TTPS4824: Python for Networking & Systems Administrators (SysAdmin)
About this Course
Python Essentials for Networking & Systems Administration / SysAdmin is tailored for IT professionals, systems administrators, and network engineers who want to harness the power of Python to simplify and automate everyday tasks across distributed systems. Whether you’re new to scripting or looking to expand your skillset, this course provides the perfect opportunity to build essential Python expertise and apply it to real-world scenarios. Working in a hands-on lab environment, you’ll start with foundational Python scripting essentials like file operations, regular expressions, and working with binary data, then progress to leveraging network-focused modules such as SSH, Git, and RESTful services. With a strong emphasis on practical application, this course ensures you’re not just learning syntax but mastering the tools to solve real challenges in your role.
Unlike quick overviews that leave you scrambling for context, this course emphasizes learning by doing. Through engaging labs and guided exercises, you’ll develop tangible skills that translate directly to automating critical tasks like system configuration, network requests, and administrative workflows. Designed for technical professionals who manage distributed systems or oversee network operations, this class equips you to apply Python immediately on the job. By the end of the course, you’ll have the confidence and knowledge to use Python as a powerful tool to enhance productivity and efficiency in your day-to-day responsibilities.
Audience Profile
This introductory-level Python course is appropriate for advanced users, system administrators and web site administrators who want to use Python to support their server installations, as well as anyone else who wants to automate or simplify common tasks with the use of Python scripts. Students should have basic development experience in any programming language, along with a working, user-level knowledge of Unix/Linux, Mac, or Windows.
At Course Completion
This course combines engaging instructor-led presentations and useful demonstrations with valuable hands-on labs and engaging group activities.
Throughout the course you'll learn how to:
Automate Networking and Administrative Tasks: Gain the ability to use Python scripts to automate repetitive tasks, such as configuring systems, managing files, and performing network diagnostics across distributed environments.
Work with Python's Networking Libraries: Develop proficiency in leveraging Python's built-in and third-party libraries, including modules like Paramiko for SSH, requests for RESTful services, and socket programming for custom protocols.
Handle Data Efficiently: Master the techniques for processing, manipulating, and storing data using Python, including working with text files, binary data, JSON, XML, and CSV formats.
Develop Secure and Scalable Scripts: Learn best practices for creating efficient and secure Python scripts that can be easily scaled or integrated into existing workflows, ensuring reliability in production environments.
Build Real-World Python Solutions: Apply the skills learned to complete practical projects, such as fetching web content, automating email tasks, and implementing multi-threaded scripts for improved system performance.
If your team requires different topics, additional skills or a custom approach, our team will collaborate with you to adjust the course to focus on your specific learning objectives and goals.
Outline
NOTE: This agenda is based on our standard course offering, evolved from typical industry uses and trends. We will collaborate with you to tune this course to target the skills you need most. Topics, agenda and labs are subject to change and may adjust during live delivery based on audience skill level, interests and participation.
1. The Python Environment
Starting Python
If the interpreter is not in your PATH
Using the interpreter
Trying out a few commands
Running Python scripts
Getting help
Python Editors and IDEs
2. Variables and Values
Using variables
Keywords and Builtins
Variable typing
Strings
String operators and methods
Numeric literals
Math operators and expressions
Converting among types
3. Basic input and output
Writing to the screen
String Formatting
Legacy String Formatting
Command line parameters
Reading from the keyboard
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
5. Array types
Lists
Tuples and unpacking
Indexing and slicing
Iterating through a sequence
Functions for all sequences
The range() function
List comprehensions
Generator Expressions
6. Working with Files
Text file I/O
Opening a text file
The with block
Reading a text file
Writing to a text file
7. Dictionaries and sets
When to use dictionaries?
Creating dictionaries
Getting dictionary values
Iterating through a dictionary
Reading file data into a dictionary
Counting with dictionaries
Creating Sets
Working with sets
8. Functions, modules, packages
Defining a function
Returning values
Function parameters
Variable scope
Creating Modules
The import statement
Where did __pycache__ come from?
Module search path
Packages
9. 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
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
11. Efficient Scripting
Running external programs
Parsing arguments
Creating filters to read text files
Logging
12. 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
13. Binary data
str vs bytes
Binary files
Structured binary data
Bitwise operations
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
15. Sockets
Sockets
Socket options
Server concepts
Client concepts
Application protocols
Forking servers
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
17. 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
Bonus Chapters / Time Permitting
18. Sorting
Sorting Overview
The sorted() function
Custom sort keys
Lambda functions
Sorting nested data
Sorting dictionaries
Sorting in reverse
Sorting lists in place
Addendum & Resources
Prerequisites
To ensure a smooth learning experience and maximize the benefits of attending this course, you should have the following prerequisite skills:
At least some prior hands-on experience with scripting or programming. You don't need to be an expert in either, but you should have had some exposure and should be coming from a technical background.
Working with Unix or Linux, and familiarity with using the command line interface for simple tasks, such as file navigation and executing commands.
Basic familiarity working with text editors like Notepad, or IDEs, would be helpful as the course includes hands-on lab sessions requiring code editing.