Network Automation Power Stack & Learning Resources (2025 Extended Edition) 🚀

Give-Away and Freebies
, , , ,
1

Network Automation Power Stack & Learning Resources (2025 Extended Edition) :rocket:

Unlock Underground Tools, Courses & Frameworks to Supercharge Networking at Scale

:brain: Network automation is evolving fast—but most guides cover the same surface-level tools. This underground collection curates rare, advanced, and often-overlooked resources, tools, frameworks, and playbooks used by expert engineers and red-teamers for massive-scale automation, security orchestration, and performance management. Whether you’re building automated configs or scaling SDN/NetDevOps, this stack delivers practical firepower.

image
image1024×579 43.2 KB

:wrench: Rare Tools & Frameworks

  1. Nornir –
    A pure Python automation framework, unlike Ansible. Nornir is pluggable, perfect for complex workflows and inventory control. Great for parallel execution.

  2. Suzieq –
    Network observability tool built on Pandas and Python, Suzieq is a state-aware multi-vendor network checker. Excellent for validating intent and policy.

  3. NetBox –
    More than an IPAM—NetBox is a source of truth for network automation. Combine it with Ansible/Nornir for config drift detection, provisioning, and CMDB functions.

  4. Batfish –
    An open-source network configuration analysis engine to predict changes, audit routing, or detect misconfigs before going live.

  5. Napalm –
    Multi-vendor Python automation library. Supports real-time config compliance checks, deployment, and rollback features across Cisco, Juniper, and Arista.

  6. Scrapli –
    Lightweight, fast Python SSH library tailored for network devices. More performant and extensible than Netmiko.

  7. Netmiko –
    Still relevant! The classic library for SSH automation, with strong support for Cisco and legacy vendors.

  8. Clogeny Config Validator (CCV) –
    Rare open-source config validation utility to enforce network security standards via YAML templates.

  9. Autonetkit –
    Generates real-time virtual labs and topologies from YAML/JSON configs. Can simulate changes and test them in emulated environments.

  10. TTP (TextFSM++) –
    Super-lightweight text parser for logs, CLI output, configs. A powerful extension to TextFSM, used in scraping and alerting workflows.

:graduation_cap: Lesser-Known Learning Resources

  1. Kirk Byers’ Free Network Automation Course
    One of the most practical intro-to-advanced series. Focuses on Netmiko, NAPALM, and APIs.

  2. NetworkToCode GitHub
    Packed with labs, playbooks, open-source tools and training materials. Great for self-hosted lab automation.

  3. NSO Developer Hub (Cisco)
    Advanced platform for service orchestration and YANG-based modeling. Often overlooked in mainstream tutorials.

  4. Itential Academy (Free Tracks)
    Great for learning API-driven orchestration with GUI + Python approaches. Integrates with NetBox and existing ITSM.

  5. Juniper’s DevOps & NetDevOps Courses
    High-quality free and paid courses tailored to network engineers transitioning into code-driven workflows.

:magnifying_glass_tilted_left: Extra Rare Finds

  • Jinja2 Template Playground
    Test config templates in-browser. Great for learning how to modularize playbooks before deployment.

  • YANG Explorer
    GUI for browsing YANG models—ideal for anyone integrating with modern SDN controllers.

  • NAPALM Validate Templates
    Do config and state validation like compliance engineers using YAML-driven logic.

Underground Tools, APIs, and Labs to Build Enterprise-Grade Infrastructure Without Vendor Lock-in

This curated collection of lesser-known but powerful tools empowers teams to build intent-based, API-driven, testable infrastructure at scale.

