ncclient:NETCONF Python client

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\title{NCClient Documentation}

\date{May 17, 2009}

\release{0.1.1a}

\author{Shikhar Bhushan}

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\begin{document}

\maketitle

\tableofcontents

\resetcurrentobjects

\hypertarget{--doc-intro}{}

\chapter{Introduction}

NCClient is a Python library for NETCONF clients. NETCONF is a network management protocol defined in \index{RFC!RFC 4741}\href{http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc4741.html}{\textbf{RFC 4741}}. It is meant for Python 2.6+ (not Python 3 yet, though).

The features of NCClient include:

\begin{itemize}

\item {} 

Request pipelining.

\item {} 

(A)synchronous RPC requests.

\item {} 

Keeps XML out of the way unless really needed.

\item {} 

Supports all operations and capabilities defined in \index{RFC!RFC 4741}\href{http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc4741.html}{\textbf{RFC 4741}}.

\item {} 

Extensible. New transport mappings and capabilities/operations can be easily added.

\end{itemize}

The best way to introduce is of course, through a simple code example:

\begin{Verbatim}[commandchars=@\[\]]

@PYGal[from] @PYGaW[ncclient] @PYGal[import] manager

@PYGay[with] manager@PYGbe[.]connect@_ssh(@PYGaB[']@PYGaB[host]@PYGaB['], @PYGaB[']@PYGaB[username]@PYGaB[']) @PYGay[as] m:

    @PYGay[assert](@PYGaB["]@PYGaB[:url]@PYGaB["] @PYGav[in] manager@PYGbe[.]server@_capabilities)

    @PYGay[with] m@PYGbe[.]locked(@PYGaB[']@PYGaB[running]@PYGaB[']):

        m@PYGbe[.]copy@_config(source@PYGbe[=]@PYGaB["]@PYGaB[running]@PYGaB["], target@PYGbe[=]@PYGaB["]@PYGaB[file://new@_checkpoint.conf]@PYGaB["])

        m@PYGbe[.]copy@_config(source@PYGbe[=]@PYGaB["]@PYGaB[file://old@_checkpoint.conf]@PYGaB["], target@PYGbe[=]@PYGaB["]@PYGaB[running]@PYGaB["])

\end{Verbatim}

It is recommended to use the high-level \code{Manager} API where possible. It exposes almost all of the functionality.

\resetcurrentobjects

\hypertarget{--doc-userdoc}{}

\hypertarget{userdoc}{}\chapter{User documentation}

\resetcurrentobjects

\hypertarget{--doc-userdoc/manager}{}

\section{\texttt{manager} module}

\index{ncclient.manager (module)}

\hypertarget{module-ncclient.manager}{}

\declaremodule[ncclient.manager]{}{ncclient.manager}

\modulesynopsis{}

\subsection{Dealing with RPC errors}

These constants define what \hyperlink{ncclient.manager.Manager}{\code{Manager}} does when an \emph{\textless{}rpc-error\textgreater{}} element is encountered in a reply.

\index{RAISE\_ALL (in module ncclient.manager)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.manager.RAISE_ALL}{}\begin{datadesc}{RAISE\_ALL}

Raise all \hyperlink{ncclient.operations.rpc.RPCError}{\code{RPCError}}

\end{datadesc}

\index{RAISE\_ERR (in module ncclient.manager)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.manager.RAISE_ERR}{}\begin{datadesc}{RAISE\_ERR}

Only raise when \emph{error-severity} is ``error'' i.e. no warnings

\end{datadesc}

\index{RAISE\_NONE (in module ncclient.manager)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.manager.RAISE_NONE}{}\begin{datadesc}{RAISE\_NONE}

Don't raise any

\end{datadesc}

\subsection{Manager instances}

\hyperlink{ncclient.manager.Manager}{\code{Manager}} instances are created by the \hyperlink{ncclient.manager.connect}{\code{connect()}} family of factory functions. Currently only \hyperlink{ncclient.manager.connect_ssh}{\code{connect\_ssh()}} is available.

\index{connect() (in module ncclient.manager)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.manager.connect}{}\begin{funcdesc}{connect}{*args, **kwds}

Same as \hyperlink{ncclient.manager.connect_ssh}{\code{connect\_ssh()}}

\end{funcdesc}

\index{connect\_ssh() (in module ncclient.manager)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.manager.connect_ssh}{}\begin{funcdesc}{connect\_ssh}{*args, **kwds}

Connect to NETCONF server over SSH. See \hyperlink{ncclient.transport.SSHSession.connect}{\code{SSHSession.connect()}} for function signature.

