
>>> print ip
192.0.2.1
• Then you can easily play with the created objects using
methods and properties.
THE CLASS IPADDRESS
• Use dir() to check if the class IPAddress and its instance the
variable ip are the current scope
• Use dir (IPAddress) to list the available methods and properties
with this class.
• Use help (IPAddress) to get help with this class.
• To get help about a method or property of this class, use help
(IPAddress.method) or help (IPAddress.property).
>>> dir()
>>> dir(IPAddress)
>>> help(IPAddress)
>>> help (IPAddress.version)

Help on property:
the IP protocol version represented by this IP object.

THE CLASS IPADDRESS
• Some methods and properties:
>>> ip
>>> ip.version
4
>>> ip.is_private()
False
>>> ip.is_unicast()
True
>>> ip.is_multicast()
False
>>> ip.bits()
'11000000.00000000.00000010.00000001‘
>>>
>>> ip
>>> ip+1
>>> ip+255
THE CLASS IPADDRESS
• Change the type to string. Use the class str from the
module __builtin__
>>> ip
>>> my_ip_in_string=str(ip)
>>> my_ip_in_string
'192.0.2.1'
>>> type (my_ip_in_string)
<type 'str'>
LAB 7 - THE CLASS IPNEWORK
• The class IPNetwork is define in the package
netaddr.ip
• Each instance of the class IPNetwork is an object (a
subnet)
• Once you have created an instance of the class
IPNetwork, you can use the methods defined in the
class IPNetwork with this subnet.
• The method “next” returns the adjacent subnet succeeding
the ÌPNetwork` object.
• the method “previous” returns the adjacent subnet
preceding the ÌPNetwork` object.
• Import the class IPNetwork
>>> from netaddr import IPNetwork
• Instantiate the class IPNetwork

To instantiate a class, declare a variable and call the
class passing arguments. This assigns the returned
value (the newly created object) to the variable.
>>> net=IPNetwork('192.0.2.0/24')
>>> type(net)
<class 'netaddr.ip.IPNetwork'>
>>> net
IPNetwork('192.0.2.0/24')
>>> print net
192.0.2.0/24
>>> net[0]
>>> net[-1]
IPAddress('192.0.2.255')
>>> print net[-1]
192.0.2.255
• Use dir() to check if the class IPNetwork and its instance
the variable net are the current scope
• Use dir(IPNetwork), help(IPNetwork), or
help(IPNetwork.method) to learn more about the class.
>>> dir()
>>> dir(IPNetwork)
>>> help(IPNetwork)
>>> help (IPNetwork.broadcast)

Help on property:
The broadcast address of this ÌPNetwork` object

LAB 7 - THE CLASS IPNETWORK
• Some properties: • Some methods:

>>> net.version >>> net.is_unicast()
4 True
>>> net.netmask >>> net.is_private()
IPAddress('255.255.255.0') False
>>> net.hostmask >>> net.is_reserved()
IPAddress('0.0.0.255') False
>>> net.network >>> net.next()
IPAddress('192.0.2.0') IPNetwork('192.0.3.0/24')
>>> net.broadcast >>> net.previous()
IPAddress('192.0.2.255') IPNetwork('192.0.1.0/24')
>>> net.size
256
>>> net.prefixlen
24
LAB 7 – MANIPULATE IP ADDRESSES
• Test if an IP address belongs to a subnet. Use the
membership operator (in, not in)
>>> from netaddr import IPNetwork, IPAddress
>>> net=IPNetwork('192.0.2.0/24')
>>> ip=IPAddress('192.0.2.1')
>>> if ip in net:
print str(ip) + " is in "+ str (net)
else:
print str(ip) + " is not in "+ str (net)
192.0.2.1 is in 192.0.2.0/24
LAB 7 - MANIPULATE IP ADDRESSES
• Generates the IP addresses for a subnet

>>> net=IPNetwork('192.0.2.0/29')
>>> for ip in net:
print ip
192.0.2.0
192.0.2.1
192.0.2.2
192.0.2.3
192.0.2.4
192.0.2.5
192.0.2.6
192.0.2.7
LAB 7 - MANIPULATE IP ADDRESSES
• Generates the IP addresses that can be assigned to
hosts within a subnet. The method iter_hosts provides
all the IP addresses that can be assigned to hosts
within a subnet: for IPv4, the network and broadcast
addresses are always excluded.
>>> net=IPNetwork('192.0.2.0/29')
>>> help(net.iter_hosts)
>>> for ip in net.iter_hosts():
print ip
192.0.2.1
192.0.2.2
192.0.2.3
192.0.2.4
192.0.2.5
192.0.2.6
MANIPULATE FILES
WITH PYTHON
LAB 8 - OPEN A FILE
 Use the built-in function open in module __builtin__

 Read mode is the default mode. The other modes are
write and append.
 With read mode, the file pointer is placed at the beginning
of the file.
 Open the file list_of_ip.txt with read mode
>>> help(open)
>>> f=open("python_basics/list_of_ip.txt", "r")
>>> f
<open file 'python_basics/list_of_ip.txt', mode 'r' at 0x000000000317AD20>
>>> type(f)
<type 'file'>
LAB 8 - GET INFORMATION ABOUT THAT FILE
 Once a file is opened, you can get various information
related to that file.
>>> f.name
'python_basics/list_of_ip.txt'
>>> f.closed
False
>>> f.mode
'r'
LAB 8 - CLOSE A FILE
 To close the file, use the method close
>>> f.close()
>>> f
<closed file 'python_basics/list_of_ip.txt', mode 'r' at 0x000000000317AD20>
>>> f.closed
True
LAB 8 - GET THE AVAILABLE METHODS
 Use the dir builtin function with the argument file to get
the list of available methods for files (f is an instance of
the class file. So you can also use f as the argument)
• Some methods are: close, write, read, readline, seek, ….
>>> dir(file)
LAB 8 - GET HELP
 Use help(f) to get help on the object f. You can also use
help(file) to get help with the class file.
>>> help(file)
>>> help(f)
 To get help on a method the class file, use help(file.method)

or help(f.method).
• Example with the method write:
>>> help(f.write)
Help on built-in function write:
write(...)
write(str) -> None. Write string str to file.
Note that due to buffering, flush() or close() may be needed before

the file on disk reflects the data written.
>>>
LAB 8 - READ A FILE
 The method read reads an open file and returns a string.
 If there is no argument, read until EOF is reached.
>>> f=open("python_basics/list_of_ip.txt","r")
>>> f
<open file 'python_basics/list_of_ip.txt', mode 'r' at 0x000000000317AE40>
>>> help(f.read)
>>> s=f.read()
>>> type(s)
<type 'str'>
>>> s
'172.30.179.101\n172.30.179.102\n172.30.179.103\n172.30.179.104\n172.30.179.105\n'
>>> print s
172.30.179.101
172.30.179.102
172.30.179.103
172.30.179.104
172.30.179.105
>>> f.close()
LAB 8 - WRITE CONTENT ON A FILE
 To open a file with write mode, use "w".
• If the file doesn’t exist, python will create it.
• If the file already exists, python will overwrite its content.
 To open a file with append mode, use "a".
• The file pointer is at the end of the file if the file exists. That is,
the file is in the append mode. You can write content without
overwriting the file content.
• If the file does not exist, it creates a new file for writing.
>>> f=open("python_basics/list_of_ip.txt","a")
>>> f
<open file 'python_basics/list_of_ip.txt', mode 'a' at 0x000000000317AD20>
>>> help(f.write)
>>> f.write("172.30.179.106\n")
>>> f.write("172.30.179.107\n")
>>> f.close()
LAB 8 - TRANSFORM IT INTO A LIST
 The class str defines the method splitlines.
 This method returns a list of strings.
 Each line of the string is an item of the list.
>>> f=open("list_of_ip.txt","r")
>>> s=f.read()
>>> s
'172.30.179.101\n172.30.179.102\n172.30.179.103\n172.30.179.104\n172.30.179.105\n172.30.1
79.106\n172.30.179.107\n'
>>> help(s.splitlines)
>>> list_ip=s.splitlines()
>>> type(list_ip)
<type 'list'>
>>> list_ip
['172.30.179.101', '172.30.179.102', '172.30.179.103', '172.30.179.104', '172.30.179.105'
'172.30.179.106', '172.30.179.107']
>>> list_ip[1]
'172.30.179.102'
>>> f.close()
LAB 8 - POINTER POSITION
 When you read data from a file with methods read, readline,
readlines, … this moves the position of pointer within the file.
 You can use the method seek to move the position of the
read/write pointer within the file. This method doesn't return any
value. Seek(0) places the file pointer at the beginning of the file.
Use help (file.seek) to get help about this method of the class file.
>>> f=open("python_basics/list_of_ip.txt","r") # the file pointer is at the start of the
file.
>>> s=f.read() # the method read moved the file pointer to the end of the file.
>>> s
'172.30.179.101\n172.30.179.102\n172.30.179.103\n172.30.179.104\n172.30.179.105\n172.30.179.1
06\n172.30.179.107\n'
>>> s1=f.read() # s1 is an empty string (the file pointer was at the end of the file)
>>> s1
'‘
>>> help(f.seek)
>>> f.seek(0)
>>> s1=f.read()
>>> s1
'172.30.179.101\n172.30.179.102\n172.30.179.103\n172.30.179.104\n172.30.179.105\n172.30.179.1
06\n172.30.179.107\n'
LAB 8 - POINTER POSITION
 The method tell returns the current position of the file
read/write pointer within the file.
 The method readline reads a line from a file and returns a
string. It returns an empty string at EOF. it moves the
position of pointer within the file to the next line.
>>> help(f.tell)
>>> f.tell()
0
>>> help(f.readline)
>>> f.readline()
'172.30.179.101\n'
>>> f.tell()
15
>>> f.readline()
'172.30.179.102\n'
>>> f.tell()
30
LAB 8 - TRANSFORM A FILE INTO A LIST
 The method readlines calls readline repeatedly and

