Automating Network Programmability and Backup on Cisco Devices Using Python and Netmiko Library: A Case Study of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital LAN
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24191/jcrinn.v10i1.488Keywords:
Programmability, Automation, Python, Netmiko Library, Local Area NetworkAbstract
The need for programmability and backup automation in modern network administration has become increasingly critical. In environments that facilitate and heavily depend on essential network operations, such as hospitals, ensuring secure, stable, and reliable processes in network management is imperative. This study proposes an automated framework for the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) Local Area Network (LAN), leveraging Python and the Netmiko library to streamline backups of Cisco devices, significantly improving upon the limitations of manual processes used by the hospital's networking professionals. Results from experiments conducted in the study show a slightly above 99% reduction in backup completion time; 60 minutes to a maximum of 1.56 seconds per device, a 100% success rate in backup configuration, and an optimized resource utilization. The experiments also demonstrated that the proposed automated scheme effectively addressed the challenges posed by these conventional yet error-prone manual processes. This was validated through performance evaluation metrics such as backup completion time, success rate, and resource utilization.
Downloads
References
Akbar, M. G., Witriyono, H., Apridiyansyah, Y., & Abdullah, D. (2023). Implementation Of The Inter Tk Package, Sub-Process And Os In The Network Management Application Development With Python Programming Language. Jurnal Komputer, Informasi Dan Teknologi, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.53697/jkomitek.v3i1.1210
Akinsanya, M. O., Ekechi, C. C., & Chukwuekem, D. O. (2024). VIRTUAL PRIVATE NETWORKS (VPN): A CONCEPTUAL REVIEW OF SECURITY PROTOCOLS AND THEIR APPLICATION IN MODERN NETWORKS. Engineering Science & Technology Journal, 5(4), 1452–1472. https://doi.org/10.51594/estj.v5i4.1076
Anwar, S. J., & Ahmad, I. (2019). Design and Deployment of IPSec VPN Using CISCO Network Infrastructure. International Journal of Scientific Research in Computer Science, Engineering and Information Technology, 237–247. https://doi.org/10.32628/cseit195630
C, G., Patil, V. D., Singh, D. K., Kumar, R., T, N., & Kalra, H. (2023). Investigating the Benefits of Adopting Secure Shell (SSH) in Wireless Network Security. 2023 IEEE International Conference on Paradigm Shift in Information Technologies with Innovative Applications in Global Scenario (ICPSITIAGS), 309–315. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICPSITIAGS59213.2023.10527461
Consul, J. . I., & Bunakiye, J. . R. (2023). Survey of the Influence of Routing Protocols to Network Performance Enhancement. Advances in Multidisciplinary and Scientific Research Journal Publication, 10(4), 13–28. https://doi.org/10.22624/AIMS/MATHS/V11N4P2
Dewi, S., Firmansyah, F., & Hasan, U. (2022). Penerapan Metode Access Control List Pada Jaringan VLAN Menggunakan Router Cisco. IMTechno: Journal of Industrial Management and Technology, 3(1), 37–41. https://doi.org/10.31294/imtechno.v3i1.927
Dong, X., Yu, Y., & Zhou, J. (2023). Cisco. Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-7870-8
Ehigbochie, D., & Omoze, E. (2024). CISCO vs Other Networking Tools: A Comprehensive Study on Current Network Simulators and Categorizing Them Based on Their Performances. Journal of Computer Sciences and Informatics, 1(1), 33. https://doi.org/10.5455/JCSI.20240523125542
Elezi, A., & Karras, D. A. (2023). On Detailed Network Systems Configuration Management Automation using Python. WSEAS TRANSACTIONS ON COMMUNICATIONS, 22, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.37394/23204.2023.22.1
Ergenç, D., Brülhart, C., & Fischer, M. (2023). Towards Developing Resilient and Service-oriented Mission-critical Systems. http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.00128
Farias, W. A. S., Melo, D. M. A., Santos, L. M. dos, de Oliveira, Â. A. S., Medeiros, R. L. B. A., & Silva, Y. K. R. O. (2024). Web Scraping as a scientific tool for theoretical reference. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3854342/v1
Filsfils, C., Bashandy, A., Gredler, H., & Decraene, B. (2019). IS-IS Extensions for Segment Routing. https://doi.org/10.17487/RFC8667
Gondhalekar, B., Manna, H., Kothi, S., & Borsae, D. B. (2024). Network Automation With Multithreading Using GNS3 and Netmiko. Indian Journal of Computer Science, 9(2), 18. https://doi.org/10.17010/ijcs/2024/v9/i2/173860
Hassan, G. M., Hussien, N. M., & Mohialden, Y. M. (2023). Python TCP/IP libraries: A Review. International Journal Papier Advance and Scientific Review, 4(2), 10–15. https://doi.org/10.47667/ijpasr.v4i2.202
Hunt, J. (2023). Sockets in Python (pp. 557–569). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-40336-1_49
Karki, S. (2021). Performance Comparison of SSH Libraries.