\end{funcdesc}

\index{Manager (class in ncclient.manager)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.manager.Manager}{}\begin{classdesc}{Manager}{session}

API for NETCONF operations. Currently only supports making synchronous

RPC requests.

It is also a context manager, so a \hyperlink{ncclient.manager.Manager}{\code{Manager}} instance can be used

with the \emph{with} statement. The session is closed when the context ends.

\index{set\_rpc\_error\_action() (ncclient.manager.Manager method)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.manager.Manager.set_rpc_error_action}{}\begin{methoddesc}{set\_rpc\_error\_action}{action}

Specify the action to take when an \emph{\textless{}rpc-error\textgreater{}} element is encountered.

\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[Parameter]

\emph{action} -- one of \hyperlink{ncclient.manager.RAISE_ALL}{\code{RAISE\_ALL}}, \hyperlink{ncclient.manager.RAISE_ERR}{\code{RAISE\_ERR}}, \hyperlink{ncclient.manager.RAISE_NONE}{\code{RAISE\_NONE}}

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{methoddesc}

\index{get() (ncclient.manager.Manager method)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.manager.Manager.get}{}\begin{methoddesc}{get}{*args, **kwds}~\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[See]

\hyperlink{ncclient.operations.Get.request}{\code{Get.request()}}

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{methoddesc}

\index{get\_config() (ncclient.manager.Manager method)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.manager.Manager.get_config}{}\begin{methoddesc}{get\_config}{*args, **kwds}~\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[See]

\hyperlink{ncclient.operations.GetConfig.request}{\code{GetConfig.request()}}

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{methoddesc}

\index{edit\_config() (ncclient.manager.Manager method)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.manager.Manager.edit_config}{}\begin{methoddesc}{edit\_config}{*args, **kwds}~\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[See]

\hyperlink{ncclient.operations.EditConfig.request}{\code{EditConfig.request()}}

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{methoddesc}

\index{copy\_config() (ncclient.manager.Manager method)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.manager.Manager.copy_config}{}\begin{methoddesc}{copy\_config}{*args, **kwds}~\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[See]

\hyperlink{ncclient.operations.CopyConfig.request}{\code{CopyConfig.request()}}

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{methoddesc}

\index{validate() (ncclient.manager.Manager method)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.manager.Manager.validate}{}\begin{methoddesc}{validate}{*args, **kwds}~\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[See]

\hyperlink{ncclient.operations.Validate.request}{\code{GetConfig.request()}}

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{methoddesc}

\index{commit() (ncclient.manager.Manager method)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.manager.Manager.commit}{}\begin{methoddesc}{commit}{*args, **kwds}~\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[See]

\hyperlink{ncclient.operations.Commit.request}{\code{Commit.request()}}

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{methoddesc}

\index{discard\_changes() (ncclient.manager.Manager method)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.manager.Manager.discard_changes}{}\begin{methoddesc}{discard\_changes}{*args, **kwds}~\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[See]

\hyperlink{ncclient.operations.DiscardChanges.request}{\code{DiscardChanges.request()}}

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{methoddesc}

\index{delete\_config() (ncclient.manager.Manager method)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.manager.Manager.delete_config}{}\begin{methoddesc}{delete\_config}{*args, **kwds}~\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[See]

\hyperlink{ncclient.operations.DeleteConfig.request}{\code{DeleteConfig.request()}}

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{methoddesc}

\index{lock() (ncclient.manager.Manager method)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.manager.Manager.lock}{}\begin{methoddesc}{lock}{*args, **kwds}~\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[See]

\hyperlink{ncclient.operations.Lock.request}{\code{Lock.request()}}

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{methoddesc}

\index{unlock() (ncclient.manager.Manager method)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.manager.Manager.unlock}{}\begin{methoddesc}{unlock}{*args, **kwds}~\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[See]

\hyperlink{ncclient.operations.Unlock.request}{\code{DiscardChanges.request()}}

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{methoddesc}

\index{close\_session() (ncclient.manager.Manager method)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.manager.Manager.close_session}{}\begin{methoddesc}{close\_session}{*args, **kwds}~\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[See]

\code{CloseSession.request()}

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{methoddesc}

\index{kill\_session() (ncclient.manager.Manager method)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.manager.Manager.kill_session}{}\begin{methoddesc}{kill\_session}{*args, **kwds}~\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[See]

\code{KillSession.request()}

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{methoddesc}

\index{locked() (ncclient.manager.Manager method)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.manager.Manager.locked}{}\begin{methoddesc}{locked}{target}

Returns a context manager for the \emph{with} statement.