returns a list of the lines
>>> f.readlines()
['172.30.179.101\n', '172.30.179.102\n', '172.30.179.103\n', '172.30.179.104\n',
'172.30.179.105\n', '172.30.179.106\n', '172.30.179.107\n']
LAB 8 - USE THE “WITH” KEYWORD
 It is good practice to use the "with" keyword when dealing
with file objects. This has the advantage that the file is
properly closed automatically (so no need to use the
method close) even if an exception is raised on the way
>>> with open ("list_of_ip.txt", "a") as f:
f.write("172.30.179.108\n")
f.write("172.30.179.109\n")
>>> f.closed
True
>>>
USE TEMPLATES WITH PYTHON
JINJA2 PACKAGE
 Jinja2 is a Python package used to generate

documents based on templates.
 There are other templating engines for Python: jinja2
is simple, rich, stable and widely used.
 Jinja2 files use a .j2 file extension
 Variables are marked in the template
• use a {{ variable-name }} syntax.
 Supports some control structures (if and for).
• use a {% ... %} syntax.
 We will use Jinja2 to handle junos templates
LAB 9 - JINJA2
>>> # import the class Template from module jinja2.environment
>>> from jinja2 import Template
>>>
>>> # template is an instance of the class Template.
>>> template=Template("set system host-name {{hostname}}")
>>> type (template)
<class 'jinja2.environment.Template'>
>>>
>>> # render is a method from class Template
>>> print template.render(hostname="EX_RACK3_RAW12")
set system hostname EX_RACK3_RAW12
>>>
>>> # template2 is another instance of class Template
>>> template2=Template("set vlan {{vlanname}} vlan-id {{vlanid}}")
>>> print (template2.render(vlanname="v10",vlanid="10"))
set vlan v10 vlan-id 10
LAB 9 - JINJA2
Lets use this jinja2 file in a python program
More jinja2_basics/template_int_vlan.j2
set interfaces {{ interface }} unit 0 family ethernet-switching port-mode access vlan
members {{ vlan_name }}
>>> from jinja2 import Template # import the class Template from module jinja2.environment
>>> f=open("jinja2_basics/template_int_vlan.j2") # template_int_vlan.j2 is a jinja2 file
>>> s=f.read() # s is a string with the content of the file template_interf_and_vlan.j2
>>> type(s)
<type 'str'>
>>> print s
set interfaces {{ interface }} unit 0 family ethernet-switching port-mode access vlan
members {{ vlan_name }}
>>> template=Template(s) # template is an instance of the class Template.
>>> print template.render(interface="ge-0/0/2", vlan_name="v14")
set interfaces ge-0/0/2 unit 0 family ethernet-switching port-mode access vlan members v14
>>> print template.render(interface="ge-0/0/3", vlan_name="v14")
>>>
>>> f.close() # close the file
LAB 9 - JINJA2
Lets use a for loop in the jinja2 template
more jinja2_basics/template_int_vlan_2.j2
{%- for interface in interfaces_list %}
set interfaces {{ interface }} unit 0 family ethernet-switching port-mode access vlan members {{
vlan_name }}
{%- endfor %}
>>> from jinja2 import Template # import the class Template from module jinja2.environment
>>> s=open("jinja2_basics/template_int_vlan_2.j2").read()
>>> print s
{%- for interface in interfaces_list %}
set interfaces {{ interface }} unit 0 family ethernet-switching port-mode access vlan members
{{ vlan_name }}
{%- endfor %}
>>> template=Template(s)
>>> print template.render(interfaces_list=["ge-0/0/4", "ge-0/0/5", "ge-0/0/6"], vlan_name="v14")
>>>
DEFINE PYTHON LISTS AND
DICTIONARIES USING YAML FILES
YAML
YAML stands for "Yaml Ain't Markup Language"
Yaml is human-readable language.
• Less markup than XML.
• A superset of JSON.
Used for “users to programs” communication
• For users to read/change data.
• Used to communicate with program.
• Designed to translate to structures which are common to
various languages (cross language: Python, Perl, Ruby, etc).
• Used to define variables value.
YAML SYNTAX
Yaml files use a .yaml or .yml extension
Yaml documents begin with three dashes ---
Comments begin with #
Strings are unquoted
Indentation with one or more spaces
• never with tabulations
Lists: one member per line.
• Hyphen + space for each item.
Keys are separated from values by a colon + space.
YAML SYNTAX FOR A LIST
device_list.yml is a yaml file.
• This is a YAML list
• There is one item per line
• Hyphen + space for each new item
more yaml_basics/device_list.yml
---
#IPs of the devices in the lab environment
- 172.30.179.101
- 172.30.179.102
- 172.30.179.103
- 172.30.179.104
- 172.30.179.105
TRANSFORM A YAML FILE INTO A
PYTHON STRUCTURE
 Open a yaml file
>>> f=open('yaml_basics/device_list.yml')
>>> f
<open file 'yaml_basics/device_list.yml', mode 'r' at 0x00000000044468A0>
>>> type (f)
<type 'file'>
 Read the file and return a string

>>> s=f.read()
>>> type (s)
<type 'str'>
>>> print s
---
#IPs of devices in the lab environment
- 172.30.179.101
- 172.30.179.102
- 172.30.179.103
- 172.30.179.104
- 172.30.179.105
TRANSFORM A YAML FILE INTO A
PYTHON STRUCTURE
 Import the yaml package
>>> import yaml
 Use the load function to read a string and produce the

corresponding Python structure
>>> my_vars=yaml.load (s)
 my_var is a Python list ! With the content of the yaml file.

>>> my_vars
['172.30.179.101', '172.30.179.102', '172.30.179.103',
'172.30.179.104', '172.30.179.105']
>>> type(my_vars)
<type 'list'>
YAML SYNTAX FOR A DICTIONARY
 this_is_a_dictionary.yml is a yaml file.
• This is a YAML dictionary
• Keys are separated from values by a colon + space.
• There are 2 keys (interfaces and vlan_name)
• The value for the first key is a list
more yaml_basics/this_is_a_dictionary.yml
---
interfaces:
- ge-0/0/9
- ge-0/0/10
- ge-0/0/16
- ge-0/0/18
vlan_name: v14
CREATE A PYTHON DICTIONNARY WITH YAML
>>> import yaml
>>> s=open('this_is_a_dictionary.yml').read()
>>> print s
---
interfaces:
- ge-0/0/9
- ge-0/0/10
- ge-0/0/16
- ge-0/0/18
vlan_name: v14
>>> my_vars=yaml.load (s)
>>> type(my_vars)
<type 'dict'>
>>> pprint (my_vars)
{'interfaces': ['ge-0/0/9', 'ge-0/0/10', 'ge-0/0/16', 'ge-0/0/18'],
'vlan_name': 'v14'}
>>> my_vars['interfaces']
['ge-0/0/9', 'ge-0/0/10', 'ge-0/0/16', 'ge-0/0/18']
>>> my_vars['vlan_name']
'v14'
CREATE JUNOS CONFIGURATION FILES
WITH JINJA2 AND YAML
JINJA2 AND YAML
 Lets use a jinja2 template and a yaml file to build the initial junos
configuration files we can use with a ZTP setup to configure new
devices (build phase).
 We need to provide to each new device (factory default configuration)
at least the following:
• -a root password (otherwise we can not commit the conf).
• -a management ip @ and subnet, and a route (to be able to reach remotely the new
device).
• -allow ssh connection (in case we want to ssh it).
• -enable netconf over ssh (to be able then to use PyEZ in the run and audit phases).
• -an hostname.
 Only the hostname and the management ip @ are unique per device.
• So only these 2 details are define as variables in the jinja2 template.
• The yaml file define their values for each device.
LAB 10 - JINJA2 AND YAML
 configuration_builder/variables_build.yml is a yaml file.
• This is a yaml list. With 3 items. Each item is a device.
• Each item of the list is a dictionary with the device hostname and
management ip @.
• It is extremely easy to add other devices.
• You can use another yaml structure (i.e instead of a list of dictionaries) but
in that case you’ll need to parse it differently from the jinja2 and python
files.
pytraining@py-automation-master:~$ more configuration_builder/variables_build.yml
 configuration_builder/template_build.j2 is a jinja2 template.
• this is the template to build the initial junos configuration file.
• It uses the variables defined in the yaml file.
pytraining@py-automation-master:~$ more configuration_builder/template_build.j2
 configuration_builder/configuration_builder.py is a python script.
• It uses the jinja2 template and the yaml file to create the initial junos
configuration file for each device defined in the yaml file.
• You can use these files with a ZTP setup to configure automatically new devices
(build phase).
pytraining@py-automation-master:~$ more configuration_builder/configuration_builder.py
 Use the python to generate the junos configuration file.
pytraining@py-automation-master:~$ python configuration_builder/configuration_builder.py
Start configuration building
generate config file for device ex4300-4 : conf_file_build_phase_ex4300-4.conf
done
pytraining@py-automation-master:~$ ls | grep build

