Cisco Automation with Ansible

1. Introduction

Network automation is a key aspect of modern IT infrastructure management. Ansible, an open-source automation tool, simplifies the automation of various network tasks, including those related to Cisco devices.

2. Ansible Overview

Ansible is an agentless automation tool that uses simple, human-readable YAML files to describe automation jobs. It operates on a push model where commands are sent from a control node to managed devices.

Key features include:

• Agentless architecture
• Idempotency ensuring consistent state
• Extensive modules for different tasks

3. Cisco Automation with Ansible

Cisco devices can be automated using Ansible modules specifically designed for Cisco IOS, NX-OS, and other platforms. These modules allow you to perform tasks such as configuration management and network monitoring.

4. Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Install Ansible

Use pip to install Ansible:

pip install ansible

Step 2: Create an Inventory File

Define your Cisco devices in an inventory file (e.g., inventory.yml):

[cisco]
router1 ansible_host=192.168.1.1 ansible_user=admin ansible_password=password ansible_network_os=ios
router2 ansible_host=192.168.1.2 ansible_user=admin ansible_password=password ansible_network_os=ios
                

Step 3: Create a Playbook

Create a playbook (e.g., playbook.yml) for configuration:

- hosts: cisco
  tasks:
    - name: Ensure interface is up
      ios_interface:
        name: GigabitEthernet0/0
        enabled: true
        state: present
                

Step 4: Run the Playbook

Execute the playbook using the ansible-playbook command:

ansible-playbook -i inventory.yml playbook.yml

5. Best Practices

• Use version control (e.g., Git) for playbooks and inventory files.
• Test playbooks in a lab environment before production deployment.
• Utilize Ansible roles to organize and reuse code efficiently.

6. FAQ