Network Automation with David

A Steep Climb or a Smooth Ride? Choosing Between Paramiko and Netmiko

What do we choose? Paramiko or Netmiko? When it comes to automating network devices using Python, two popular libraries often come up: Paramiko and Netmiko. Choosing between these two can be a bit of a dilemma, especially for those new to network automation. Even for experienced network engineers, choosing the right tool can still be a challenge. Making the decision between Paramiko and Netmiko can feel like a steep climb for beginners. In this post, I’ll show a few use cases and best practices to help you decide which library is the best fit for your needs and how to get started with it.

You’re Asked to Automate the Network. Now What?

In the very beginning… Whether you are an administrator, an engineer, or an architect, the moment you are asked to automate the network, you are stepping into a new world. A world full of possibilities, but also challenges. The first question that often comes up is simple: where do I even start? For an administrator dealing with tickets and day-to-day changes, the idea of automation can feel overwhelming. For an engineer, it might immediately become a question of tools and languages. For an architect, it’s about designing a system that can scale, adapt, and remain maintainable over time.