conf_file_build_phase_ex4300-10.conf
pytraining@py-automation-master:~$ more conf_file_build_phase_ex4300-10.conf

JUNOS AUTOMATION
WITH PYTHON PYEZ LIBRARY
PYEZ AGENDA
• PYEZ INTRODUCTION
• CONNECT TO DEVICES
• RETRIEVE FACTS
• CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT
• NETWORK AUDIT
• SOFTWARE UPGRADE AND ASSOCIATED FUNCTIONS
• EXCEPTIONS HANDLING
PYEZ INTRODUCTION
PYEZ
• Allows to manage Junos devices
• Not tied to Junos version or to Junos product.
• A Juniper package for Python
• A package is a collection of Python modules
• Provides classes and methods
• A Python framework
• Provides code that is useful for larger applications.
• Used by Ansible
• Current PyEZ version in 1.2.3
• Has been tested with Python 2.6 and 2.7.
• Not supported with Python 3.x due to dependencies with
other Python modules such as ncclient that do not yet
support Python 3.x
PYEZ
• Learning PyEZ is easy
• No need to be a programmer
• It’s also for network engineers
• PyEZ abstracts unnecessary details and complexity
allowing us to focus on programmatically interfacing
with Junos.
• A number of low level details are handled by PyEZ such as
the ssh session establishment. no need to worry about
these details. Just focus on programmatically interfacing
with Junos.
PYEZ ARCHITECTURE
├── jnpr
└── package junos
├── module device
│ └── class Device
│ ├── method open
│ ├── property facts
│ └── […]
├── module exception
| ├── class ConnectAuthError
│ ├── class ConnectUnknownHostError
│ └── […]
├── package utils
│ ├── module config
│ │ └── class Config
│ | ├── method load
│ | ├── method commit
| | └── […]
│ └── module sw
│ └── class SW
│ ├── method install
│ ├── method reboot
| └── […]
└── package op
├── LLDP
├── VLAN
└── […]
PyEZ ARCHITECTURE
• package jnpr.junos
• module device (jnpr.junos.device module)
• module exception (jnpr.junos.exception module)
• package utils (jnpr.junos.utils package)
• package op (jnpr.junos.op package)
• module device (device.py)
• Defines class Device. The class Device provides methods:
• For connecting to devices
• For retrieving facts (such as software version, serial number, …) from the
devices
• module exception (exception.py)

• Handles errors such as when a device is not reachable or if
the username/password is not valid.
PyEZ ARCHITECTURE
• package jnpr.junos.utils
• Module config (config.py): handles configuration
management
• module sw (sw.py): handles software upgrade and
associated functions
• package Jnpr.junos.op :
• PyEZ extracts data from junos common operational
commands and presents them in a native Python syntax
• Modules for isis, lldp, vlan, arp, ....
• Easily extensible
NETCONF
NETCONF PROTOCOL
• PyEZ uses Netconf. You need to enable Netconf on your
devices.
• Netconf is a Protocol to manipulate configuration of
network devices
• IETF standard (RFCs)
• Implemented by most vendors
• TCP transport, SSH encryption, XML encoding
• Uses RPC (remote procedure call) over SSH
• Client/server communication (the server is the network device)
• Server default port must be 830 and should be configurable
(RFC 6242)
NETCONF PROTOCOL
 To enable the NETCONF service on the
default port (830) on your devices
lab@ex4200-1# set system services netconf ssh
lab@ex4200-1# commit
 In order to enable NETCONF using another

port, use this junos command
lab@ex4200-1# set system services netconf ssh port port-number
 You might want to create another user on your

devices for PyEZ (to trace PyEZ activities) (don’t
do it in this training).
CONNECT TO DEVICES,
RETRIEVE FACTS
WITH PYEZ
CONNECT TO DEVICES AND RETRIEVE FACTS
 Let me execute this python program (print_facts.py)
from the server. It prints the hostname and junos
version for a list of devices defined into the program :
python facts/print_facts.py
the device ex4200-1 is a EX4200-24T running 12.2R2.4
 It also write the output here

more my_devices_inventory.txt
IDENTIFY YOUR JUNOS DEVICE
• login: pytraining-N, password: Poclab123
N Device Address N Device Address

1 ex4200-1 172.30.179.101 7 ex4200-7 172.30.179.107
2 ex4200-2 172.30.179.102 8 ex4200-8 172.30.179.108
3 ex4200-3 172.30.179.103 9 ex4200-9 172.30.179.109
4 ex4200-4 172.30.179.104 10 ex4200-10 172.30.179.110
5 ex4200-5 172.30.179.105 11 ex4200-11 172.30.179.111
6 ex4200-6 172.30.179.106 12 ex4200-12 172.30.179.112
13 ex4200-13 172.30.179.113
LAB 11 - IMPORT THE CLASS DEVICE
• Import the class Device from the package PyEZ.

• The class Device is defined in the module device
(device.py) in the package jnpr.junos.
• The class Device provides methods:
• For connecting to devices
• For retrieving facts (such as software version, serial
number, …) from the devices
>>> from jnpr.junos import Device
# Verify that the Device class has been loaded
>>> dir()
LAB 11 - INSTANTIATE THE CLASS DEVICE
 Instantiate the class Device by declaring a variable
(a_device) and calling the class Device passing
arguments (your device credentials). This assigns the
returned value (the newly created object) to the variable
a_device. Example for ex4200-13
>>> a_device=Device (host="172.30.179.113", user="pytraining", password="Poclab123")
The object a_device is an instance of the class

Device
>>> type (a_device)
<class 'jnpr.junos.device.Device'>
>>> a_device
Device(172.30.179.113)
LAB 11 - LIST AVAILABLE METHODS AND
PROPERTIES
List the available methods and properties for the
object a_device.
• Some methods are open, close, …
• Some properties are facts, …
>>> dir(Device)
LAB 11 - GET HELP WITH THE CLASS DEVICE
Get help on the object a_device

>>> help(Device)
Get help on a method or property of the class

Device (example with the method close)
>>> help(Device.close)
LAB 11 – METHODS AND PROPERTIES
IN THE CLASS DEVICE
 Use the method open to connect to the device
>>> a_device.open()
Device(172.30.179.113)
 To get the properties of the object a_device

>>> a_device.user
'pytraining'
>>> a_device.connected #check if the connection with your switch is still open
True
 Use the method close the connection to the device

>>> a_device.close()
>>> a_device.connected
False
LAB 11 – METHODS AND PROPERTIES IN
THE CLASS DEVICE
 Some methods from the class Device :
 Open: open a connection to the device
 Close: close the connection
 facts_refresh: Reload the facts from the device into the
property `facts`
 Cli: execute the cli command and return the text output
(You should not use this method for general automation
purposes)
>>> a_device.connected
True
>>> print a_device.cli ("show interfaces terse ge-0/0/1")
Interface Admin Link Proto Local Remote
ge-0/0/1 up down
 Some properties are: connected, user, facts, …

