3.Complete Python Basics for Automation-Python setup on Linux OS

Introduction

This tutorial aims to guide you through setting up Python for automation on a Linux operating system. By following these steps, you will gain a foundational understanding of Python basics, specifically tailored for network automation. This knowledge will empower you to create scripts and automate tasks efficiently.

Step 1: Install Python on Linux

1. Open the terminal on your Linux machine.
2. Update your package list to ensure you have the latest information:

   sudo apt update
   

3. Install Python using the following command:

   sudo apt install python3
   

4. Verify the installation by checking the Python version:

   python3 --version
   

Step 2: Set Up an Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

1. Choose an IDE or text editor. Some popular options include:
   • Visual Studio Code
   • PyCharm
   • Sublime Text
2. Install your chosen IDE. For example, to install Visual Studio Code:

   sudo snap install --classic code
   

3. Open the IDE after installation and configure it to use Python 3.

Step 3: Understand Python Data Types

Familiarize yourself with basic Python data types:

• Integer: Whole numbers (e.g., 5)
• Floating Point: Decimal numbers (e.g., 7.5)
• String: Text (e.g., "Hello, World!")
• Boolean: True or False values (e.g., True, False)
• List: A collection of items (e.g., [1, 2, 3, 'four'])

Step 4: Learn Python Functions

Key built-in functions to know:

• type(): Check the data type of a variable.
• print(): Output data to the console.
• len(): Get the length of a sequence.
• append(): Add an item to the end of a list.
• input(): Get user input from the console.

Example of using these functions:

my_list = [1, 2, 3]
my_list.append(4)
print(my_list)  # Outputs: [1, 2, 3, 4]

Step 5: Implement Conditional Statements

Learn how to control the flow of your program using conditional statements:

• if: Executes a block of code if the condition is true.
• elif: Checks another condition if the previous one is false.
• else: Executes if none of the previous conditions are true.

Example:

x = 10
if x > 5:
    print("x is greater than 5")
elif x == 5:
    print("x is equal to 5")
else:
    print("x is less than 5")

Step 6: Create Loops

Master the use of loops to execute code multiple times:

• For loop: Iterates over a sequence (like a list).
• While loop: Continues to execute as long as a condition is true.

Example of a for loop:

for i in range(5):
    print(i)  # Outputs numbers 0 to 4

Step 7: Create and Execute a Python Program

1. Open your IDE and create a new Python file (e.g., my_script.py).
2. Write your Python code in the file.
3. Save the file and return to the terminal.
4. Navigate to the directory where your script is saved.
5. Execute the script using:

   python3 my_script.py
   

Conclusion

In this tutorial, you have learned how to set up Python on a Linux system, understand data types, implement functions and conditional statements, create loops, and execute a Python program. These skills form a solid foundation for automating tasks in networking and beyond. As a next step, consider exploring additional Python libraries that can enhance your automation capabilities, such as paramiko for SSH connections or netmiko for network device automation. Happy coding!