New Training: Implement Intent-Based Scripting

In this 7-video skill, CBT Nuggets trainer John McGovern covers the concept of Desired State and introduces Intent Based Python scripting! Watch this new networking training.

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

This training includes:

• 7 videos

• 1.1 hours of training

You’ll learn these topics in this skill:

• Understanding Desired State

• Leveraging the CLI

• Building the OSPF Template

• Building the ACL Template

• Building the NTP Template

• Capturing the Golden Configuration

• Implementing Desired State

Why Intent-Based Scripting is Difficult for Network Automation

As enterprise networks become more complex, businesses are working towards removing that complexity away from network management. One approach is by using intent-based scripting. Much like dev-ops engineers use intent-based scripting to perform precise, specific tasks, network engineers can use intent-based scripting to automate network changes and deployment. Unlike dev-ops engineers, though, network admins face rougher waters when taking a scripting approach to automation.

It's common for the same type of networking equipment from various manufacturers to have different processes for completing the same tasks. This is why taking a scripting approach towards network automation can be so difficult. The same logic used in one automation task may very well not work between different devices.

Thankfully, tools like Nornir can abstract some of that complexity away. Nornir is designed from the ground up to work within the Cisco family of devices. It's also fully extensible so it can support equipment from other manufacturers as well. Given that it's not uncommon for many aging businesses to utilize a variety of hardware from various vendors, being able to support a mix of vendor hardware is a must for creating an autonomous network.