LAB 12 - FACTS
 By default, device facts (such as software-version,

serial-number, etc.) are retrieved when the connection
is established.
 Facts is a property defined in the class Device.
This is a dictionary. This command returns the
facts.
>>> from jnpr.junos import Device
>>> a_device.open()
True
>>> type(a_device.facts)
<type 'dict'>
LAB 12 - FACTS
 Pretty print the facts with pprint
>>> pp (a_device.facts)
{'2RE': False,
'HOME': '/var/home/remote',
'RE0': {'last_reboot_reason': '0x2:watchdog ',
'mastership_state': 'master',
'model': 'EX4200-24T, 8 POE',
'status': 'OK',
'up_time': '4 days, 3 minutes, 45 seconds'},
'domain': 'poc-nl.jnpr.net',
'fqdn': 'ex4200-1.poc-nl.jnpr.net',
'hostname': 'ex4200-1',
'ifd_style': 'SWITCH',
'master': 'RE0',
'model': 'EX4200-24T',
'personality': 'SWITCH',
'serialnumber': 'BM0210118154',
'switch_style': 'VLAN',
'vc_capable': True,
'vc_mode': 'Enabled',
'version': '12.2R2.4',
'version_RE0': '12.2R2.4',
'version_info': junos.version_info(major=(12, 2), type=R, minor=2, build=4)}
LAB 12 - FACTS
 Select some device facts
>>> a_device.facts["hostname"]
'ex4200-1'
>>> a_device.facts["version"]
'12.2R2.4'
>>> a_device.facts["version"]=="14.1R1.2"
False
LAB 12 – REVIEW THE FACTS PROGRAM
 The program prints the hostname and junos version
for a list of devices defined in the program :
python facts/print_facts.py
 Have a look at output file.

more my_devices_inventory.txt
 Have a look at the program.

more facts/print_facts.py
LAB 12 – EXECUTE THIS PYTHON PROGRAM
 Execute this python program (test_junos_version)
from the server. It prompts you for a device
credentials and then prints its junos version.
Example for ex4200-1:
python facts/test_junos_version.py
ip address of the device:172.30.179.101
login :pytraining
passwd:Poclab123
junos version is 12.2R2.4
 We are using the built-in function raw_input to

prompt you for a device credentials and read the
string from standard input.
 Have a look at the program
more facts/test_junos_version.py
LAB 12 – EXECUTE THIS PYTHON PROGRAM
 Execute this python program (test_junos_version_2.py)
from the server. It prints the hostname and junos version of
a device. The device credentials are passed in arguments.
Example for ex4200-1:
python facts/test_junos_version_2.py 172.30.179.101 pytraining Poclab123
the device ex4200-1 runs 12.2R2.4
 Have a look at the program

 We used the module sys
 sys.argv is the list of arguments passed to the Python program.
 sys.argv[0] is the name of the program
 sys.argv[1] is the first argument you passed to the program.
more facts/test_junos_version_2.py
CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT
WITH PYEZ
IMPORT THE CLASS CONFIG
 PyEZ provides us the necessary pieces of code to

automate configuration deployment
 Import the class Config from the module config.py in the
utils package
>>>from jnpr.junos.utils.config import Config
 call the dir function without argument to get the list of the
names defined in the current scope. The class Config is
now in the current scope.
>>>dir()
METHODS DEFINED IN THE CLASS CONFIG
 List the available methods for the class Config

>>> dir(Config)
 Some methods for the class Config:

• Load: apply changes into the candidate conf
• Pdiff: display conf changes between active and candidate
• Commit-check
• Commit: commit a candidate conf
• Rollback
• Lock: lock the candidate config
• Unlock: unlock the candidate config
GET HELP WITH THE CLASS CONFIG
Get help on the class Config
>>> help(Config)
Get help on the Config’s methods.

• Example with method lock
>>> help(Config.lock)
INSTANTIATE THE CLASS CONFIG
Define the candidate configuration.
• Instantiate the class Config by declaring a variable (cfg) and
calling the class passing an argument (a_device).
• This assigns the returned value (the newly created object) to
the variable cfg.
• cfg is the candidate configuration for the device a_device
True
>>> cfg = Config(a_device)
>>> type (cfg)
<class 'jnpr.junos.utils.config.Config'>
CHANGE THE CANDIDATE CONFIGURATION
 There are different ways to load changes to the candidate
configuration. Lets see some of them here:
>>> cfg.load("set interfaces ge-0/0/23 description PyEZ", format='set')
<Element load-configuration-results at 0x7f77c8431ef0>
>>> #conf is a variable. It’s a string.

>>> conf='''set vlans vlan-927 vlan-id 927
set vlans vlan-927 description "created with python"'''
>>> print conf
set vlans vlan-927 vlan-id 927
set vlans vlan-927 description "created with python"
>>> cfg.load(conf, format='set')
<Element load-configuration-results at 0x7f77c8431560>
>>> # confjunos.conf is a file with junos commands with the format set that define vlan 911
>>> cfg.load(path="configuration_management/confjunos.conf", format='set')
<Element load-configuration-results at 0x7f77c84317a0>
COMPARE CONFIGURATIONS
 Compare the candidate configuration and the active
configuration (or a provided rollback) with the method
pdiff. Examples:
>>> cfg.pdiff()
[edit interfaces]
+ ge-0/0/23 {
+ description PyEZ;
+ }
[edit vlans]
+ vlan-911 {
+ description "created with python";
+ vlan-id 911;
+ }
+ vlan-927 {
+ description "created with python";
+ vlan-id 927;
+ }
>>> cfg.pdiff(rb_id=1)
ROLLBACK THE CANDIDATE CONFIGURATION
 Rollback the candidate configuration to either the last

active or a specific rollback number with the method
rollback. Examples:
>>> cfg.rollback()
>>> cfg.rollback(rb_id=1)
Commit a candidate configuration with the method

commit. Some examples:
>>> cfg.commit()
>>> cfg.commit(confirm=2)
>>> cfg.commit(comment="from pyez")
>>> print (a_device.cli ("show system commit"))
LAB 13 – CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT
 Use PyEZ to create vlans 222, 223, 224 on your

device. If you need help, have a look to the next
slide.
LAB 13 – CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT
>>> from jnpr.junos import Device #import the class Device
>>> from jnpr.junos.utils.config import Config #import the class Config
>>>
>>> # Instantiate the class Device
>>> # lets use the parameter gather_facts=False with the method open
>>> a_device.open(gather_facts=False)
>>>
>>> # instantiate the class Config. Cfg is the candidate configuration for the device a_device
>>> cfg = Config(a_device)
>>>
>>> vlans='''set vlans vlan-222 vlan-id 222
set vlans vlan-224 vlan-id 224'''
>>> print vlans
>>>
>>> cfg.load(vlans, format='set') # load change on the candidate configuration
>>> cfg.pdiff() # print the diff between the current candidate and the active configuration
>>> cfg.commit() # commit the candidate configuration
WITH PYEZ, YAML AND JINJA2
MERGE A YAML FILE AND A JINJA2 FILE
 We discussed previously the benefits of Yaml and Jinja2
 Execute this Python program (conf_int_with_vlan.py)
python configuration_management/conf_int_with_vlan.py
 It prompts you for a device ip@. It connects to it.

 It configures a list of interfaces with a given vlan.
 There is no junos command in the Python code. It uses a
junos template defined in the
"configuration_management/template_int_vlan.j2" file.
 There is no variable definition in the Python program. It uses
the "configration_management/list_int_vlan.yml" yaml file to
get the vlan details and the list of interfaces.
 It merges the yaml file and jinja2 file and applies the change
to the candidate configuration.
 It then prints the change.
 Have a look at the yaml file (list_int_vlan.yml).