Mahmood, A. (2020, September 16). Performance Analysis of Routing Protocols RIP, EIGRP, OSPF and IGRP using Networks connector. https://doi.org/10.4108/eai.28-6-2020.2298167
Mazin, A. A., Abidin, H. Z., Mazalan, L., & Mazin, A. M. (2023). Network Automation Using Python Programming to Interact with Multiple Third-Party Network Devices. 2023 10th International Conference on Information Technology, Computer, and Electrical Engineering (ICITACEE), 59–64. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICITACEE58587.2023.10277400
Michel, F., & Bonaventure, O. (2023). Towards SSH3: how HTTP/3 improves secure shells. ArXiv.Org.
Miller, A., Kobylski, N., Qamar, E., Xiao, J., Veal, N., Kenney, R., Wysocki, N., & Mahmoud, M. (2022). Automating File Operations via Python. 2022 International Conference on Computational Science and Computational Intelligence (CSCI), 1907–1913. https://doi.org/10.1109/CSCI58124.2022.00343
Mutiara, D. A., Isnaini, K. N., & Suhartono, D. (2023). NETWORK PROGRAMMABILITY FOR NETWORK ISSUE USING PARAMIKO LIBRARY. Jurnal Teknik Informatika (Jutif), 4(4), 751–758. https://doi.org/10.52436/1.jutif.2023.4.4.691
Neeru Kumari, & Dr. Tilak Raj. (2024). OSPF Metric Convergence and Variation Analysis During Redistribution with Routing Information Protocol. International Research Journal on Advanced Engineering and Management (IRJAEM), 2(06), 1985–1991. https://doi.org/10.47392/irjaem.2024.0293
Novradinata, R., Riyadi, S., & Adrian, R. (2022). Evaluating the Hybrid Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) on the Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP). In Emerging Information Science and Technology (Vol. 3, Issue 2).
Pike, T., Colter, R., Bailey, M., Kazil, J., & Meyers, J. S. (2022). Social Networks as a Collective Intelligence: An Examination of the Python Ecosystem.
Prosviryakova, L. V., Osipov, K. A., & Dmitriev, A. A. (2024). New opportunities for studying digital information transmission technologies using Cisco equipment. E3S Web of Conferences, 548, 03010. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202454803010
Tiwari, M. K., Pal, R., Chauhan, V., Singh, V., Singh, V., Dhamodaran, Dr. S., & Sharma, Dr. S. (2024). A python programming widely utilized in the development of a twitter bot as a sophisticated advance technical tool. International Journal of Computing and Artificial Intelligence, 5(1), 102–108. https://doi.org/10.33545/27076571.2024.v5.i1b.88
Toledo, S. (2023). SSH tunneling to connect to remote computers. Software Impacts, 17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.simpa.2023.100545
Wachid, N., Majid, A., & Fuada, S. (2020). RIP VS. OSPF ROUTING PROTOCOLS: WHICH ONE IS THE BEST FOR A REAL-TIME COMPUTER NETWORK? Jurnal SIMETRIS, 11(1).
Wang, X., Liu, Z., Li, Q., Guo, Y., Ling, S., Zhan, J., Xu, Y., Xu, K., & Wu, J. (2023). Secure Inter-domain Routing and Forwarding via Verifiable Forwarding Commitments. http://arxiv.org/abs/2309.13271
Xu, J., & Russello, G. (2022). Automated Security-focused Network Configuration Management: State of the Art, Challenges, and Future Directions. 2022 9th International Conference on Dependable Systems and Their Applications (DSA), 409–420. https://doi.org/10.1109/DSA56465.2022.00061
Zadka, M. (2022). Paramiko. In DevOps in Python (pp. 139–148). Apress. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4842-7996-0_9
Zhu, R., Wang, X., Liu, C., Xu, Z., Shen, W., Chang, R., & Liu, Y. (2024). ModuleGuard: Understanding and Detecting Module Conflicts in Python Ecosystem. Proceedings of the IEEE/ACM 46th International Conference on Software Engineering, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1145/3597503.3639221
Zolkin, A. L., Sarycheva, S. A., Tarasova, A. E., Bityutskiy, A. S., & Azarenko, G. Yu. (2023). Development of a system for building computer networks on a CISCO PACKET TRACER software emulator. In A. Gibadullin & S. Sadullozoda (Eds.), 2nd International Conference on Computer Applications for Management and Sustainable Development of Production and Industry (CMSD-II-2022) (p. 46). SPIE. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2669500
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Franco Osei-Wusu, William Asiedu, PhD, Kwame Frimpong Asamoah, Siddique Abubakr Muntaka, Donald Yeboah, Elvis Antwi Sarfo (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