\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[Parameter]

\emph{target} (\href{http://docs.python.org/library/string.html\#string}{\code{string}}) -- name of the datastore to lock

\item[Return type]

\code{operations.LockContext}

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{methoddesc}

\index{close() (ncclient.manager.Manager method)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.manager.Manager.close}{}\begin{methoddesc}{close}{}

Closes the NETCONF session. First does \emph{\textless{}close-session\textgreater{}} RPC.

\end{methoddesc}

\index{client\_capabilities (ncclient.manager.Manager attribute)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.manager.Manager.client_capabilities}{}\begin{memberdesc}{client\_capabilities}

\hyperlink{ncclient.capabilities.Capabilities}{\code{Capabilities}} object for client

\end{memberdesc}

\index{server\_capabilities (ncclient.manager.Manager attribute)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.manager.Manager.server_capabilities}{}\begin{memberdesc}{server\_capabilities}

\hyperlink{ncclient.capabilities.Capabilities}{\code{Capabilities}} object for server

\end{memberdesc}

\index{session\_id (ncclient.manager.Manager attribute)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.manager.Manager.session_id}{}\begin{memberdesc}{session\_id}

\emph{\textless{}session-id\textgreater{}} as assigned by NETCONF server

\end{memberdesc}

\index{connected (ncclient.manager.Manager attribute)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.manager.Manager.connected}{}\begin{memberdesc}{connected}

Whether currently connected to NETCONF server

\end{memberdesc}

\end{classdesc}

\resetcurrentobjects

\hypertarget{--doc-userdoc/capabilities}{}

\section{\texttt{capabilities} module}

\index{ncclient.capabilities (module)}

\hypertarget{module-ncclient.capabilities}{}

\declaremodule[ncclient.capabilities]{}{ncclient.capabilities}

\modulesynopsis{}\index{CAPABILITIES (in module ncclient.capabilities)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.capabilities.CAPABILITIES}{}\begin{datadesc}{CAPABILITIES}

\hyperlink{ncclient.capabilities.Capabilities}{\code{Capabilities}} object representing the capabilities currently supported by NCClient

\end{datadesc}

\index{Capabilities (class in ncclient.capabilities)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.capabilities.Capabilities}{}\begin{classdesc}{Capabilities}{capabilities}

Represents the set of capabilities for a NETCONF client or server.

Initialised with a list of capability URI's.

Presence of a capability can be checked with the \emph{in} operations. In addition

to the URI, for capabilities of the form

\emph{urn:ietf:params:netconf:capability:\$name:\$version} their shorthand can be

used as a key. For example, for

\emph{urn:ietf:params:netconf:capability:candidate:1.0} the shorthand would be

\emph{:candidate}. If version is significant, use \emph{:candidate:1.0} as key.

\index{add() (ncclient.capabilities.Capabilities method)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.capabilities.Capabilities.add}{}\begin{methoddesc}{add}{uri}

Add a capability

\end{methoddesc}

\index{check() (ncclient.capabilities.Capabilities method)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.capabilities.Capabilities.check}{}\begin{methoddesc}{check}{key}

Whether specified capability is present.

\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[Parameter]

\emph{key} -- URI or shorthand

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{methoddesc}

\index{remove() (ncclient.capabilities.Capabilities method)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.capabilities.Capabilities.remove}{}\begin{methoddesc}{remove}{uri}

Remove a capability

\end{methoddesc}

\end{classdesc}

\resetcurrentobjects

\hypertarget{--doc-userdoc/content}{}

\section{\texttt{content} module}

\index{ncclient.content (module)}

\hypertarget{module-ncclient.content}{}

\declaremodule[ncclient.content]{}{ncclient.content}

\modulesynopsis{Content layer}

The \code{content} module provides methods for creating XML documents, parsing XML, and converting between different XML representations. It uses \href{http://docs.python.org/library/xml.etree.elementtree.html\#module-xml.etree.ElementTree}{\code{ElementTree}} internally.

\subsection{Namespaces}

The following namespace is defined in this module.

\index{BASE\_NS (in module ncclient.content)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.content.BASE_NS}{}\begin{datadesc}{BASE\_NS}

Base NETCONf namespace

\end{datadesc}

Namespaces are handled just the same way as \href{http://docs.python.org/library/xml.etree.elementtree.html\#module-xml.etree.ElementTree}{\code{ElementTree}}. So a qualified name takes the form \emph{\{namespace\}tag}. There are some utility functions for qualified names:

\index{qualify() (in module ncclient.content)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.content.qualify}{}\begin{funcdesc}{qualify}{tag, {[}ns=BASE\_NS{]}}~\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[Returns]

qualified name

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{funcdesc}

\index{unqualify() (in module ncclient.content)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.content.unqualify}{}\begin{funcdesc}{unqualify}{tag}~\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[Returns]

unqualified name

\end{description}\end{quote}

\begin{notice}{note}{Note:}

It is strongly recommended to compare qualified names.

