Good python/automation books

matt333matt333 Member Posts: 276 ■■■■□□□□□□
Hey Guys,
I looking for a good python book for Network Engineers. We use mostly Juniper switch/routers at work so I was thinking about getting this book and see where it takes me:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1491928883/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=IVIFTKYA8YKB&coliid=I1Y2QNB8K22AE2

There are a ton of books out there and I'm not sure which one are the most useful.

Any experienced engineers out there that have done a lot of automation at their company and have some pointers?

Any help would be awesome!
Studying: Automating Everything, network API's, Python etc.. 
Certifications: CCNP, CCDP, JNCIP-DC, JNCIS-DevOps, JNCIS-ENT, JNCIS-SP

Comments

  • ande0255ande0255 Banned Posts: 1,178
    I posted this in another thread, but if you follow this youtube video (2 hours) as an introduction to intermediate understanding of Python with a laptop in front of you to follow along with the lesson, you will have a great foundation to then move into advanced skills.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkx5_MRAV3A

    I don't know what your level of python familiarity is, but if you are new to the language, this video is seriously a gift from youtube to future Py gurus.
  • globalenjoiglobalenjoi Member Posts: 104 ■■■□□□□□□□
    This may have already been linked somewhere on the forums, but I just bought this to have.

    www.humblebundle.com/books/python-book-bundle


    I'm not actively learning Python right now and I already own a copy of Black Hat Python, but it seems like a really good deal on some beginner-level Python knowledge.
  • shochanshochan Member Posts: 1,004 ■■■■■■■■□□
    CompTIA A+, Network+, i-Net+, MCP 70-210, CNA v5, Server+, Security+, Cloud+, CySA+, ISC² CC, ISC² SSCP
  • DoubleNNsDoubleNNs Member Posts: 2,015 ■■■■■□□□□□
    Check out Kirk Byers' stuff. Haven't gone thru it myself, but he's supposed to have some good Python and Ansible (maybe Salt too) resources specifically aimed at Network automation.
    Goals for 2018:
    Certs: RHCSA, LFCS: Ubuntu, CNCF CKA, CNCF CKAD | AWS Certified DevOps Engineer, AWS Solutions Architect Pro, AWS Certified Security Specialist, GCP Professional Cloud Architect
    Learn: Terraform, Kubernetes, Prometheus & Golang | Improve: Docker, Python Programming
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  • NEODREAMNEODREAM Member Posts: 124 ■■■□□□□□□□
    I'm currently using codeacademy and Learning Python The Hard Way which has already been mentioned here.

    That humblebundle deal posted above looks pretty interesting too.....
    Goal: eJPT Mar. 2020 | GDAT May 2020 | eCPPT Dec. 2020
  • OfWolfAndManOfWolfAndMan Member Posts: 923 ■■■■□□□□□□
    DoubleNNs wrote: »
    Check out Kirk Byers' stuff. Haven't gone thru it myself, but he's supposed to have some good Python and Ansible (maybe Salt too) resources specifically aimed at Network automation.
    Kirk Byers is the man. In addition, the python module he wrote, Netmiko, which is a modified version of paramiko, is good for automation of Junos, Cisco IOS, Arista EOS, and many more. However, it really depends on what you want to do. Show config output and parse it? Use the regex module called re along with netmiko. Want to push configs out to many devices in a structured manner? Use ansible. In some cases, you may not even find it necessary, but there's ALWAYS something to be automated. Inventories? Use netmiko and re, and then export it into a SQL database. Winning! Even a small network tool on the fly is fun to have. I recommend checking out black hat python for that.
    :study:Reading: Lab Books, Ansible Documentation, Python Cookbook 2018 Goals: More Ansible/Python work for Automation, IPSpace Automation Course [X], Build Jenkins Framework for Network Automation []
  • eteneten Member Posts: 67 ■■□□□□□□□□
    Kirk Byers is the man. In addition, the python module he wrote, Netmiko, which is a modified version of paramiko, is good for automation of Junos, Cisco IOS, Arista EOS, and many more. However, it really depends on what you want to do. Show config output and parse it? Use the regex module called re along with netmiko. Want to push configs out to many devices in a structured manner? Use ansible. In some cases, you may not even find it necessary, but there's ALWAYS something to be automated. Inventories? Use netmiko and re, and then export it into a SQL database. Winning! Even a small network tool on the fly is fun to have. I recommend checking out black hat python for that.

    Didn't want to hi-jack the thread, sent you a PM. Thanks for reading.
  • ccie14023ccie14023 Member Posts: 183
    I don't like Learning Python The Hard Way myself. I highly recommend "Automate the boring stuff with Python" by Sweigart. It's not network-specific but it is a great introduction. I also really like the Real Python online course. Again, not network-specific, but a good general introduction. You really only need part one, but parts two and three are useful as well.
  • hurricane1091hurricane1091 Member Posts: 919 ■■■■□□□□□□
    ande0255 wrote: »
    I posted this in another thread, but if you follow this youtube video (2 hours) as an introduction to intermediate understanding of Python with a laptop in front of you to follow along with the lesson, you will have a great foundation to then move into advanced skills.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkx5_MRAV3A

    I don't know what your level of python familiarity is, but if you are new to the language, this video is seriously a gift from youtube to future Py gurus.

    I watched this and did the code academy exercises today. Thank you.
  • NEODREAMNEODREAM Member Posts: 124 ■■■□□□□□□□
    I watched this and did the code academy exercises today. Thank you.

    +1 for this!
    Goal: eJPT Mar. 2020 | GDAT May 2020 | eCPPT Dec. 2020
  • OfWolfAndManOfWolfAndMan Member Posts: 923 ■■■■□□□□□□
    Also, once you're familiar enough with it, start sniffing through Github. Lots of good quality code on there.
    :study:Reading: Lab Books, Ansible Documentation, Python Cookbook 2018 Goals: More Ansible/Python work for Automation, IPSpace Automation Course [X], Build Jenkins Framework for Network Automation []
  • Danielh22185Danielh22185 Member Posts: 1,195 ■■■■□□□□□□
    I recently saw that Kevin Wallace put out an intro video to it as well:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21sD7n3M8Ew&t=454s
    Currently Studying: IE Stuff...kinda...for now...
    My ultimate career goal: To climb to the top of the computer network industry food chain.
    "Winning means you're willing to go longer, work harder, and give more than anyone else." - Vince Lombardi
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