:wrench: Extended Tools & Frameworks

Tool Use Case Why It’s Rare but Valuable
StackStorm Event-driven automation Integrates scripts, APIs, and services into workflows. Excellent for network + security event orchestration.
NSOT (Network Source of Truth) Source of truth system Developed by Dropbox. Lightweight, REST-based alternative to NetBox. Great for dynamic automation.
Netopeer2 NETCONF server toolkit Build or simulate real network devices with NETCONF/YANG models. Ideal for labbing and SDN testbeds.
RESTCONF & YANG Tools Hub YANG model catalog Search & test YANG models across all vendors. Useful for building model-driven automation.
pyATS + Genie Test automation framework Cisco’s open-source test automation tool. Simulates, validates, and verifies config changes.
ToDD (Testing on Demand Daemon) Network test automation Perform distributed network tests across multiple nodes. Good for real-time mesh validation.
SaltStack + Napalm Orchestration + Device API Run high-scale state enforcement using Salt with NAPALM. Great for config drift + compliance.
Netshot Configuration backup, diff, & audit Automated config backup + change detection for routers/switches. RESTful and highly scriptable.
Oxidized Config versioning tool Think Git for router configs. Watch devices, auto-pull config snapshots and diffs.
Trigger Multi-vendor CLI automation High-performance CLI tool focused on fast command execution across networks.
RANCID Legacy config tracker Still viable for older networks. Automates config snapshots, changes, alerts.
CloudNetSim (EVE-NG+Python) Cloud automation simulator Create dynamic network topologies, test failovers, and provisioning flows in sandbox environments.
TNT (Topogun Network Topology) Diagram → Config generator Turn YAML-based network topologies into complete Ansible/Nornir templates.
Nautobot Successor to NetBox Adds plugins, GraphQL, and job scheduling. Ideal for dynamic workflows. Maintained by Network to Code.
CVP API Toolkit (Arista) CloudVision Python modules Automate Arista CVP deployment, validation, and rollback with Python.
OpenDaylight SDN controller framework Model-based orchestration, network slicing, and flow programming via REST APIs and YANG.

:graduation_cap: Deep & Rare Learning Resources

  1. DevNet Sandbox
    Spin up live testbeds (IOS XE, XR, NSO, Meraki, SD-WAN) in the cloud. Free, zero setup.

  2. NetDevOps Live (Video Archive)
    Weekly technical deep dives on real automation labs and tools like GitOps, Suzieq, and Nautobot.

  3. Packet Pushers Labs
    Rare articles and practical labs from real engineers on NetOps, Infra as Code, and policy orchestration.

  4. API Network Automation Bootcamp (Juniper Free)
    Focus on Junos automation, PyEZ, and network APIs.

  5. Ansible for Networking Deep Dive (Red Hat)
    Covers templating, validation, and compliance.

  6. Nautobot Academy
    Free courses + real-world automation projects using Nautobot, GraphQL, jobs, and plugins.

:gear: Bonus Gems

  • NETCONF Test Tool
    Simulate NETCONF sessions and device models to test automation before pushing live.

  • nAPIdoc
    Converts API calls into readable docs. Use it for auto-generating API documentation for your NetOps apps.

  • Terraform for Networking
    Use Terraform modules to automate NetBox, IOS-XR, Fortinet, and more.

:light_bulb: Pro Tip for 2025

Build your own orchestration layer by combining:

  • NetBox or Nautobot as your Source of Truth

  • Nornir for fast, parallel execution

  • Scrapli/NAPALM to talk to devices

  • StackStorm or Ansible for playbook orchestration

  • GitLab CI or Jenkins to trigger tests & deploys via GitOps

:gear: Pro Tip

Combine Nornir + NetBox + Scrapli to build a vendor-agnostic dynamic automation framework that runs scheduled configs, collects logs, and audits your infra without reinventing the wheel.

:pushpin: Summary

This stack isn’t for everyone—it’s tailored for serious builders who want to go beyond Ansible and scripts, into reproducible, scalable, policy-driven automation. From network-as-code to event-driven pipelines, this collection unlocks enterprise-grade capabilities without vendor lock-in.

This rare-stack is for engineers ready to push automation beyond YAML and playbooks—into programmable, testable, versioned, and self-healing infrastructure.

From SDN to legacy routers, these tools are battle-tested in real environments but unfairly underused. Now they’re all in one place.

ENJOY & HAPPY LEARNING! :heart:

9 Likes
2

Another goldmine resources, appreciate :+1:

1 Like