New Training: Automate Layer 2 Troubleshooting

In this 7-video skill, CBT Nuggets trainer John McGovern demonstrates how to leverage the power of the Python programming language to automate layer 2 network troubleshooting. Watch this new networking training.

Watch the full course: Advanced Network Automation with Cisco and Python

This training includes:

• 7 videos

• 53 minutes of training

You’ll learn these topics in this skill:

• MAC-Hunter Overview

• Show Interfaces

• Parsing Interfaces

• Show CDP Neighbors

• Show Version

• Empty Lists

• Handling Errors

Diagnosing Network Issues With Python

DevOps engineers and network admins are attempting to automate as many components as possible of their network infrastructure today. One of the scripting languages IT professionals use to automate networks is Python. Python is a powerful language that can be used to script complex tasks as well as diagnose and debug the networking environment as well.

Python has a lot of libraries and tools available for it that can interact with various hardware components of a computer or networking equipment. By using the API available that various networking equipment vendors implement, Python can handle tasks like finding the MAC address for specific devices on a network or list all MAC addresses for all devices, pull information from switch interfaces, parse that information, show data such as CDP neighbors, and more. Such information can be pulled into a Python script and piped into other applications for a variety of tasks.

There are various libraries and Python tools for assisting network admins with these tasks. One tool that engineers can use is Mac-Hunter. Network admins may want to investigate this tool further to see how it can help troubleshoot the network environment.