Python programming for Network Administrators

Course Code: 1250

$2495

Overview
Schedule classes
What you'll learn
Outline
Prerequisites
Who should attend

Overview

The Python programming for Network Administrators course is designed for network/system administrators, with an aim to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to leverage automation in network administrative tasks. The course covers the fundamentals of writing and executing Python scripts, as well as the usage of more advanced features like file operations, regular expressions, and working with binary data. The course explores the vast functionalities of Python modules, focusing on modules like Git, SSH and RESTful services. With this course, participants will be have a hands-on experience with Python, helping build a strong foundational understanding to eventually help practical application of concepts learnt, in the field of automation and network administration.

Schedule Classes

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Course Delivery

This course is available in the following formats:

Live Classroom
Duration: 4 days

Live Virtual Classroom
Duration: 4 days

What You'll learn

Write executable Python scripts based on effective practices
Use Python data types optimally
Reading and writing files using text as well as binary data
Standard library and work-saving modules
Using collections such as lists, dictionaries, and sets appropriately
Features of Python like comprehensions and iterators
Searching and replacing text with regular expressions
Leveraging powerful Python data types
Build real-world, enterprise-centric Python applications
Work with dates, times, and calendars
Writing strong code using exception handling

Outline

Module 1: An overview of Python

What is Python?
The Birth of Python.
About Interpreted Languages
Advantages of Python
Disadvantages of Python
How to get Python
Which version of Python?
The end of Python 2
Getting Help
One day on Dagobah

Module 2: The Python environment

Starting Python
If the interpreter is not in your PATH
Using the interpreter
Trying out a few commands
Running Python scripts (explicit)
Running Python scripts (implicit)
Using pydoc
Python Editors and IDEs

Module 3: Getting started

Using variables
Keywords and Builtins
Variable typing
Strings
Single-delimited string literals
Triple-delimited string literals
Raw string literals
Unicode characters
String operators and methods
String Methods
Numeric literals
Math operators and expressions
Converting among types
Writing to the screen
String Formatting
Legacy String Formatting
Command line parameters
Reading from the keyboard

Module 4: Flow control

About flow control
What’s with the white space?
if and elif
Conditional Expressions
Relational Operators
Boolean operators
while loops
Alternate ways to exit a loop

Module 5: Array types

About Array Types
Lists
Tuples
Indexing and slicing
Iterating through a sequence
Unpacking tuples
Nested sequences
Functions for all sequences
Using enumerate()
Operators and keywords for sequences
The range() function
List comprehensions
Generator Expressions

Module 6: Working with Files

Text file I/O
Opening a text file
The with block
Reading a text file
Writing to a text file

Module 7: Dictionaries

About dictionaries
When to use dictionaries?
Creating dictionaries
Getting dictionary values
Iterating through a dictionary
Reading file data into a dictionary
Counting with dictionaries
About sets
Creating Sets
Working with sets

Module 8: Functions

Defining a function
Returning values
Function parameters
Variable scope

Module 9: Sorting

Sorting Overview
The sorted() function
Custom sort keys
Lambda functions
Sorting nested data
Sorting dictionaries
Sorting in reverse
Sorting lists in place

Module 10: Errors and Exception Handling

Syntax errors
Exceptions
Handling exceptions with try
Handling multiple exceptions
Handling generic exceptions
Ignoring exceptions
Using else
Cleaning up with finally

Module 11: Using Modules

What is a module?
Creating Modules
The import statement
Where did __pycache__ come from?
Module search path
Packages
Example
Module Aliases
When the batteries aren’t included

Module 12: An Introduction to Python Classes

About O-O programming
Defining classes
Constructors
Instance methods
Properties
Class methods and data
Static Methods
Private methods
Inheritance
Untangling the nomenclature

Module 13: Regular expressions

Regular Expressions
RE Syntax Overview
Finding matches
RE Objects
Compilation Flags
Groups
Special Groups
Replacing text
Replacing with a callback
Splitting a string

Module 14: Network Programming

Grabbing a web page
Consuming Web services
HTTP the easy way
sending e-mail
Email attachments
Remote Access
Copying files with Paramiko

Module 15: Sockets

Sockets
Socket options
Server concepts
Client concepts
Application protocols
Forking servers

Module 16: Multiprogramming

Multiprogramming
What Are Threads?
The Python Thread Manager
The threading Module
Threads for the impatient
Creating a thread class
Variable sharing
Using queues
Debugging threaded Programs
The multiprocessing module
Using pools
Alternatives to multiprogramming

Module 17: Closures

What is a closure?
Why do I need one?
How can I make one?
Factory Function
Using functools.partial()

Module 19: Serializing Data: XML, XPath, JSON, CSV

About XML
Normal Approaches to XML
Which module to use?
Getting Started With ElementTree
How ElementTree Works
Elements
Creating a New XML Document
Parsing An XML Document
Navigating the XML Document
Using XPath
About JSON
Reading JSON
Writing JSON
Customizing JSON
Reading CSV data
Nonstandard CSV
Using csv.DictReader
Writing CSV Data
Pickle

Prerequisites

There are no mandatory prerequisites for this course. However, having basic understanding of the network administration tasks would be highly beneficial.