Hands-On Cisco Automation with Python: Streamline Network Tasks Using Netmiko, NAPALM, and Nornir for Beginners

Description

• Copyright 2026
• Edition: 1st

• eBook
• ISBN-10: 0-13-546322-X
• ISBN-13: 978-0-13-546322-2

Learn how to simplify Cisco network management with practical Python automation.

Modern networks demand speed, accuracy, and scalability. Hands-On Cisco Automation with Python teaches network professionals how to automate common Cisco IOS tasks using Python and three widely adopted tools: Netmiko, NAPALM, and Nornir.

This practical, example-driven guide shows how to replace repetitive manual work with reusable scripts that configure devices, collect operational data, and validate network state. Readers follow clear, step-by-step examples that explain both the Python code and the Cisco IOS commands involved.

The book focuses on real-world automation, not theory, making it ideal for readers new to network automation who want immediate, usable results.

What Youll Learn

• Automate Cisco IOS access and command execution with Python
• Manage and validate configurations using NAPALM
• Scale automation across multiple devices with Nornir
• Work with structured data such as JSON and Python dictionaries
• Build reusable scripts to improve consistency and reduce errors

Who This Book Is For

• Network engineers and administrators
• CCNA and early-career networking professionals
• IT practitioners transitioning into automation
• Anyone managing Cisco IOS-based networks

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Sample Content

Table of Contents

    Introduction xxiii

Chapter 1 Introducing Netmiko, NAPALM, and Nornir 1

    The 3 Ns: Netmiko, NAPALM, and Nornir 1

    Automation and Programmability for All Levels 4

    How Much Cisco IOS and Python Do I Need to Know? 4

    What Do I Need to Get Started? 5

    Using AI as an Alternative to Physical Equipment 6

    Summary 7

Part 1 Netmiko

Chapter 2 Getting Started with Netmiko 9

    Why Start with Netmiko? 9

    A First Look at a Netmiko Program 10

    The Basic Netmiko Framework 11

    Optional: Exploring Python Classes, Objects, Instances, and Methods 15

    Your Turn 17

    Sending Command Output to a Variable 19

    The send_command_expect() Method 23

    The save_config() Method 26

    Debugging Netmiko by Using the Session Log 28

    Summary 34

Chapter 3 Configuring Devices with Netmiko 35

    The send_command() Method 35

    Summary 50

Chapter 4 Accessing Multiple Devices with Netmiko 53

    Using a Variable to Store an IP Address 53

    Understanding Python for Loops 54

    Iterating Through Multiple Devices 56

    Using Dictionaries to Store Device Connection Parameters 65

    Using Pythons getpass() for Secure Password Input 71

    Using Netmiko Exceptions for Troubleshooting 73

    Maintaining Multiple SSH Connections Simultaneously 77

    Summary 81

Part 2 NAPALM

Chapter 5 Introducing NAPALM and Structured Data 85

    What Is NAPALM, and How Is It Different from Netmiko? 85

    Installing the NAPALM Library 88

    Basic NAPALM Framework 88

    How NAPALM Retrieves Data Without an API on Cisco IOS 91

    Good News, Bad News: Understanding Structured Data 92

    get_facts(): Our First NAPALM Method and Dictionary 95

    Assigning the Dictionary to a Variable 97

    Understanding Different Types of Values in a Dictionary 99

    Creating a NAPALM Dictionary Without a Device 100

    NAPALM Methods 102

    Using Python Interactive Mode to Experiment with NAPALM 105

    Summary 107

Chapter 6 Understanding Python Dictionaries with NAPALM 109

    How NAPALM Organizes Data 110

    A Single Dictionary 110

    A Dictionary of Dictionaries 115

    A List of Dictionaries 122

    Sample Program Using All Three Types of Dictionaries 127

    Comparing the Three Types of Dictionaries 131

    Methods by Type of Data Structure 133

    Summary 135

Chapter 7 Iterating Through NAPALM Dictionaries 137

    Live or Simulated Data 138

    Working with .keys(), .values(), and .items() in NAPALM Dictionaries 140

    Using a for Loop with Dictionary Methods 143

    Determining the Type of Value 147

    Looping Through Key/Value Pairs with .items() and Processing Values with isinstance() 153

    Iterating Through a Dictionary of Dictionaries 167

    Iterating Through a List of Dictionaries 173

    Summary 176

Chapter 8 Configuring Devices with NAPALM 179

    A Quick Overview of NAPALM Configuration Methods 179

    Introducing Our Example Scenario 180

    Configuring a Device with load_merge_candidate() 182

    Using the cli() method 188

    Using load_replace_candidate() to Replace the Configuration 193

    Displaying Running and Startup Configuration Files 199

    Next Step: Nornir 200

    Summary 201

Part 3 Nornir

Chapter 9 Introducing Nornir: A Pythonic Framework for Network Orchestration 203

    What Is Orchestration? 204

    How Does Nornir Compare to Netmiko and NAPALM? 205

    How Nornir Uses Netmiko and NAPALM 206

    Installing Nornir 207

    Basic Nornir Framework: Python and YAML 207

    Your First Nornir Program and YAML Files 208

    Whats Next? 218

    Summary 219

Chapter 10 Using Nornir with Netmiko 221

    Installing Support for Netmiko: nornir_netmiko 221

    Using Nornir and netmiko_send_command() 222

    Sending Configuration Commands with netmiko_send_config 236

    Summary 246

Chapter 11 Using Nornir with NAPALM 247

    A Quick Review 247

    Installing Support for NAPALM: nornir_napalm 249

    nornir_napalm Tasks 250

    Advantages of Using These Tasks with Nornir 251

    Using Nornir and the napalm_cli Task 251

    Using Nornir and the napalm_get Task 261

    Using Nornir and the napalm_configure Task 268

    Summary 276

Chapter 12 Inventory Management with Nornir 277

    A Quick Overview with a Focus on Inventory 278

    Where Inventory Data Comes From 280

    A Note on Filtering 281

    Inventory Management Core Architecture 282

    Hosts 282

    Groups 289

    Effective Values After Inheritance 292

    Using Group Data for Filtering 295

    Defaults 296

    Accessing Inventory Data 298

    Inventory Plugins 300

    Inventory Plugin Options 301

    Summary 319

Part 4 Whats Next

Chapter 13 Whats Next 321

    Why Network Automation Became Necessary 321

    Netmiko, NAPALM, and Nornir in Context 324

    Ansible, NETCONF, and RESTCONF: Expanding the Automation Comparisons 331

    Understanding YANG Models 332

    Understanding APIs 334

    Artificial Intelligence and Network Automation 336

    Closing Thoughts 338

Appendix A Python Virtual Environments 341

Appendix B Understanding expect_string with send_command() 345

Appendix C Using Python Dictionaries as NAPALM Outputs 347

Appendix D The Relationship Between Python Dictionaries and JSON 353

Appendix E Understanding Objects and Variables in Python 355

Appendix F Using a Recursive Function to Handle Nested Dictionaries of Any Depth 357

Appendix G Using Tabular Output 359

Appendix H Using Public and Private Keys 361

Appendix I Netmiko-Supported Network Operating Systems 365

9780135463192, TOC, 3/25/2026

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