 It has the variables definition
more configuration_management/list_int_vlan.yml
---
host_ports:
- ge-0/0/9
- ge-0/0/10
- ge-0/0/16
- ge-0/0/18
vlan:
name: v14
vlan_id: 14
 View the jinja2 file (template_int_vlan.j2).
 It has the junos template
 We can use {{vlan.name }} or {{ vlan['name'] }}. You can use a dot (.) in
addition to the standard Python syntax ([]): Both are valid and do the same
thing
pytraining@py-automation-master:~$ more configuration_management/template_int_vlan.j2
set vlans {{ vlan['name'] }} vlan-id {{ vlan['vlan_id'] }}
{%- for iface in host_ports %}
set interfaces {{ iface }} unit 0 family ethernet-switching port-mode access vlan
members {{ vlan['name'] }}
{%- endfor %}
 This is the Python program
(configuration_management/conf_int_with_vlan.py).
from jnpr.junos import Device
from jnpr.junos.utils.config import Config
import yaml
ip=raw_input("ip address of the device:")
a_device=Device (host=ip, user="pytraining", password="Poclab123")
a_device.open()
# cfg is the candidate configuration for a_device
cfg = Config(a_device)
# rollback any pending or uncommitted change
cfg.rollback()
# s is a string with the content of the file configuration_management/list_int_vlan.yml
s=open('configuration_management/list_int_vlan.yml').read()
# yaml.load transforms a string into a structure that python can use myvars is a python dictionary
myvars=yaml.load(s)
# cfg.load merges the junos template (Jinja2) and the variables dictionary (YAML) and updates the
candidate configuration
cfg.load(template_path='configuration_management/template_int_vlan.j2', template_vars=myvars,
format='set')
cfg.pdiff()
#cfg.commit()
cfg.rollback()
LAB 14 –USE PYEZ AND JINJA2 AND YAML
TO ENABLE LLDP
 Use PyEZ with a .j2 file and a .yml file to enable lldp
on a list of several interfaces.
 If you need help, please have a look at the next slides.
LAB 14 – JINJA2 AND YAML – ENABLE LLDP
 Use a yaml file for the variables definition. Here’s an

example (interfaces.yml)
more configuration_management/interfaces.yml
---
interfaces:
- ge-0/0/1
- ge-0/0/2
- ge-0/0/3
 Use a jinja2 file with the junos template to enable LLDP

on some interfaces. Here’s an example
(template_lldp.j2)
more configuration_management/template_lldp.j2
{%- for interface in interfaces %}
set protocols lldp interface {{ interface }}
{%- endfor %}
 Use a python program that merges the yaml file and jinja2 file
and applies the change to the candidate configuration of your
device
more configuration_management/enable_lldp.py
from jnpr.junos import Device # import the class Device
from jnpr.junos.utils.config import Config # import the class Config
import yaml
s=open('configuration_management/interfaces.yml').read() #s is a string
my_variables=yaml.load(s) # my_variables is a dictionary
a_device=Device (host="172.30.179.113", user="pytraining", password="Poclab123")
a_device.open()
cfg=Config(a_device) # cfg is the candidate configuration
cfg.rollback()
cfg.load(template_path='configuration_management/template_lldp.j2', template_vars=my_variables,
format='set')
cfg.pdiff()
cfg.commit()
USE AUTOMATION TO APPLY COMPLEX
CONFIGURATION CHANGES ACROSS A
LARGE NETWORK (RUN PHASE)
DEMO JINJA2 AND YAML
 Lets use PyEZ and Jinja2 and Yaml to apply a configuration change
across a list of devices.
• In this example we will configure some external bgp neighbors and all the
required other details (bgp policies, interface configurations …)
ASN 109
ge-0//0/0
192.168.0.5/31
EX-4300-9
ge-0//0/0
192.168.0.4/31 ge-0//0/1
192.168.0.1/31
ASN 110 EX-4300-10
ge-0//0/1
192.168.0.3/31 ge-0//0/0
192.168.0.0/31
ge-0//0/1 EX-4300-4
192.168.0.2/31
ASN 104
DEVICE DETAILS
Device Address
ex4300-4 172.30.179.65
ex4300-9 172.30.179.95
ex4300-10 172.30.179.96
 configuration_builder/variables.yml is a yaml file.
• It defines the variables used in a jinja2 template.
• This is a yaml list of 3 devices.
• Each item of the list is a dictionary with some details for a device.
• Very easy to add other devices
• You can use another structure (i.e instead of a list of dictionaries) but in that case
you’ll need to parse it differently from the jinja2 file.
pytraining@py-automation-master:~$ more configuration_builder/variables.yml

 configuration_builder/template.j2 is a jinja2 template.
• It defines BGP neighbors and other details. It uses the variables defined in
the yaml file.
pytraining@py-automation-master:~$ more configuration_builder/template.j2
 configuration_builder/configuration_builder_2.py is a python script.
• It uses the jinja2 template and yaml file to create a junos configuration file
for each device defined in the yaml file.
• It then use PyEZ to connect to the list of devices, and load and commit the
configuration change
pytraining@py-automation-master:~$ more configuration_builder/configuration_builder_2.py
pytraining@py-automation-master:~$ python configuration_builder/configuration_builder_2.py
Start configuration building
generate config file for device ex4300-4 : conf_file_run_phase_ex4300-4.conf
done
applying the conf to the devices ...
configuration commited on ex4300-4
done
pytraining@py-automation-master:~$ ls | grep run
conf_file_run_phase_ex4300-10.conf
pytraining@py-automation-master:~$ more conf_file_run_phase_ex4300-10.conf
 Connect on the devices and double check if everything is correct
• We will see later on in this training how to audit the network with
automation instead of manually …
pytraining@py-automation-master:~$ ssh ex4300-10
pytraining@ex4300-10> show configuration | compare rollback 1

pytraining@ex4300-10> show system commit
pytraining@ex4300-10> show interfaces descriptions
pytraining@ex4300-10> show lldp neighbors
pytraining@ex4300-10> show bgp summary
pytraining@ex4300-10> show bgp neighbor
AUDIT MANAGEMENT
WITH PYEZ
DEVICE DETAILS
• We will use these new devices for the “AUDIT
MANAGEMENT WITH PYEZ” LABS.
Device Address
ex4300-4 172.30.179.65
ex4300-9 172.30.179.95
ex4300-10 172.30.179.96
CLI, XML, RPC
 CLI is optimized for humans. CLI is not optimized for

programs (difficult to parse CLI output from a program)
 Junos supports also XML (Extensible Markup
Language) representation.
 XML is not optimized for humans (too much markup).
XML can be manipulated by programs.
CLI, XML, RPC
 When you interact with a Junos device using its command-
line interface, you actually interact with:
pytraining@ex4200-13> show version detail | match CLI
CLI release 14.1X53-D30.3 built by builder on 2015-10-02 09:52:33 UTC
 Then CLI passes the equivalent XML RPC to MGD

pytraining@ex4200-13> show version detail | match MGD
MGD release 14.1X53-D30.3 built by builder on 2015-10-02 12:38:35 UTC
 Then MGD get the data

 Then MGD returns the data to CLI in the form of an XML
document.
 Then CLI converts back into a human readable format for
display.
CLI, XML, RPC
 To display the output of a junos CLI command in XML
format, append “| display xml” option to your CLI
command.
 The “| display xml rpc” option provides you the RPC to
get an XML encoded response
 Example with LLDP
pytraining@ex4300-9> show lldp neighbors | display xml
pytraining@ex4300-9> show lldp neighbors | display xml rpc
TABLES AND VIEWS
 PyEZ (the jnpr.junos.op package) allows programmatic access to junos
data on the devices (so you can audit your network programmatically
instead of manually)
 It uses RPCs to get the data in an XML representation
 It then parses the XML response (so you don’t need to worry about this)
 It transforms the output from XML into Python data structures (tables and
views, kind of list of dictionaries) that you can easily use by Python.
• It allows the junos data to be presented using python data structures
• No need to parse XML in your Python code
• This enables "pythonic" access to junos data
 PyEZ uses YAML to create tables and views.
TABLES AND VIEWS
 jnpr/junos/op directory is in your packages directory
(/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/)
 Available for many topics (vlan information, lldp neighbors information,
isis adjacencies, route table, arp table, …)
 If the one you are looking for is missing, you can easily add your own
(bgp neighbors, ...)
TABLES AND VIEWS – EXAMPLE WITH LLDP
 Enter the JUNOS command “show lldp neighbors” on a device
(ex4300-4 or ex4300-9 or ex4300-10).
• Output is optimized for humans.
• Output is difficult to handle from a program.

