Programming and Automating Cisco Networks: A guide to network programmability and automation in the data center, campus, and WAN

Improve operations and agility in any data center, campus, LAN, or WAN

Today, the best way to stay in control of your network is to address devices programmatically and automate network interactions. In this book, Cisco experts Ryan Tischer and Jason Gooley show you how to do just that. You’ll learn how to use programmability and automation to solve business problems, reduce costs, promote agility and innovation, handle accelerating complexity, and add value in any data center, campus, LAN, or WAN.

The authors show you how to create production solutions that run on or interact with Nexus NX-OS-based switches, Cisco ACI, Campus, and WAN technologies.You’ll learn how to use advanced Cisco tools together with industry-standard languages and platforms, including Python, JSON, and Linux. The authors demonstrate how to support dynamic application environments, tighten links between apps and infrastructure, and make DevOps work better.

This book will be an indispensable resource for network and cloud designers, architects, DevOps engineers, security specialists, and every professional who wants to build or operate high-efficiency networks.

•  Drive more value through programma­bility and automation, freeing resources for high-value innovation
•  Move beyond error-prone, box-by-box network management
•  Bridge management gaps arising from current operational models
•  Write NX-OS software to run on, access, or extend your Nexus switch
•  Master Cisco’s powerful on-box automation and operation tools
•  Manage complex WANs with NetConf/Yang, ConfD, and Cisco SDN Controller
•  Interact with and enhance Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI)
•  Build self-service catalogs to accelerate application delivery
•  Find resources for deepening your expertise in network automation

Sample Pages

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Table of Contents

    Introduction xviii

Section I Getting Started with Network Programmability

Chapter 1 Introduction: Why Network Programmability 1

    What Is Network Programmability 3

        Network Programmability Benefits 4

        Cloud, SDN, and Network Programmability 6

        SDN 8

        Is Programmability a New Idea? 9

        Network Automation 10

    Summary 11

Chapter 2 Foundational Skills 13

    Introduction to Software Development 13

        Common Constructs–Variables, Flow Control, Functions, and Objects 15

        A Basic Introduction to Python 20

        APIs and SDKs 37

        Web Technologies 37

        Web Technologies–Data Formatting 38

        Google Postman 40

        Basic Introduction to Version Control, Git, and GitHub 45

        Git–Add a File 47

        Creating and Editing Source Code 49

        Getting Started with PyCharm 50

        Introduction to Linux 55

        Working in Linux 56

        Using Systemd 61

    Summary 66

Section II Cisco Programmable Data Center

Chapter 3 Next-Generation Cisco Data Center Networking 67

    Cisco Application-Centric Infrastructure (ACI) 70

    Nexus Data Broker 74

        Use Case–Nexus Data Broker 75

    Evolution of Data Center Network Architecture 76

    Cisco Data Center Network Controllers 80

        Nexus Fabric Manager 80

        Virtual Topology System (VTS) 81

        Cisco ACI 81

    Summary 82

Chapter 4 On-Box Programmability and Automation with Cisco Nexus NX-OS 83

    Open NX-OS Automation–Bootstrap and Provisioning 83

        Cisco POAP 83

        Cisco Ignite 87

        NX-OS iPXE 88

    Bash 88

        Bash Scripting 89

        Bash Variables, Conditions, and Loops 89

        Bash Arithmetic 90

        Bash Conditions and Flow Control 91

        Bash Redirection and Pipes 94

        Working with Text in Bash 96

    Awk 98

    Bash on Nexus 9000 99

        ifconfig 101

        Tcpdump 101

    ethtool 103

        Run a Bash Script at Startup 103

    Linux Containers (LXC) 106

        Network Access in Guestshell 109

        EEM Variables 113

    On-box Python Scripting 113

        On-Box Python–Use Cases and Examples 118

        EEM Neighbor Discovery 121

    Summary 124

Chapter 5 Off-Box Programmability and Automation with Cisco Nexus NX-OS 125

    Nexus NX-API 125

        NX-API Transport 125

        NX-API Message Format 126

        NX-API Security 126

        NX-API Sandbox 127

    Summary 158

    Resources 158

Chapter 6 Network Programmability with Cisco ACI 159

    Cisco ACI Automation 160

        ACI Policy Instantiation 161

        A Bit More Python 162

        Python Exceptions Handling 166

    ACI Fundamentals 169

        ACI Management Information Model 169

    ACI Programmability 174

        Cobra SDK 198

    Summary 213

Section III Cisco Programmable Campus and WAN

Chapter 7 On-Box Automation and Operations Tools 215

    Automated Port Profiling 216

    AutoSmart Ports 216

        Enabling AutoSmart Ports on a Cisco Catalyst Switch 217

    AutoConf 220

        Enabling AutoConf on a Cisco Catalyst Switch 222

        Modifying a Built-in Template 224

    Auto Security 227

        Enabling Auto Security on a Cisco Catalyst Switch 228

    Quality of Service for Campus Architectures 230

        AutoQoS on Campus LAN Devices 230

        Enabling AutoQoS on a Cisco Catalyst Switch 231

        AutoQoS on Campus WAN Devices 233

        Enabling AutoQoS on a Cisco ISR Router 234

    Automating Management and Monitoring Tasks 236

        Smart Call Home 236

        Enabling Smart Call Home on an Cisco Catalyst Switch 237

        Tcl Shell 243

        Embedded Event Manager (EEM) 246

    Summary 253

Chapter 8 Network Automation Tools for Campus Environments 255

    Data Models and Supporting Protocols 256

        YANG Data Models 256

        NETCONF 258

        ConfD 259

    Application Policy Infrastructure Controller Enterprise Module (APIC-EM) 263

        APIC-EM Architecture 263

        APIC-EM Applications 264

        Intelligent WAN (IWAN) Application 264

        Plug and Play (PnP) Application 269

        Path Trace Application 276

    Additional APIC-EM Features 279

        Topology 279

        Device Inventory 281

        Easy Quality of Service (Easy QoS) 283

        Dynamic QoS 285

        Policy Application 286

    APIC-EM Programmability Examples Using Postman 288

        Ticket API 288

        Host API 291

        Network Device API 292

        User API 294

        Available APIC-EM APIs 296

    APIC-EM Programmability Examples Using Python 297

        Ticket API 297

        Host API 299

    Summary 302

Chapter 9 Piecing It All Together 303

9781587144653, TOC, 8/1/2016

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