Network Automation Cookbook - Second Edition

Explore network automation with Ansible by configuring network infrastructure fast, reliably, and repeatedly, all while creating a lab utilizing open and available network operating systems and tools

Key Features:

- Design, build, and automate network devices and cloud networking resources using Ansible

- Orchestrate workflows with AWX and integrate Nautobot as a Source of Truth

- Start with Event-Driven Ansible and manage Terraform workflows seamlessly

- Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBook

Book Description:

Network Automation Cookbook, now in its second edition, is your essential guide to building robust network automation workflows across modern hybrid infrastructures. Building on the foundation laid in the first edition, this version dives deeper into Ansible's role in automating network infrastructure, expanding coverage to include modern use cases across enterprise and cloud networks.

The book introduces Ansible's core concepts, such as playbooks, inventories, variables, loops, and templates, and progresses to advanced topics such as parallelism, fact caching, custom filters, and modular design. You will automate real-world scenarios using Nokia SR, Cisco IOS, Juniper, and Arista devices in a fully reproducible virtual lab. The chapters also help you explore cloud automation for AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, and integrate validation tools such as PyATS, Batfish, and Nautobot. New chapters cover event-driven automation, AWX for workflow execution, and Terraform integration. By using hands-on labs and fully reproducible recipes, you can practice real-world scenarios and reinforce your skills.

By the end of this book, you'll be well-equipped with the tools and workflows to automate infrastructure efficiently with Ansible.

What You Will Learn:

- Build Ansible playbooks, roles, and inventories from scratch

- Automate Juniper and Arista network devices

- Deploy cloud networks on AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud

- Validate networks with Batfish and NAPALM

- Use AWX for workflow automation and job scheduling

- Integrate Nautobot as a dynamic inventory source

- Run all recipes in containerized, hardware-free labs

- Apply event-driven automation using Ansible Rulebooks

Who this book is for:

This second edition will help network engineers, DevOps pros, cloud architects, automation engineers, and NREs understand Ansible's role in network automation and how it integrates with tools like Terraform and event-driven architectures. The book requires basic networking knowledge and familiarity with YAML to maximize learning.

Table of Contents

- Why Ansible for Network Automation?

- Building Blocks of Ansible

- Advanced Ansible Concepts

- Building Data Center Networks with Arista

- Automating a Juniper Network Core Using Ansible

- Managing Nokia SR Devices Using Ansible

- Administering a Multi-Vendor Network with NAPALM and Ansible

- Deploying and Operating AWS Networking

- Deploying and Operating Azure Networking

- Deploying and Operating GCP Networking

- Network Validation with Batfish

- Building a Network Inventory with Nautobot

- Simplifying Automation with AWX

- Event-Driven Automation with Ansible

- Terraform and Ansible Dancing Together

- Appendix - The Lab