\end{notice}

\end{funcdesc}

\hypertarget{dtree}{}

\subsection{DictTree XML representation}

\begin{notice}{note}{Note:}

Where this representation is stipulated, an XML literal or \href{http://docs.python.org/library/xml.etree.elementtree.html\#xml.etree.ElementTree.Element}{\code{Element}} is just fine as well.

\end{notice}

\code{ncclient} can make use of a special syntax for XML based on Python dictionaries. It is best illustrated through an example:

\begin{Verbatim}[commandchars=@\[\]]

dtree @PYGbe[=] {

    @PYGaB[']@PYGaB[tag]@PYGaB[']: qualify(@PYGaB[']@PYGaB[a]@PYGaB['], @PYGaB[']@PYGaB[some@_namespace]@PYGaB[']),

    @PYGaB[']@PYGaB[attrib]@PYGaB[']: {@PYGaB[']@PYGaB[attr]@PYGaB[']: @PYGaB[']@PYGaB[val]@PYGaB[']},

    @PYGaB[']@PYGaB[subtree]@PYGaB[']: @PYGZlb[] { @PYGaB[']@PYGaB[tag]@PYGaB[']: @PYGaB[']@PYGaB[child1]@PYGaB['] }, { @PYGaB[']@PYGaB[tag]@PYGaB[']: @PYGaB[']@PYGaB[child2]@PYGaB['], @PYGaB[']@PYGaB[text]@PYGaB[']: @PYGaB[']@PYGaB[some text]@PYGaB['] } @PYGZrb[]

}

\end{Verbatim}

Calling \hyperlink{ncclient.content.dtree2xml}{\code{dtree2xml()}} on \emph{dtree} would return

\begin{Verbatim}[commandchars=@\[\]]

@PYGaO[@textless[]?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?@textgreater[]]

@PYGba[@textless[]ns0:a] @PYGaR[attr=]@PYGaB["val"] @PYGaR[xmlns:ns0=]@PYGaB["some@_namespace"]@PYGba[@textgreater[]]

    @PYGba[@textless[]child1] @PYGba[/@textgreater[]]

    @PYGba[@textless[]child2]@PYGba[@textgreater[]]some text@PYGba[@textless[]/child2@textgreater[]]

@PYGba[@textless[]/ns0:a@textgreater[]]

\end{Verbatim}

In addition to a `pure' dictionary representation a DictTree node (including the root) may be an XML literal or an \href{http://docs.python.org/library/xml.etree.elementtree.html\#xml.etree.ElementTree.Element}{\code{Element}} instance. The above example could thus be equivalently written as:

\begin{Verbatim}[commandchars=@\[\]]

dtree2 @PYGbe[=] {

    @PYGaB[']@PYGaB[tag]@PYGaB[']: @PYGaB[']@PYGaB[{ns}a]@PYGaB['],

    @PYGaB[']@PYGaB[attrib]@PYGaB[']: {@PYGaB[']@PYGaB[attr]@PYGaB[']: @PYGaB[']@PYGaB[val]@PYGaB[']},

    @PYGaB[']@PYGaB[subtree]@PYGaB[']: @PYGZlb[] ET@PYGbe[.]Element(@PYGaB[']@PYGaB[child1]@PYGaB[']), @PYGaB[']@PYGaB[@textless[]child2@textgreater[]some text@textless[]/child2@textgreater[]]@PYGaB['] @PYGZrb[]

}

\end{Verbatim}

\subsection{Converting between different representations}

Conversions \emph{to} DictTree representation are guaranteed to be entirely dictionaries. In converting \emph{from} DictTree representation, the argument may be any valid representation as specified.

\index{dtree2ele() (in module ncclient.content)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.content.dtree2ele}{}\begin{funcdesc}{dtree2ele}{spec}

DictTree -\textgreater{} Element

\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[Return type]

\href{http://docs.python.org/library/xml.etree.elementtree.html\#xml.etree.ElementTree.Element}{\code{Element}}

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{funcdesc}

\index{dtree2xml() (in module ncclient.content)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.content.dtree2xml}{}\begin{funcdesc}{dtree2xml}{spec, {[}encoding="UTF-8"{]}}

DictTree -\textgreater{} XML

\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[Parameter]

\emph{encoding} -- chraracter encoding

\item[Return type]

string

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{funcdesc}

\index{ele2dtree() (in module ncclient.content)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.content.ele2dtree}{}\begin{funcdesc}{ele2dtree}{ele}

DictTree -\textgreater{} Element

\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[Return type]

