Nornir: Python automation framework – Network programmability stream 17

The recording of the network programmability streamwhich occurred on 2018/07/01

On this stream we had the first look at Nornir - Python automation framework written by David Barroso, Patrick Ogenstad and Kirk Byers. Previously, this project was known as Brigade but got recently renamed.
Nornir feels very similar to Ansible but has some drastic changes in comparison: while Nornir can use declarative inventory and vars files in YAML format (or any other format), similar to Ansible, Nornir "playbooks" are written in pure Python instead of YAML. This removes any limits introduced by Ansible/YAML declarative style of your tasks. Also Nornir uses Python multithreading, which scales much better than Ansible multiprocessing (forks), especially in the networking context, where network (I/O) is the bottleneck, not CPU.
Additionally, because Nornir is 100% Python, it is very easy to write new plugins or tasks, if you know Python.
It is a very young project, but it has a lot of potential.

Timecode:
0:00 - Introduction, news and announcements
15:02 - Why Nornir? Ansible vs Nornir
28:08 - Lab environment
37:12 - Getting started with Nornir
39:50 - Nornir: inventory
1:15:30 - Nornir: inventory filtering
1:38:45 - Nornir: running tasks
2:00:00 - Nornir: network configuration using templates and NAPALM
2:30:13 - Nornir: network configuration using templates and netmiko
2:40:57 - Nornir: Ansible inventory plugin
2:55:04 - Nornir: sending REST API calls - GNS3 API example
3:04:00 - Stream summary

Resources:

Please note that this content is stream-first and it is slow-paced by design. I recommend increasing playback speed in the player settings.

Background music (royalty-free):

[jungieyo]

cant believe there is a networking stream, so excited. Keep up the good work, hopefully can catch your next stream

[MahmoudFHALHejazi]

hi bro, i enjoy this tutorial it's very helpful to my university project for network automation, i just had one task that i couldn't figure it out, which using scapy library in python script to sniff any interface in gns3 topology please help.regard bro.

[antichaos]

where can I get the python for network engineers book which you are translating? How do I get the book?
can you do some videos on beginning Nornir - some basic leading to intermediate level

[mpaulvijay]

nr = InitNornir(config_file="config.yaml", dry_run= True)
with a still pushes configuration, is it expected with netmiko ?

[MohamedMostafa-ozhn]

Is it important to run runbox on Linux os?
I use windows and I have a problem with fcntl modul, can anyone help?

[MahmoudFHALHejazi]

Task 4: add a feature to your application using the Scapy packet manipulation
programme. This feature makes some basic network packet sniffing on a network
interface (of user’s choice) and show the requested results.
how (of user’s choice) .

[RogerPerkin]

at 1:25:50 after defining host you then typed host? and you got all the attributes of that host, I am following along and if I type host? I just get a syntax error?

[SAlexandert]

Hey Dimitry I found nornir works great if you use the Ansible inventory plugin. I went through the same exact trouble as you then made the switch.

[victorespinoza]

Any news on the book you were going to translate to English? How is that project coming along?