These are my projects which I have tested in a real network of 2500+ devices. Scripts created to automate tasks in network devices such as Cisco, HP, Arista, etc.
The process of automation involved creating Python scripts to interface with network devices over SSH using netmiko and paramiko. Credentials are securely handled, and datetime is used for timestamping backups.
The backup scripts for HP and Cisco devices are run from the command line, and the scripts generate backups of the device configurations.
Error: NetMikoTimeoutException
Cause: Could not establish an SSH connection to the device (possibly due to incorrect IP or device being unreachable).
Resolution: Ensured IP addresses were up to date and reachable; implemented error handling to log unreachable devices without halting the automation process.
Error: NetMikoAuthenticationException
Cause: Incorrect username/password authentication for devices.
Resolution: Added a password confirmation step in get_credentials() to avoid mistyped passwords.
Error: SSHException and IOError
Cause: General SSH errors and IO-related errors (such as writing to a file).
Resolution: Implemented broader exception handling to catch these errors and log them appropriately.
Error: Incorrect Command Usage
Cause: Using commands that were not recognized by the device's command-line interface.
Resolution: Reviewed and updated command syntax to match the device-specific command line.
Error: NetMikoTimeoutException
Cause: Device did not respond in time for an SSH connection.
Resolution: Configured a retry mechanism with a delay and verified network connectivity.
Error: NetMikoAuthenticationException
Cause: Authentication failures due to incorrect credentials.
Resolution: Re-verification of credentials and error-handling logic to prompt the user again for credentials upon failure.
Error: Handling Special Characters in Prompts
Cause: Device prompts containing special characters leading to execution issues.
Resolution: Utilized expect_string parameter to handle special characters in prompts accurately.