Local Interface Parent Interface Chassis Id Port info System Name
ge-0/0/0 - 4c:96:14:e6:5a:40 UPLINK to ex4300-9 ex4300-10
ge-0/0/1 - 4c:96:14:e6:82:60 UPLINK to ex4300-9 ex4300-4
 Use the JUNOS command “show lldp neighbors | display xml rpc”
to know the equivalent RPC.
 So the RPC to get the lldp neighbors with an XML representation is “get-
lldp-neighbors-information”
pytraining@ex4300-9> show lldp neighbors | display xml rpc

<rpc-reply xmlns:junos="http://xml.juniper.net/junos/13.2X51/junos">
<rpc>
<get-lldp-neighbors-information>
</get-lldp-neighbors-information>
</rpc>
<cli>
<banner>{master:0}</banner>
</cli>
</rpc-reply>
 Display the output in XML
pytraining@ex4300-9> show lldp neighbors | display xml
<rpc-reply xmlns:junos="http://xml.juniper.net/junos/13.2X51/junos">
<lldp-neighbors-information junos:style="brief">
<lldp-neighbor-information>
<lldp-local-port-id>ge-0/0/0</lldp-local-port-id>
<lldp-local-parent-interface-name>-</lldp-local-parent-interface-name>
First item <lldp-remote-chassis-id-subtype>Mac address</lldp-remote-chassis-id-subtype>
<lldp-remote-chassis-id>4c:96:14:e6:5a:40</lldp-remote-chassis-id>
<lldp-remote-port-description>UPLINK to ex4300-9</lldp-remote-port-description>
<lldp-remote-system-name>ex4300-10</lldp-remote-system-name>
</lldp-neighbor-information>
<lldp-neighbor-information>
<lldp-local-port-id>ge-0/0/1</lldp-local-port-id>
<lldp-local-parent-interface-name>-</lldp-local-parent-interface-name>
Second <lldp-remote-chassis-id-subtype>Mac address</lldp-remote-chassis-id-subtype>
neighbor <lldp-remote-chassis-id>4c:96:14:e6:82:60</lldp-remote-chassis-id>
details
<lldp-remote-port-description>UPLINK to ex4300-9</lldp-remote-port-description>
<lldp-remote-system-name>ex4300-4</lldp-remote-system-name>
</lldp-neighbor-information>
</lldp-neighbors-information>
<cli>
<banner>{master:0}</banner>
</cli>
</rpc-reply>
 PyEZ uses the RPC get-lldp-neighbors-information to get the lldp neighbors in an
XML representation.
 PyEZ parses the XML response for you. No need to take care about this. It uses
the lldp Yaml file (see below) to transforms the JUNOS XML output into a structure
that can be used easily by Python (much more easy than data in XML
representation).
 PyEZ build a table (LLDPNeighborTable) (kind of list of dictionaries):
• For each <lldp-neighbor-information> in the XML response (so for each item/neighbor), PyEZ
build a LLDPNeighborView with the <lldp-local-port-id> and <lldp-remote-system-name>.
pytraining@py-automation-master:~$ more /usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/jnpr/junos/op/lldp.yml
---
LLDPNeighborTable: PyEZ uses this RPC to get the data in XML
rpc: get-lldp-neighbors-information PyEZ parses the XML response. It searches this value in the XML
item: lldp-neighbor-information tags. The XML element (defined with this tag) is an item
key: lldp-local-interface | lldp-local-port-id Each item needs to be uniquely identified. PyEZ
view: LLDPNeighborView uses this tag from the XML response for this.
For each item, PyEZ creates this view.
LLDPNeighborView:
fields: The View defines fields. We use friendly names for the fields.
local_int: lldp-local-interface | lldp-local-port-id PyEZ uses these tags to create the View.
remote_sysname: lldp-remote-system-name
LAB 15 – TABLES AND VIEWS – LLDP
• Please compare the switch output:
–show lldp neighbors | display xml
–show lldp neighbors | display xml rpc
• And the lldp Yaml file:
–more /usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/jnpr/junos/op/lldp.yml
• Please locate the following elements on both the switch output and the
yaml file:
• get-lldp-neighbors-information (this is the rpc)
• lldp-neighbor-information (this is the details for one item/neighbor)
• lldp-local-port-id
• lldp-remote-system-name
• We need a key (lldp-local-port-id) to uniquely identify each item
• The View defines 'friendly' names for the fields of the item (local_int,
remote_sysname)
TABLES AND VIEWS: DEMO WITH LLDP
 Let me execute this Python program.
• It uses the op package from PyEZ for LLDP.
python tables_and_views/lldp_neighbor_status.py
LLDP neighbors of device 172.30.179.65 (hostname is ex4300-4):

interface me0 has this neighbor: mgmt-13
interface ge-0/0/0 has this neighbor: ex4300-9


interface me0 has this neighbor: mgmt-13
 Let me execute this Python program
 It uses the op package from PyEZ for LLDP.
 It asks you for the lldp neighbor you are looking for.
 If it finds this hostname in the lldp neighbors table of a
device in the network, it prints the device name and the
interface name on which this lldp neighbor is connected.
python tables_and_views/search_an_lldp_neighbor.py
name of the neighbor you are looking for:ex4300-4
this neighbor is connected to the interface ge-0/0/1 of the device ex4300-9
this neighbor is connected to the interface ge-0/0/1 of the device ex4300-10
Done
 Import the class LLDPNeighborTable from the module
jnpr.junos.op.lldp :
>>>from jnpr.junos.op.lldp import LLDPNeighborTable
 Instantiate the class LLDPNeighborTable by declaring

a variable (lldp_neighbors) and calling the class
LLDPNeighborTable passing an argument (a_device
is a Device instance). This assigns the returned value
(the newly created object) to the variable
lldp_neighbors.
>>> lldp_neighbors=LLDPNeighborTable(a_device)
>>> type(lldp_neighbors)
<class 'jnpr.junos.factory.OpTable.LLDPNeighborTable'>
 Use the method get to retrieve the lldp information

(XML encoded) from the Device instance (a_device)
and build the LLDPNeighborTable instance
(lldp_neighbors).
 The LLDPNeighborTable instance (lldp_neighbors) is
a structure that can be used easily by Python.
>>> lldp_neighbors.get()
LLDPNeighborTable:ex4300-4: 3 items
 The LLDPNeighborTable instance (lldp_neighbors) is

a structure that can be used easily by Python.
• It becomes easy to manipulate LLDP data :
>>> lldp_neighbors[1].local_int
'ge-0/0/0'
>>> lldp_neighbors[1].remote_sysname
'ex4300-9'
>>>
>>> for lldp_neighbor in lldp_neighbors:
print (lldp_neighbor.remote_sysname)
mgmt-13
ex4300-9
ex4300-10
more tables_and_views/lldp_neighbor_status.py
from jnpr.junos.op.lldp import LLDPNeighborTable
import yaml
my_list_of_devices=open('tables_and_views/devices.yml').read()
my_list_of_switches=yaml.load (my_list_of_devices)
for host in my_list_of_switches:

switch = Device(host=host, user='pytraining', password='Poclab123')
switch.open()
print "\nLLDP neighbors of device " + host + " (hostname is " + switch.facts["hostname"]+ "):"
lldp_neighbors=LLDPNeighborTable(switch)
lldp_neighbors.get()
for neighbor in lldp_neighbors:
print "interface " + neighbor.local_int + " has this neighbor: " + neighbor.remote_sysname
TABLES AND VIEWS: ADDING NEW TABLES
AND VIEWS
• The package jnpr.junos.op doesn’t provide table and view for bgp.
• The first step is to create it. We already did it for you.
• We added the bgp.yaml to the package jnpr.junos.op
more /usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/jnpr/junos/op/bgp.yml
• The rpc is get-bgp-neighbor-information (use the junos command “show bgp
neighbor | display xml rpc”)
• Have a look to the xml response (use the junos command “show bgp
neighbor | display xml”) to fully understand the bgp.yml file.
TABLES AND VIEWS: ADDING NEW TABLES
AND VIEWS
• We also created a python module bgp.py in the package jnpr.junos.op.
• bgp.py is a "pythonifier".
• It loads the bgp.yml file and creates the classes 'BGPNeighborTable‘ and
'BGPneighborView‘.
more /usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/jnpr/junos/op/bgp.py
• All the “pythonifier” modules in the package jnpr.junos.op have the same
code (only the name change).
• So we just copied and pasted an existing one and renamed it bgp.py
LAB 16 – TABLES AND VIEWS WITH BGP
• Use PyEZ to create a script that prints BGP connection state.

