Automating Networks with Ansible the Right Way

By Nick Russo
If you're sick of hand typing configuration commands into your network devices day after day, this course is for you! Learn how to manage your network more intelligently with Ansible using tried-and-true design patterns.
Play course overview
Course info
Rating
(42)
Level
Intermediate
Updated
May 5, 2020
Duration
3h 42m
Table of contents
Course Overview
Course Overview 2m
Reorienting Ansible for Network Applications
Understanding Your MPLS Network 3m Demo: Ansible Preparation 7m Demo: Your First Ansible Playbook 4m How Does Network Automation Differ? 2m Challenge: Add Logging to the Existing Playbook 7m World’s Fastest Ansible Refresher 5m
Building Pretty Good Infrastructure as Code
Demo: Deploying “cli_config” for CLI-based IAC 8m Comparison of CLI-based Infrastructure as Code Solutions 1m Demo: Deploying “ios_vrf” for CLI-based IAC 4m The Bottom Line: Business Benefits 3m Demo: Deploying “ios_config” for CLI-based IAC 7m Demo: The Big Problem 3m Infrastructure as Code Components 5m What Is Infrastructure as Code? 3m
Integrating Custom Filters with Ansible
Parsing and Regex Basics 3m How Custom Filters Work 4m Introduction to Custom Filters 2m Demo: Using Ansible for Filter Unit Testing 6m Demo: Simplest Possible Custom Filter 4m Demo: Custom Parser for VRF Information 4m Bullet-proofing Code with Unit Tests 1m
Constructing Really Good Infrastructure as Code
Challenge: Adding Multi-vendor Support 2m Fitting the Pieces Together 2m Demo: The Whole Solution in Action 6m Demo: Custom Filter for Route-targeting Presence Determination 4m Memory Lane: Set Theory Basics 4m Demo: Set Operations in Python 3m Demo: Writing Unit Tests For the Custom Filter 5m
Introducing Ansible’s “network-engine” Role
Demo: Ansible Galaxy Refresher 4m Comparison of Parsing Methods 2m Demo: Parsing Alternative using “command_parser” 5m What Do Ansible Roles Accomplish? 3m Demo: Refactoring Your Existing Solution 3m Introducing Ansible’s “network-engine” Role 2m
Leaving the CLI Stone Age: Automating with APIs
Demo: Collecting Configuration with NETCONF “get-config” RPC 5m Demo: Changing Configuration with RESTCONF HTTP PUT 6m Comparing the APIs 1m Introduction to RESTCONF 2m Introduction to NETCONF and YANG 4m Demo: Changing Configuration with NETCONF “edit-config” RPC 5m Demo: Collecting Configuration with RESTCONF HTTP GET 5m What Problem Does This Solve? 3m
Exploring New Ansible Features
Module Summary and Homework Challenge 1m So "Fact Gathering" Is Useful Now? 3m Demo: Leveraging Genie in CLI-based Playbooks 4m Understanding Cisco Genie Parsers 2m Introducing Ansible Collections 4m Demo: Working with Ansible Collections 5m Demo: Refactoring Infrastructure as Code Playbooks 3m Demo: Collecting Network System Facts by Default 5m
Writing Production-grade Ansible Playbooks
Runtime Error Checking with "assert" 1m Demo: Makefiles in Action 4m Module Summary and Final Thoughts 2m Demo: Integrating "assert" Into Your Code 3m Why Version Control Matters for Network Automation 2m Surface Basic Problem with Linters 1m Demo: Working with Markdown 3m Demo: Linting Ansible Code with "ansible-lint" 3m Demo: Linting Python Code with "pylint" 3m Recommendations for Documentation 1m Simplifying Operations with Makefiles 1m Demo: Time Travel with "git" 3m
Description
Course info
Rating
(42)
Level
Intermediate
Updated
May 5, 2020
Duration
3h 42m
Description

When it comes to automating networks, it's key to utilize Ansible to ensure effective solutions. In this course, Automating Networks with Ansible the Right Way, you will learn foundational knowledge required to manage networks like a professional through programming. First, you will learn about infrastructure as code, both how it works at a technical level and why it matters at a business level. This includes several SSH/CLI-based implementations, which is likely to work on any network device. Next, you will discover a whole new word of modern APIs, such as NETCONF and RESTCONF, and how Ansible can leverage these technologies to simplify network management. Finally, you will explore how to transform your homemade projects into works of art by building quality into your code using a variety of supplementary tools. When you’re finished with this course, you will have the skills and knowledge of Ansible needed to design, implement, operate, and troubleshoot network-based automation solutions in production.

About the author
Nick Russo
About the author

Nick Russo, CCDE #20160041 and CCIE #42518, is your go-to-guy for all things networking and automation. Nick loves training online and speaking at industry conferences sharing his expertise.

More from the author
Consuming Cisco APIs and Understanding Application DevOps
Beginner
2h 30m
May 18, 2020
Getting Started with Software Development Using Cisco DevNet
Beginner
2h 36m
May 5, 2020
More courses by Nick Russo
Section Introduction Transcripts
Section Introduction Transcripts

Course Overview
[Autogenerated] Hi, everyone. My name is Nick Russo and welcome to my course on automating networks with danceable the right way. Join me as we design, implement, operate and troubleshoot a variety of automation solutions in a complex network. This scenario is straight out of my personal career and contains hard earned tips and tricks from production. You'll master the core principles of answerable based network automation, including unique challenges in automating networks versus other I T systems, the concept of infrastructure as code a wide variety of design options. Both Seelye and A P I based ah bit of python coding for answerable customization and bulletproofing your playbooks for production use. After completing this course, you'll be skilled in deploying and maintaining answerable in any type of network. Before beginning this course, I'd recommend the following prerequisite courses. Basic python coding skills will help you follow. The answer will custom is ations. I teach. You'll need basic networking skills, and this CCN A course is a good choice. Mpls expertise is not required, but an introduction toe layer three VPN provides additional context. I hope you'll join me on this journey toe. Learn about modern network management with this automating networks with danceable the right way course at plural site

You're the smartest person in the room

PROVE IT

Your team won't just close the skills gap

THEY'LL HURDLE IT