How many ways can use automation connecting into Cisco device?

There are numerous ways to automate connections to Cisco devices, each suited to different network management requirements, levels of complexity, and infrastructure scale. The methods vary widely, from traditional command-line scripting approaches to advanced network automation platforms, and each brings distinct benefits to automating repetitive or complex tasks within a network environment.

One of the foundational approaches to Cisco automation is using command-line interface (CLI) scripting over SSH, which provides direct access to the device’s operating system and configuration commands. This method typically involves programming languages like Python, which, when combined with libraries such as Netmiko or Paramiko, allows for automated, scripted interaction with Cisco devices. These libraries simplify SSH connections, enabling the automated execution of CLI commands for configuration, monitoring, and diagnostics. For example, a network administrator might use a Python script to log into a Cisco device, send configuration commands to change IP addresses or VLAN settings, and then verify those changes automatically. CLI automation is especially useful in smaller networks or for custom one-off scripts where more extensive frameworks may be unnecessary.

An alternative to CLI scripting is Expect scripting, available in both Tcl and Python. Expect automates interactive SSH or Telnet sessions by simulating user input based on expected command prompts. This approach was popular in earlier network management setups but is less common today, as newer libraries like Netmiko provide a more seamless automation experience without requiring interaction simulations. Despite this, Expect scripts can still be useful for specific tasks or in legacy environments where other libraries might be difficult to implement.

For more structured and scalable management, network management protocols like SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), NETCONF (Network Configuration Protocol), and RESTCONF allow for programmatic monitoring and configuration of Cisco devices. SNMP has been a staple in network monitoring for decades and provides a lightweight way to retrieve device status, metrics, and basic configuration details. It’s commonly used for network health monitoring, alerting, and performance tracking. Network administrators can set up SNMP traps to receive automatic alerts about device status changes, such as power issues, temperature increases, or interface failures, which is critical in larger networks requiring ongoing monitoring.

NETCONF and RESTCONF offer more advanced functionality compared to SNMP, as they support both configuration and state information in structured, standardized formats. NETCONF operates over SSH and uses XML data encoding, making it suitable for complex configurations where structured data management is crucial. Cisco devices that support NETCONF can be configured in a model-driven approach, which means configurations are standardized across devices, reducing errors and simplifying device management. RESTCONF provides a RESTful API for interacting with network devices over HTTP or HTTPS, using standard HTTP methods like GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE. This makes RESTCONF particularly user-friendly for developers familiar with web-based programming and APIs. RESTCONF is ideal for environments already leveraging RESTful services, allowing for simple integration of Cisco device management within web-based automation frameworks or applications.

Cisco has also developed dedicated platforms for network automation, such as Cisco DNA Center and Cisco Network Services Orchestrator (NSO). Cisco DNA Center is an integrated network management and automation platform that provides end-to-end management for Cisco networks. It enables administrators to automate provisioning, configuration, and monitoring for both wired and wireless devices across the network. DNA Center supports advanced features like policy-based automation, which lets administrators define network policies that are automatically enforced, ensuring network consistency and reducing manual intervention. It also includes AI-driven insights to help detect network anomalies and improve performance, making it particularly suitable for large organizations that require comprehensive automation and management capabilities.

Cisco NSO is another powerful tool for automation, offering a high-level orchestration solution for managing complex network services across multi-vendor environments. NSO provides a model-driven approach to network configuration, which simplifies the process of rolling out, updating, and maintaining device configurations across a network. It allows network administrators to create, update, and delete service configurations as a single unified operation, rather than configuring each device individually. This platform is often used by service providers and large enterprises that require a robust, scalable solution to manage network services across various device types and manufacturers, making it highly valuable for environments that include both Cisco and non-Cisco devices.

For administrators who prefer an open-source approach, Ansible has become a popular tool for network automation, particularly with Cisco devices. Ansible is an automation framework that uses YAML playbooks to define network tasks in a human-readable format. Cisco provides specific Ansible modules that support operations on Cisco IOS, NX-OS, and other operating systems, allowing administrators to automate tasks like configuration, firmware upgrades, and backups across multiple devices with minimal scripting. Ansible connects to Cisco devices over SSH and uses both CLI commands and APIs to manage configurations. This makes it ideal for teams that want a flexible and scalable automation tool without requiring deep programming expertise. Since Ansible is agentless, it doesn’t require any special software on the managed devices, which simplifies deployment.

In addition to these options, Cisco has developed specialized libraries and frameworks, such as pyATS (Python Automated Test System), to support advanced testing and automation. pyATS is a Python-based framework created by Cisco for network testing and automation, and it’s particularly useful for verifying configurations, running diagnostic tests, and automating testing workflows. Network engineers can use pyATS to build scripts that automatically verify network configurations against expected standards, helping to detect and correct issues before they impact network performance. Cisco DevNet, Cisco’s developer platform, also offers extensive resources, SDKs, and APIs for those interested in creating custom applications and automation solutions for Cisco devices. DevNet includes a robust library of tools and documentation to help developers integrate Cisco devices with third-party systems, enabling advanced programmability and network customization.

These automation methods are supported by advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning, especially within platforms like Cisco DNA Center, which uses AI to detect anomalies, optimize network configurations, and predict network failures. By leveraging AI-driven insights, Cisco’s automation solutions are moving toward self-healing networks, where routine maintenance and troubleshooting are increasingly automated, allowing IT teams to focus on higher-level strategic tasks rather than repetitive maintenance.

In summary, the ways to automate connections to Cisco devices are diverse, from traditional CLI scripting with Python libraries to advanced orchestration platforms and network protocols. The approach chosen depends on the network’s complexity, the level of programmability needed, and the organization’s resources. As automation becomes central to network management, Cisco’s ecosystem supports a variety of tools and frameworks that empower IT teams to streamline configurations, improve security, and reduce manual workloads. With these options, Cisco automation offers substantial benefits in efficiency, scalability, and resilience for networks of all sizes.