• If you need help, you can review the previous example.
• the table and view definition for BGP is here:
/usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/jnpr/junos/op/bgp.yml
• If you still need help, please have a look at the next slides.
admin@EX> show bgp neighbor
admin@EX> show bgp neighbor | display xml
admin@EX> show bgp neighbor | display xml rpc
 PyEZ uses the rpc "get-bgp-neighbor-information" and

builds a BGPNeighborTable
• For each <bgp-peer> in the XML response, PyEZ builds a
BGPneighborView with the <peer-address> and other details
more /usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/jnpr/junos/op/bgp.yml
BGPNeighborTable:
rpc: get-bgp-neighbor-information
item: bgp-peer
view: BGPneighborView
key: peer-address
BGPneighborView:
fields:
neighbor: peer-address
state: peer-state
type: peer-type
flap_count: flap-count
 For each device in a device list, this program prints:
• The list of its BGP neighbors
• The status of its BGP connections
python tables_and_views/bgp_states.py
status of BGP neighbors of device 172.30.179.65 (hostname is ex4300-4):

External BGP neighbor 192.168.0.1+57665 is Established (flap count is: 0)


LAB 16 - TABLES AND VIEWS WITH BGP
more tables_and_views/bgp_states.py
from jnpr.junos.op.bgp import *
import yaml
for element in my_list_of_switches:

switch = Device(host=element, user='pytraining', password='Poclab123')
switch.open()
bgp=BGPNeighborTable (switch)
bgp.get()
print "\nswitch.facts["hostname"] + ":"
for item in bgp:
print item.type + "_" + item.neighbor + ": " + item.state + " (flaps: " + item.flap_count +")"
 We changed the previous script by adding a
conditional to filter out all Established BGP
connections.
python tables_and_views/bgp_non_established.py
172.30.179.65 (hostname ex4300-4) has these BGP neighbors with a non established connection:
test done accross all the devices and all their configured neighbors.
more tables_and_views/bgp_non_established.py
from jnpr.junos.op.bgp import *
import yaml
from datetime import datetime
for element in my_list_of_switches:

switch = Device(host=element, user='pytraining', password='Poclab123')
switch.open()
bgp=BGPNeighborTable (switch)
bgp.get()
print "\n" + element + " has these BGP neighbors with a non established connection:"
for item in bgp:
if item.state != "Established":
print item.type + " bgp session with " + item.neighbor + " is not established"
print "\ntest done accross all the devices and all their configured neighbors."
LAB 17 - OTHER TABLES AND VIEWS SCRIPTS
 There are more scripts available in the tables_and_views directory:
python tables_and_views/uplinks_and_downlinks_last_flap.py
more tables_and_views/uplinks_and_downlinks_last_flap.py
python tables_and_views/search_an_lldp_neighbor.py
more tables_and_views/search_an_lldp_neighbor.py
python tables_and_views/lldp_neighbor_status.py
more tables_and_views/lldp_neighbor_status.py
python tables_and_views/bgp_states.py
more tables_and_views/bgp_states.py
python tables_and_views/bgp_non_established.py
more tables_and_views/bgp_non_established.py
SOFTWARE UPGRADE MANAGEMENT
WITH PYEZ
 Import the class SW

• The class SW is in module jnpr.junos.utils.sw.
• Used to perform a software upgrade and associated
functions.
• Use dir() to check if the class SW is in the current scope
>>> from jnpr.junos.utils.sw import SW
>>> dir()
 Import the class SW from the module
jnpr.junos.utils.sw
 Instantiate the class SW by declaring a variable
(a_device_mgt) and calling the class SW passing an
argument (a_device). This assigns the returned value
(the newly created object) to the variable mgt.
>>> from jnpr.junos import Device # import the class Device
>>> from jnpr.junos.utils.sw import SW # import the class SW
>>> a_device.open()
Device(172.30.179.113)
>>> a_device_mgt=SW(a_device) # mgt is an instance of the class SW
>>> type(a_device_mgt)
<class 'jnpr.junos.utils.sw.SW'>
 List the available methods for the class SW
>>> dir(SW)
 Some methods of the class SW:

• Install: perform the entire software installation process
• Reboot: reboots the system for the new image to take effect
• Poweroff: shutdown the system
• Put: Secure copy (SCP) the package file to Junos device
• Pkgadd: performs the 'request system software add '
operation to install the package
• Validate: validate the package against the config
• Rollback: same as 'request software rollback'
 Get help on the class SW

>>> help(SW)
 Get help on the SW’s methods.

• Example with the method reboot
>>> help(SW.reboot)
 To reboot the device a_device in one hour, use the

method reboot with the object previously created
(a_device_mgt) and the option in_min and the
parameter 60:
>>> a_device_mgt.reboot(in_min=60)
EXCEPTIONS MANAGEMENT
WITH PYTHON PYEZ
EXCEPTIONS
 The module exceptions.py provides the classes
needed to handle errors such as an unreachable
host, a commit error, .....
 Some classes defined in this module are:
• ConnectAuthError: Generated if the user-name, password
is invalid
• CommitError: Generated in response to a commit-check or
a commit action
• ConnectUnknownHostError: Generated if the specific
hostname does not DNS resolve
• ConnectTimeoutError: Generated if the session fails to
connect to the device ip …
EXCEPTIONS HANDLING
 Example: the program exceptions_handling.py handles
exceptions as elegantly as possible.
• It uses the module sys to pass the device credentials (ip, user, pass)
in arguments to the method open of the class Device
• However if an exception is raised during the connection it prints a
customized error message for some exceptions.
python exceptions/exceptions_handling.py 172.30.179.113 wronguser wrongpassw
invalid username or password for host 172.30.179.101
python exceptions/exceptions_handling.py wronghostname pytraining Poclab123

wronghostname is not a valid host!
python exceptions/exceptions_handling.py 172.30.111.199 pytraining Poclab123

failed to connect to 172.30.111.199. could be: a bad ip addr, ip addr is not reachable due
to a routing issue or a firewall filtering, ...
python exceptions/exceptions_handling.py 172.30.179.113 pytraining Poclab123

the device ex4200-13 runs 12.2R2.4
EXCEPTIONS HANDLING
 Here are the details about this program
more exceptions/exceptions_handling.py
import sys
from jnpr.junos.exception import *
dev=Device (host=sys.argv[1], user=sys.argv[2], password=sys.argv[3])
try:
dev.open()
except ConnectUnknownHostError:
print(sys.argv[1] + " is not a valid host!")
except ConnectAuthError:
print("invalid username or password for host " + sys.argv[1])
except ConnectTimeoutError:
print("failed to connect to " + sys.argv[1] + ". could be: a bad ip addr, the
device is down, the ip addr is not reachable due to a routing issue or a firewall
filtering, ...")
except :
print("another error ...")
else:
print ("the device "+ dev.facts["hostname"]+ " runs " + dev.facts["version"])
EXCEPTIONS HANDLING
 The below program doesn't terminate if there is a
ConnectTimeoutError exception. It handles it differently.
This is useful when you iterate a list of devices.
python exceptions/exceptions_handling2.py
the device 172.30.179.101 runs 12.2R2.4
the device 172.30.179.102 runs 12.3R11.2
failed to connect to 172.30.205.102
the device 172.30.179.104 runs 12.3R11.2
EXCEPTIONS HANDLING
 The "continue" statement will make the "for" loop go to the
next item.
more exceptions/exceptions_handling2.py
# mydeviceslist is a list of devices. for each device, PyEZ will connect to the device
and print some facts. if a device is not reachable, PyEZ will print something and
continue the "for" loop.
from jnpr.junos.exception import *
mydeviceslist=["172.30.179.101", "172.30.179.102", "172.30.205.102", "172.30.179.104"]
for item in mydeviceslist:
dev=Device(host=item, user="pytraining", password="Poclab123")
try:
dev.open()
except ConnectTimeoutError:
print("failed to connect to " + item)
continue
print ("the device "+ item + " runs " + dev.facts["version"])
dev.close()
REST CALLS
WITH PYTHON REQUESTS PACKAGE
REST APIs
 Many systems have REST APIs : JUNOS, Junos Space, Cloud
Analytics Engine, Openclos, Contrail, Openstack, NSX …
 You first need to have the REST API documentation for your
system.
 Then you can use a graphical REST Client (browser add-on:
REST Easy, RESTClient, Postman) to start playing with REST
APIs and learn more about REST APIs.
• Graphical REST clients are for humans.
• If you need automation and programmatic access, you have to use a
command line REST client.
 You can then use Python as a REST Client to handle REST
Calls. It is easy to parse the REST servers answers if they use
a json format (json format is a dictionary).
REST APIs ON JUNOS 15.1
 JUNOS 15.1 supports REST API to submit RPCs
• You can only read the database
• The other 3 basic database operations (create-update-delete) are not
supported
• You can use HTTP get and post methods to submit RPCs to the REST
Server.
• You can retrieve data in XML or JSON
 The documentation is here:
• https://www.juniper.net/documentation/en_US/junos15.1/information-products/pathway-
pages/rest-api/rest-api.pdf
 REST configuration is under “system services” (default port is 3000)
 REST Explorer is an optional tool (GUI) for testing
 JUNOS CLI ouput with “| display json” is also available
LAB 18 - REST APIs ON JUNOS 15.1
 We will use an MX running JUNOS 15.

