My First Step towards Automation: Controlling Junos with Python & PyEZ

You can manage or automate routers by using python. But writing long codes in python is tedious task when it comes for non-programmers. But leveraging PyEZ, Python micro framework can help dev-ops engineers to automate the routers on the fly. Having an XML API is the benefit of using a Juniper router as it is easier than other routers to manage it with python PyEZ library. Moreover Juniper wrote a Python library, which is actually a "micro-framework", called PyEZ and it makes easier for non-programmers like me to manage a Junos OS router. Juniper devices comes with SLAX which can be leverage for on box automation. But PyEZ comes with OFF box solution and for onbox JET framework is required. PyEZ micro frame used NETCONF to communicate with the boxes.

PyEZ library is built for two type of users:-
1. Non-Programmers - Python as a Power Shell: Non-programmers, such as Network Engineers, can use the native Python shell on their management server (laptop, tablet, phone, and so on) as their point-of-control to remotely manage Junos OS devices.
2. Programmers - Open and Extensible: There is a growing interest and need to automate the network infrastructure into larger IT systems. To do so, traditional software programmers, DevOps, hackers, and so on, need an abstraction library of code to further those activities. Junos PyEZ is designed for extensibility so that the programmer can quickly and easily add new widgets to the library in support of their specific project requirements. There is no need to "wait on the vendor" to provide new functionality. Junos PyEZ is not specifically tied to any version of Junos OS or any Junos OS product family.

Junos PyEZ Features
Junos PyEZ is designed to provide the same capabilities as the Junos OS CLI, but in an environment built for automation tasks. These capabilities include, but are not limited to:
• Provide "facts" about the device such as software version, serial number, and so on
• Retrieve the "operational" or "run-state" information (think "show" commands) using Tables/Views
• Retrieve the configuration using Tables/Views
• Make unstructured configuration changes with "snippets" and "templates"
• Make structured configuration changes with modeled abstractions
• Provide common utilities for tasks such as secure copy of files and software updates

Closing Comments:
Currently PyEZ is used to control only Juniper Devices but as it is open and available on GIT hub, I think the same functionality can be extended to multi-vendor environment also. Still my research is on, how PyEZ can be used for multi-vendors environment so that we can leverage the open community rather depending on any OEM lock-in.

Stay tune for the next post of PyEZ installation.

People who read this post also read :