\href{http://docs.python.org/library/stdtypes.html\#dict}{\code{dict}}

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{funcdesc}

\index{ele2xml() (in module ncclient.content)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.content.ele2xml}{}\begin{funcdesc}{ele2xml}{ele}

Element -\textgreater{} XML

\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[Parameter]

\emph{encoding} -- character encoding

\item[Return type]

\href{http://docs.python.org/library/string.html\#string}{\code{string}}

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{funcdesc}

\index{xml2dtree() (in module ncclient.content)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.content.xml2dtree}{}\begin{funcdesc}{xml2dtree}{xml}

XML -\textgreater{} DictTree

\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[Return type]

\href{http://docs.python.org/library/stdtypes.html\#dict}{\code{dict}}

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{funcdesc}

\index{xml2ele() (in module ncclient.content)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.content.xml2ele}{}\begin{funcdesc}{xml2ele}{xml}

XML -\textgreater{} Element

\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[Return type]

\href{http://docs.python.org/library/xml.etree.elementtree.html\#xml.etree.ElementTree.Element}{\code{Element}}

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{funcdesc}

\subsection{Other utility functions}

\index{iselement() (in module ncclient.content)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.content.iselement}{}\begin{funcdesc}{iselement}{obj}~\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[See]

\href{http://docs.python.org/library/xml.etree.elementtree.html\#xml.etree.ElementTree.iselement}{\code{xml.etree.ElementTree.iselement()}}

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{funcdesc}

\index{find() (in module ncclient.content)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.content.find}{}\begin{funcdesc}{find}{ele, tag, {[}nslist=, {[}{]}{]}}

If \emph{nslist} is empty, same as \href{http://docs.python.org/library/xml.etree.elementtree.html\#xml.etree.ElementTree.Element.find}{\code{xml.etree.ElementTree.Element.find()}}. If it is not, \emph{tag} is interpreted as an unqualified name and qualified using each item in \emph{nslist} (with a \href{http://docs.python.org/library/constants.html\#None}{\code{None}} item in \emph{nslit} meaning no qualification is done). The first match is returned.

\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[Parameter]

\emph{nslist} -- optional list of namespaces

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{funcdesc}

\index{parse\_root() (in module ncclient.content)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.content.parse_root}{}\begin{funcdesc}{parse\_root}{raw}

Efficiently parses the root element of an XML document.

\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[Parameter]

\emph{raw} (string) -- XML document

\item[Returns]

a tuple of \code{(tag, attributes)}, where \code{tag} is the (qualified) name of the element and \code{attributes} is a dictionary of its attributes.

\item[Return type]

\href{http://docs.python.org/library/functions.html\#tuple}{\code{tuple}}

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{funcdesc}

\index{validated\_element() (in module ncclient.content)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.content.validated_element}{}\begin{funcdesc}{validated\_element}{rep, tag=None, attrs=None, text=None}

Checks if the root element meets the supplied criteria. Returns a \href{http://docs.python.org/library/xml.etree.elementtree.html\#xml.etree.ElementTree.Element}{\code{Element}} instance if so, otherwise raises \hyperlink{ncclient.content.ContentError}{\code{ContentError}}.

\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[Parameters]\begin{itemize}

\item {} 

\emph{tag} -- tag name or a list of allowable tag names

\item {} 

\emph{attrs} -- list of required attribute names, each item may be a list of allowable alternatives

\item {} 

\emph{text} -- textual content to match

\end{itemize}

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{funcdesc}

\subsection{Errors}

\index{ContentError}

\hypertarget{ncclient.content.ContentError}{}\begin{excdesc}{ContentError}

Bases: \code{ncclient.NCClientError}

Raised by methods of the \code{content} module in case of an error.

\end{excdesc}

\resetcurrentobjects

\hypertarget{--doc-userdoc/transport}{}

\section{\texttt{transport} module}

\index{ncclient.transport (module)}

\hypertarget{module-ncclient.transport}{}

\declaremodule[ncclient.transport]{}{ncclient.transport}

\modulesynopsis{Transport protocol layer}

\subsection{Base types}

\index{Session (class in ncclient.transport)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.transport.Session}{}\begin{classdesc}{Session}{capabilities}

Base class for use by transport protocol implementations.

\index{add\_listener() (ncclient.transport.Session method)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.transport.Session.add_listener}{}\begin{methoddesc}{add\_listener}{listener}

Register a listener that will be notified of incoming messages and

errors.

\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{methoddesc}

\index{remove\_listener() (ncclient.transport.Session method)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.transport.Session.remove_listener}{}\begin{methoddesc}{remove\_listener}{listener}

Unregister some listener; ignore if the listener was never

registered.

