Running programs on a Cisco device

Question

I use paramiko from (www.paramiko.org) to automate logging into Cisco devices and then checking logs, interface stats, anything i want really.

When i log into a device i am into a Management VRF. I don't have internet access.

If i want to test something for a customer, i need to do something like

ping vrf CUSTOMER_A 8.8.8.8 source Vlan 250

What i would like to do is make use of python to do things like

wget

speedtest-cli from GitHub

basically emulate being on the customers end device

However, so far i have been unable to get close.

Has any fellow networkers ever tried something like this ?

A

How exactly do you expect to run those applications on a Cisco device? Also, which model and OS are you using? — Teun Vink, Sep 26 '16 at 10:33
I have no idea how i going to get them to run? The IOS could change dependent on what device i am going to connect to — psniffer, Sep 26 '16 at 10:35
You can't. You're comparing a router to a linux box, which (at least for Cisco) isn't the case. — Teun Vink, Sep 26 '16 at 10:37
And how would that help? You still wouldn't be able to run that software on the Cisco device. — Teun Vink, Sep 26 '16 at 11:04
Cisco uses a proprietary OS, so you cannot emulate a customer's end device from a Cisco device. You must use Cisco commands. You could create TCL scripts to automate some things, but you will not be able to run external applications on IOS. — Ron Maupin, Sep 26 '16 at 14:15
@TeunVink : Classic IOS is not but most modern Cisco OS are built on Linux: IOS-XE, NXOS, ASA OS (version 9) — hertitu, Sep 27 '16 at 20:12
I know, but the OP was asking about the generic case. You're right of course that specific models and software versions do support this. — Teun Vink, Sep 27 '16 at 20:21
possible duplicate here Traffic generation from Cisco IOS device to prove WAN circuit — Ronnie Royston, Oct 28 '16 at 00:57
BTW: You can run linux directly on many newer Cisco boxes. See Run your apps and tools natively on Cisco boxes — Ronnie Royston, Oct 28 '16 at 01:00
Did any answer help you? if so, you should accept the answer so that the question doesn't keep popping up forever, looking for an answer. Alternatively, you could provide and accept your own answer. — Ron Maupin, Aug 10 '17 at 15:00

score 1 · Answer 1 · edited Jun 17 '20 at 08:51

On a Cisco Nexus device - depending on the model and the NXOS version it runs - you can get access to a bash shell, a Linux container and/or a Python interpreter (with possibility to import pure python modules).

E.g. for NXOS 7.x on the nexus3000:

About Bash

In addition to the NX-OS CLI, Cisco Nexus 3000 Series devices support access to the Bourne-Again SHell (Bash). Bash interprets commands that you enter or commands that are read from a shell script. Using Bash enables access to the underlying Linux system on the device and to manage the system.

And

About the Guest Shell

In addition to the NX-OS CLI and Bash access on the underlying Linux environment, the Cisco Nexus 3000 Series devices support access to a decoupled execution space running within a Linux Container (LXC) called the “Guest Shell”.

From within the Guest Shell the network-admin has the following capabilities:

Access to the network over Linux network interfaces.
Access to Cisco Nexus 3000 bootflash.
Access to Cisco Nexus 3000 volatile tmpfs.
Access to Cisco Nexus 3000 CLI.
Access to Cisco NX-API REST.
The ability to install and run python scripts.
The ability to install and run 32-bit and 64-bit Linux applications

.

Source: Cisco Nexus 3000 Series NX-OS Programmability Guide, Release 7.x

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 27 '16 at 23:02

TTCP should suit your needs. The good news is that it's built into the OS so you don't need to download any scripts or applications on the router.

You can use it between two routers or even a router and a PC. Further to this, you have the choice of running TTCP, iperf, jperf, etc on the PC side.

Note though that TTCP on a router is process switched so it has the potential use 100% of the CPU's resources.

score 1 · Answer 3 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:37

1

You can automate those tasks with Cisco's EEM using ttcp and have the results emailed to you - hourly, daily, weekly, whatever. This might be easiest.

You can also spin up a linux VM on many newer Cisco boxes.

If you'd rather do it from a remote machine, Python could certainly be used or even Microsoft sendkeys class.

Python examples here.

Sendkeys example here

edited May 23 '17 at 12:37

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answered Oct 28 '16 at 00:46

Ronnie Royston

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Running programs on a Cisco device

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