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JUNOS Automation Cookbook
JUNOS Automation Cookbook

JUNOS Automation Cookbook: Automate network devices on Juniper's operating system

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JUNOS Automation Cookbook

Working with the Junos REST API

In this chapter, we will cover the following recipes:

  • Setting up the Junos REST API
  • Making REST API calls to Junos with Python
  • Making REST API calls to Junos with Node.js
  • Managing passwords safely
  • Applying configuration changes through the REST API

Introduction

Representational State Transfer (REST) is an architecture style that common in web application programming. Developed in tandem with HTTP/1.1, it encourages a representation of application object state within the underlying HTTP protocol transactions and an adherence to the semantics of the underlying HTTP verbs when applied to higher-level application state.

Simplistically, one of the key principles is that one should use the HTTP verbs in a manner that is consistent with the application object state. The table illustrates the different HTTP verbs and their specific applications:

HTTP Verb

Application

GET

Querying or reading the state of an object, given some sort of index

PUT

Setting or directly writing the state of an object based on an index

POST

Creating a new object within an underlying collection; or otherwise calling a procedure that...

Junos REST API setup

In this recipe, we'll prepare a Junos OS router for accessing the REST API in order to allow a software client to make RPC calls using convenient HTTP/HTTPS access methods.

Getting ready

In order to complete this recipe, you'll need access to a Junos OS router device running at least Junos 14.2 or later because the REST feature is relatively new. At the time of writing, it is available on T, M, MX, and SRX-series Juniper router devices.

How to do it...

The steps for the following recipe are as follows:

  1. Generate a private/public key-pair...

Making REST API calls to Junos with Python

In this recipe, we'll use Python's built-in standard library routines for HTTPS in order to access the Junos OS REST API. We'll build an example app, rest.py, that allows a user to make simple RPC calls. In order to control the operation of the application, we'll define some command-line arguments.

Command line option

Description

-t xml | json | text

Specify the output format

-r rpc

Specify the actual RPC call

-c certificate

Self-signed certificate from router

-p port

HTTPS port number, default 8443

-u username

Username to authenticate with

Getting ready...

In order to complete this recipe, you need access to a Junos OS router...

Making REST API calls to Junos with Node.js

In this recipe, we'll make an example app, rest.js, using Node.js to connect to the Junos OS REST API in order to make procedure calls. We'll use Node.js's built-in HTTPS support, augmented with some extra external modules simply for convenience. For utility value, we'll provide some command-line options to customize how the application runs.

Command line option

Description

-t xml | json | text

Specify the output format

-r rpc

Specify the actual RPC call

-c certificate

Self-signed certificate from router

-p port

HTTPS port number, default 8443

-u username

Username to authenticate with

Getting ready

In order to complete this...

Managing passwords safely

The previous recipes to connect to the Junos OS REST server might cause frustration for any application that needs to run in an unattended manner. Who will enter the password? This is not automation!

Dealing with the safe storage of security credentials can be tricky. The automation script needs to be able to read the credentials in a clear manner in order to complete the authentication process with the Junos OS device. But in most application execution environments, the permission to execute the app usually coincides with the permission to read the app executable file and, for just-in-time interpreted script languages, that includes the sensitive credentials.

People sometimes try to get around this problem by using a command line switch or an environment variable to store a password. This approach can be problematic though because, on most UNIX systems...

Applying configuration changes through the REST API

So far, we've only shown how to make use of operational RPCs. This allows us a fair amount of control and flexibility, but it's also possible to change the configuration of Junos OS through the REST API. In this recipe, we'll modify the previous Python code, rest.py, and make a modified version, rest-conf.py, that takes a configuration change as a text file and applies it to the specified Junos OS host, checking the loading process and the commit process as it goes.

Getting ready

In order to complete this recipe, you'll need a Python development environment with access to a Junos OS device upon which you've previously completed the REST API setup...

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Key benefits

  • Get well acquainted with security and routing policies to identify the use of firewall filters.
  • Learn to provide end-user authentication and protect each layer in an enterprise network. A recipe-based guide that will help you configure and monitor Junos OS and basic device operations.

Description

The JUNOS Automation Cookbook is a companion guide for the complex field of automating tasks on JUNOS devices. With a foundation in industry-standrd XML, JUNOS provides an ideal environment for programmatic interation, allowing you to build upon the capabilities provided by Juniper, with your own original code. You will begin by learning about, and setting up, the industry-standard NETCONF remote procedure call mechanisms on your device. After initial setup, you'll walk through SLAX - Juniper's foundation scripting language - for manipulating XML representations of JUNOS concepts and elements. You'll learn how to write your own SLAX scripts to customise the operating environment, and also how to write proactive event handlers that deal with situations as they happen. You'll then delve into PyEZ - Juniper's bridging framework to make automation accessible to Python code - allowing you to build automation applications in the popular scripting language. You'll witness some examples of how to write applications that can monitor configuration changes, implement BGP security policies and implement ad-hoc routing protocols, for those really tricky situations. You'll also leaarn how asynchronous I/O frameworks like Node.js can be used to implement automation applications that present an acceptable web interface. Along with way, you'll explore how to make use of the latest RESTful APIs that JUNOS provides, how to visualize aspects of your JUNOS network, and how to integrate your automation capabilities with enterprise-wide orchestration systems like Ansible. By the end of the book, you'll be able to tackle JUNOS automation challenges with confidence and understanding, and without hassle.

Who is this book for?

This book targets network engineers, developers, support personals, and administrators who are working on devices running Junos OS and are looking at automating their organisation's operations. Some understanding about Junos would be necessary

What you will learn

  • •Start using NETCONF RPC standard and understand its usefulness in programming JUNOS
  • •Write SLAX scripts to respond to events in the JUNOS environment
  • •Automate JUNOS with PyEZ
  • •Deal with events in the JUNOS environment, and writing response handlers to deal with them
  • •Make the most of automation technologies to help with maintenance and monitoring of JUNOS
  • •Use the Ansible framework to extend the automation functionality of Junos

Product Details

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Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : Sep 27, 2017
Length: 382 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781788290999
Vendor :
Juniper
Concepts :
Tools :

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Product Details

Publication date : Sep 27, 2017
Length: 382 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781788290999
Vendor :
Juniper
Concepts :
Tools :

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Table of Contents

9 Chapters
Configuring JUNOS through NETCONF Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Working with the Junos REST API Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Using SLAX to Write Op Scripts Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Event Programming Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Automating JUNOS with PyEZ Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Advanced Visualization Applications Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Monitoring and Maintaining JUNOS Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Security Applications Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Extending JUNOS with Ansible Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

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