\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{methoddesc}

\index{get\_listener\_instance() (ncclient.transport.Session method)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.transport.Session.get_listener_instance}{}\begin{methoddesc}{get\_listener\_instance}{cls}

If a listener of the specified type is registered, returns the

instance.

\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{methoddesc}

\index{client\_capabilities (ncclient.transport.Session attribute)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.transport.Session.client_capabilities}{}\begin{memberdesc}{client\_capabilities}

Client's \code{Capabilities}

\end{memberdesc}

\index{server\_capabilities (ncclient.transport.Session attribute)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.transport.Session.server_capabilities}{}\begin{memberdesc}{server\_capabilities}

Server's \code{Capabilities}

\end{memberdesc}

\index{connected (ncclient.transport.Session attribute)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.transport.Session.connected}{}\begin{memberdesc}{connected}

Connection status of the session.

\end{memberdesc}

\index{id (ncclient.transport.Session attribute)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.transport.Session.id}{}\begin{memberdesc}{id}

A \href{http://docs.python.org/library/string.html\#string}{\code{string}} representing the \code{session-id}. If the session has not

been initialized it will be \href{http://docs.python.org/library/constants.html\#None}{\code{None}}

\end{memberdesc}

\index{can\_pipeline (ncclient.transport.Session attribute)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.transport.Session.can_pipeline}{}\begin{memberdesc}{can\_pipeline}

Whether this session supports pipelining

\end{memberdesc}

\end{classdesc}

\index{SessionListener (class in ncclient.transport)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.transport.SessionListener}{}\begin{classdesc}{SessionListener}{}

Base class for \hyperlink{ncclient.transport.Session}{\code{Session}} listeners, which are notified when a new

NETCONF message is received or an error occurs.

\begin{notice}{note}{Note:}

Avoid time-intensive tasks in a callback's context.

\end{notice}

\index{callback() (ncclient.transport.SessionListener method)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.transport.SessionListener.callback}{}\begin{methoddesc}{callback}{root, raw}

Called when a new XML document is received. The \code{root} argument

allows the callback to determine whether it wants to further process the

document.

\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[Parameters]\begin{itemize}

\item {} 

\emph{root} (\href{http://docs.python.org/library/functions.html\#tuple}{\code{tuple}}) -- is a tuple of \code{(tag, attributes)} where \code{tag} is the qualified name of the root element and \code{attributes} is a dictionary of its attributes (also qualified names)

\item {} 

\emph{raw} (\href{http://docs.python.org/library/string.html\#string}{\code{string}}) -- XML document

\end{itemize}

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{methoddesc}

\index{errback() (ncclient.transport.SessionListener method)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.transport.SessionListener.errback}{}\begin{methoddesc}{errback}{ex}

Called when an error occurs.

\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{methoddesc}

\end{classdesc}

\subsection{SSH session implementation}

\index{default\_unknown\_host\_cb() (ncclient.transport.ssh static method)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.transport.ssh.default_unknown_host_cb}{}\begin{staticmethoddesc}[ssh]{default\_unknown\_host\_cb}{host, key}

An \code{unknown host callback} returns \href{http://docs.python.org/library/constants.html\#True}{\code{True}} if it finds the key

acceptable, and \href{http://docs.python.org/library/constants.html\#False}{\code{False}} if not.

This default callback always returns \href{http://docs.python.org/library/constants.html\#False}{\code{False}}, which would lead to

\code{connect()} raising a \code{SSHUnknownHost} exception.

Supply another valid callback if you need to verify the host key

programatically.

\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[Parameters]\begin{itemize}

\item {} 

\emph{host} (string) -- the host for whom key needs to be verified

\item {} 

\emph{key} (string) -- a hex string representing the host key fingerprint

\end{itemize}

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{staticmethoddesc}

\index{SSHSession (class in ncclient.transport)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.transport.SSHSession}{}\begin{classdesc}{SSHSession}{capabilities}

Bases: \code{ncclient.transport.session.Session}

Implements a \index{RFC!RFC 4742}\href{http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc4742.html}{\textbf{RFC 4742}} NETCONF session over SSH.

\index{connect() (ncclient.transport.SSHSession method)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.transport.SSHSession.connect}{}\begin{methoddesc}{connect}{host, {[}port=830, timeout=None, username=None, password=None, key\_filename=None, allow\_agent=True, look\_for\_keys=True{]}}

Connect via SSH and initialize the NETCONF session. First attempts

the publickey authentication method and then password authentication.