• 172.30.177.170/pytraining/Poclab123
• Rest service with HTTP is enabled on the default port (3000).
• Rest explorer is also enabled.
set system services rest http
set system services rest http rest-explorer
LAB 18 - REST EXPLORER ON JUNOS 15.1
• Use the REST explorer (http://172.30.177.170:3000)
LAB 18 - REST CALLS TO JUNOS FROM A BROWSER ADD-ON
 Use a graphical REST client: Use yours or RDP the server 172.30.204.10 and use its firefox. REST
Client is installed. We saved a REST call in the “favorite requests” from REST Client.
LAB 18 - REST CALLS TO JUNOS WITH CURL
 You can copy from the REST explorer the “cURL request”, and paste
it to the server. cURL is a command line REST client.
pytraining@py-automation-master:~$ curl http://172.30.177.170:3000/rpc/get-software-
information -u "pytraining:Poclab123" -H "Content-Type: application/xml" -H "Accept:
application/json“
LAB 18 - REST CALLS TO JUNOS WITH PYTHON
 The python program rest_basics/get_mx_software_information.py

uses the JUNOS REST APIs to get some details regarding the device
pytraining@py-automation-master:~$ python rest_basics/get_mx_software_information.py

Software version: 15.1R2.9
Host-name: mx80-17
Product name: mx80-48t
BASIC GET USAGE WITH PYTHON
 Import the requests library
 Declare a variable and call the function GET passing arguments to assign
the returned value to the variable.
>>> import requests

>>> r=requests.get("http://www.juniper.net")
>>> r.status_code
200
>>> print r.url
http://www.juniper.net/us/en/
>>> r.headers['Content-type']
'text/html;charset=UTF-8'
>>> "NETWORK AUTOMATION" in r.content
True
REST CALLS TO JUNOS WITH PYTHON
 Authentication
• The REST API uses HTTP Basic Authentication. all requests require a base 64
encoded username and password included in the Authorization header.
>>> # import the requests library

>>> import requests
>>> # import the class HTTPBasicAuth from module requests.auth. This class attaches HTTP
Basic Authentication to a request.
>>> from requests.auth import HTTPBasicAuth
>>>
>>> r=requests.get('http://172.30.177.170:3000/rpc/get-software-information',
auth=HTTPBasicAuth('pytraining', 'Poclab123'))
>>> r.status_code
200
'application/xml; charset=utf-8‘
>>>
REST CALLS TO JUNOS WITH PYTHON
 Lets add the HTTP request header Accept: application/json to
have the REST server answer with a JSON representation
instead of XML.
>>> my_headers = { 'Accept': 'application/json' }
>>> r = requests.get('http://172.30.177.170:3000/rpc/get-software-information',
auth=HTTPBasicAuth('pytraining', 'Poclab123'),headers=my_headers)
>>>
'application/json; charset=utf-8‘
>>> type(r.json())
<type 'dict'>
>>> pp(r.json())
…
>>> print r.json()['software-information'][0]['product-name'][0]['data']
mx80-48t
>>> print r.json()['software-information'][0]['host-name'][0]['data']
mx80-17
>>> print r.json()['software-information'][0]['junos-version'][0]['data']
15.1R2.9
>>> '15.1R2.9' in r.content
True
USE REGULAR EXPRESSIONS
WITH PYTHON
REGULAR EXPRESSIONS
 re.py is python module provides support for regular
expressions. Import the module re (regular expressions)
>>> import re
 Use dir() to check if the module re is now the current scope

>>> dir()
 Use the dir builtin function with the argument re to get the list of
available functions for regular expressions. Some methods are
search, findall, …
>>> dir (re)
 Use help(re) to get help on the module re.

 To get help on a re function, use help(re.function). example
with the function findall.
>>> help(re)
>>> help(re.findall)
LAB 19- REGULAR EXPRESSIONS
 Use the function findall from module re to have the list of
vlan id from a file that has the junos output of “show
configuration vlan | display set”
more python_basics/show_config_vlans.txt
>>> f=open("python_basics/show_config_vlans.txt")
>>> s=f.read()
>>> import re
>>> help(re.findall)
>>> vlans_list=re.findall("vlan-id .+", s)
>>> vlans_list
['vlan-id 3333', 'vlan-id 1001', 'vlan-id 1002', 'vlan-id 1003', 'vlan-id 1004', 'vlan-id 1005',
'vlan-id 101', 'vlan-id 102', 'vlan-id 103', 'vlan-id 104', 'vlan-id 109', 'vlan-id 110', 'vlan-
id 111', 'vlan-id 1111', 'vlan-id 150', 'vlan-id 2001', 'vlan-id 2002', 'vlan-id 201', 'vlan-id
202', 'vlan-id 1898']
>>> vlans_list=re.findall("vlan-id (.+)", s)
>>> vlans_list
['3333', '1001', '1002', '1003', '1004', '1005', '101', '102', '103', '104', '109', '110', '111',
'1111', '150', '2001', '2002', '201', '202', '1898']
>>> f.close()
THANK YOU!
EASILY RESTORE PYTHON SESSION
 if your python session is closed, you can use the python file
training_variables.py to reimport/restore easily all the variables, modules,
classes that you need for the labs.
pytraining@py-automation-master:~$ more training_variables.py
pytraining@py-automation-master:~$ python
Python 2.7.6 (default, Jun 22 2015, 17:58:13)
[GCC 4.8.2] on linux2
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> from training_variables import *
>>> dir()
['BGPNeighborTable', 'BGPneighborView', 'Config', 'Device', 'HTTPBasicAuth', 'IPAddress',
'IPNetwork', 'LLDPNeighborTable', 'LLDPNeighborView', 'Template', '__builtins__',
'__doc__', '__name__', '__package__', 'a', 'a_device', 'b', 'banner', 'byte', 'devices',
'domain', 'ex_hostname', 'hostname', 'ip', 'ip_address', 'loadyaml', 'my_devices_list',
'my_vlan_id_list', 'num', 'number', 'pprint', 'readline', 'requests', 'rlcompleter',
'splitext', 'this_is_a_dictionary', 'this_is_an_empty_list', 'yaml']
>>>
>>> devices["ex4200-13"]
'172.30.179.113'

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PYTHON FOR NETWORK ENGINEERS

A journey from CLI to Python

November 2015. Version 4.18

• Handle configuration changes faster

• FYI, the lab environment description is maintain here:

• To start the python interpreter shell, type the command python.

• To exit python interpreter shell, type quit() or exit() or use ctrl+d

• Use pip list to list installed packages.

• Use pip search to searches packages related to contrail or

• Variables store values

• You can use Type(a) or Type (a). Both work in python. We

• Manipulate integers with arithmetic operators

• Convert an integer into an hexadecimal with the built-

• Convert an integer into an binary with the built-in

• dir() returns a list of the names in the current

• Assign a string to a variable

• To create a multi lines string, use three single quotes

• Do it from the other end using negative index

• Access a substring using this notation:

• Use a membership operator (in, not in) to check if a

• Convert a string into an integer

• Get help with strings:

• Get help with a function. Example with the function

Return a copy of the string S converted to uppercase.

• Convert a string to uppercase. Use the built-in

Return a copy of the string S converted to uppercase.

>>> print banner.upper()

• Convert a list of strings into a string. Use the built-in

• Use del to delete variables

• The symbol # indicates a comment

• Read an item from a list

• You can also create a list of integers with the built-in

>>> this_is_a_dictionary={'domain': 'jnpr.net', 'hostname': 'LAB-EX-VC-Backbone',

• Get part of a list

• Check if an item is a list with a membership operator (in,

• Get the list of available functions

• Get help for one function. Example with the function

• Get the index of an item with the built-in function index

• Add an element at the end of the list with the built-in

• Get the number of occurrences of a value in a list

>>> this_is_a_dictionary={'domain': 'jnpr.net', 'hostname': 'LAB-EX-VC-

• Get the keys and values

• Query the dictionary using square brackets [ ]

• Remove an item from a dictionary

• membership operators (in, not in) can be used with

• Use “for loops” if you have something you need to iterate

the current device is: 172.30.108.11

>>> range (2,6)

set interface xe-0/0/2 unit 0 family Ethernet-switching

pytraining@py-automation-master:~$ python python_basics/extract_hostname.py

>>> for characters in "whatever":

• Executes the statements in the loop body while the

• Executes some statements if an expression evaluates to true

• Use a comparison operator in the if or elif expression

172.30.108.14 was found in my_devices_list

• Use a comparison operator in the if or elif expression

the domain is jnpr.net

• Use a membership operator in the if or elif expression

172.30.108.14 was found in my_devices_list

• Use a membership operator in the if or elif expression

• sys.path is a list so you can use sys.path.append or sys.path.insert to add

• Instantiate the class IPAddress

>>> help (IPAddress.version)

the IP protocol version represented by this IP object.

 Use the built-in function open in module builtin