Overview
Python has become the 'de facto' language for network automation due to its simplicity, readability, and vast ecosystem of networking-specific libraries.
Key Libraries
- Netmiko: Simplifies SSH connections to network devices.
- NAPALM: Provides a vendor-neutral API for interacting with different network operating systems.
- Requests: Used for interacting with RESTful APIs on controllers and devices.
- Scapy: A powerful packet manipulation tool.
Why Python?
- Easy to Learn: Clear syntax makes it accessible to network engineers.
- Extensive Community: Plenty of resources, tutorials, and pre-built scripts available.
- Versatility: Can be used for everything from simple scripts to complex automation frameworks.