To disable attemting publickey authentication altogether, call with

\emph{allow\_agent} and \emph{look\_for\_keys} as \href{http://docs.python.org/library/constants.html\#False}{\code{False}}. This may be needed

for Cisco devices which immediately disconnect on an incorrect

authentication attempt.

\begin{quote}\begin{description}

\item[Parameters]\begin{itemize}

\item {} 

\emph{host} (\href{http://docs.python.org/library/string.html\#string}{\code{string}}) -- the hostname or IP address to connect to

\item {} 

\emph{port} (\href{http://docs.python.org/library/functions.html\#int}{\code{int}}) -- by default 830, but some devices use the default SSH port of 22 so this may need to be specified

\item {} 

\emph{timeout} (\href{http://docs.python.org/library/functions.html\#int}{\code{int}}) -- an optional timeout for the TCP handshake

\item {} 

\emph{unknown\_host\_cb} (see \hyperlink{ncclient.transport.ssh.default_unknown_host_cb}{\code{signature}}) -- called when a host key is not recognized

\item {} 

\emph{username} (\href{http://docs.python.org/library/string.html\#string}{\code{string}}) -- the username to use for SSH authentication

\item {} 

\emph{password} (\href{http://docs.python.org/library/string.html\#string}{\code{string}}) -- the password used if using password authentication, or the passphrase to use for unlocking keys that require it

\item {} 

\emph{key\_filename} (\href{http://docs.python.org/library/string.html\#string}{\code{string}}) -- a filename where a the private key to be used can be found

\item {} 

\emph{allow\_agent} (\href{http://docs.python.org/library/functions.html\#bool}{\code{bool}}) -- enables querying SSH agent (if found) for keys

\item {} 

\emph{look\_for\_keys} (\href{http://docs.python.org/library/functions.html\#bool}{\code{bool}}) -- enables looking in the usual locations for ssh keys (e.g. \code{\textasciitilde{}/.ssh/id\_*})

\end{itemize}

\end{description}\end{quote}

\end{methoddesc}

\index{load\_known\_hosts() (ncclient.transport.SSHSession method)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.transport.SSHSession.load_known_hosts}{}\begin{methoddesc}{load\_known\_hosts}{filename=None}

Load host keys from a \code{known\_hosts}-style file. Can be called multiple

times.

If \emph{filename} is not specified, looks in the default locations i.e.

\code{\textasciitilde{}/.ssh/known\_hosts} and \code{\textasciitilde{}/ssh/known\_hosts} for Windows.

\end{methoddesc}

\index{transport (ncclient.transport.SSHSession attribute)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.transport.SSHSession.transport}{}\begin{memberdesc}{transport}

Underlying \href{http://www.lag.net/paramiko/docs/paramiko.Transport-class.html}{paramiko.Transport}

object. This makes it possible to call methods like set\_keepalive on it.

\end{memberdesc}

\end{classdesc}

\subsection{Errors}

\index{TransportError}

\hypertarget{ncclient.transport.TransportError}{}\begin{excdesc}{TransportError}

Bases: \code{ncclient.NCClientError}

\end{excdesc}

\index{SessionCloseError}

\hypertarget{ncclient.transport.SessionCloseError}{}\begin{excdesc}{SessionCloseError}

Bases: \code{ncclient.transport.errors.TransportError}

\end{excdesc}

\index{SSHError}

\hypertarget{ncclient.transport.SSHError}{}\begin{excdesc}{SSHError}

Bases: \code{ncclient.transport.errors.TransportError}

\end{excdesc}

\index{AuthenticationError}

\hypertarget{ncclient.transport.AuthenticationError}{}\begin{excdesc}{AuthenticationError}

Bases: \code{ncclient.transport.errors.TransportError}

\end{excdesc}

\index{SSHUnknownHostError}

\hypertarget{ncclient.transport.SSHUnknownHostError}{}\begin{excdesc}{SSHUnknownHostError}

Bases: \code{ncclient.transport.errors.SSHError}

\end{excdesc}

\resetcurrentobjects

\hypertarget{--doc-userdoc/operations}{}

\section{\texttt{operations} module}

\index{ncclient.operations (module)}

\hypertarget{module-ncclient.operations}{}

\declaremodule[ncclient.operations]{}{ncclient.operations}

\modulesynopsis{RPC and Operation layers}

\subsection{Base types}

\index{RPC (class in ncclient.operations.rpc)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.operations.rpc.RPC}{}\begin{classdesc}{RPC}{session, {[}async=False, timeout=None{]}}

Base class for all operations.

Directly corresponds to \emph{\textless{}rpc\textgreater{}} requests. Handles making the request, and

taking delivery of the reply.

\index{set\_async() (ncclient.operations.rpc.RPC method)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.operations.rpc.RPC.set_async}{}\begin{methoddesc}{set\_async}{async=True}

Set asynchronous mode for this RPC.

\end{methoddesc}

\index{set\_timeout() (ncclient.operations.rpc.RPC method)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.operations.rpc.RPC.set_timeout}{}\begin{methoddesc}{set\_timeout}{timeout}

Set the timeout for synchronous waiting defining how long the RPC

request will block on a reply before raising an error.

\end{methoddesc}

\index{reply (ncclient.operations.rpc.RPC attribute)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.operations.rpc.RPC.reply}{}\begin{memberdesc}{reply}

\hyperlink{ncclient.operations.rpc.RPCReply}{\code{RPCReply}} element if reply has been received or \href{http://docs.python.org/library/constants.html\#None}{\code{None}}

\end{memberdesc}

\index{error (ncclient.operations.rpc.RPC attribute)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.operations.rpc.RPC.error}{}\begin{memberdesc}{error}

\href{http://docs.python.org/library/exceptions.html\#exceptions.Exception}{\code{Exception}} type if an error occured or \href{http://docs.python.org/library/constants.html\#None}{\code{None}}.

This attribute should be checked if the request was made asynchronously,

so that it can be determined if \hyperlink{ncclient.operations.rpc.RPC.event}{\code{event}} being set is because of a

reply or error.

\begin{notice}{note}{Note:}

This represents an error which prevented a reply from being

received. An \emph{\textless{}rpc-error\textgreater{}} does not fall in that category -- see

\hyperlink{ncclient.operations.rpc.RPCReply}{\code{RPCReply}} for that.

\end{notice}

\end{memberdesc}

\index{event (ncclient.operations.rpc.RPC attribute)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.operations.rpc.RPC.event}{}\begin{memberdesc}{event}

\href{http://docs.python.org/library/threading.html\#threading.Event}{\code{Event}} that is set when reply has been received or

error occured.

\end{memberdesc}

\index{async (ncclient.operations.rpc.RPC attribute)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.operations.rpc.RPC.async}{}\begin{memberdesc}{async}

Whether this RPC is asynchronous

\end{memberdesc}

\index{timeout (ncclient.operations.rpc.RPC attribute)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.operations.rpc.RPC.timeout}{}\begin{memberdesc}{timeout}

Timeout for synchronous waiting

\end{memberdesc}

\index{id (ncclient.operations.rpc.RPC attribute)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.operations.rpc.RPC.id}{}\begin{memberdesc}{id}

The \emph{message-id} for this RPC

\end{memberdesc}

\index{session (ncclient.operations.rpc.RPC attribute)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.operations.rpc.RPC.session}{}\begin{memberdesc}{session}

The \hyperlink{ncclient.transport.Session}{\code{Session}} object associated with this

RPC

\end{memberdesc}

\end{classdesc}

\index{RPCReply (class in ncclient.operations.rpc)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.operations.rpc.RPCReply}{}\begin{classdesc}{RPCReply}{raw}

Represents an \emph{\textless{}rpc-reply\textgreater{}}. Only concerns itself with whether the

operation was successful.

\begin{notice}{note}{Note:}

If the reply has not yet been parsed there is an implicit, one-time

parsing overhead to accessing the attributes defined by this class and

any subclasses.

\end{notice}

\index{ok (ncclient.operations.rpc.RPCReply attribute)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.operations.rpc.RPCReply.ok}{}\begin{memberdesc}{ok}

Boolean value indicating if there were no errors.

\end{memberdesc}

\index{error (ncclient.operations.rpc.RPCReply attribute)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.operations.rpc.RPCReply.error}{}\begin{memberdesc}{error}

Short for \hyperlink{ncclient.operations.rpc.RPCReply.errors}{\code{errors}} {[}0{]}; \href{http://docs.python.org/library/constants.html\#None}{\code{None}} if there were no errors.

\end{memberdesc}

\index{errors (ncclient.operations.rpc.RPCReply attribute)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.operations.rpc.RPCReply.errors}{}\begin{memberdesc}{errors}

\href{http://docs.python.org/library/functions.html\#list}{\code{list}} of \hyperlink{ncclient.operations.rpc.RPCError}{\code{RPCError}} objects. Will be empty if there were no

\emph{\textless{}rpc-error\textgreater{}} elements in reply.

\end{memberdesc}

\end{classdesc}

\index{RPCError (class in ncclient.operations.rpc)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.operations.rpc.RPCError}{}\begin{classdesc}{RPCError}{err\_dict}

Bases: \code{ncclient.operations.errors.OperationError}

Represents an \emph{\textless{}rpc-error\textgreater{}}. It is an instance of \code{OperationError}

so it can be raised like any other exception.

\index{type (ncclient.operations.rpc.RPCError attribute)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.operations.rpc.RPCError.type}{}\begin{memberdesc}{type}

\href{http://docs.python.org/library/string.html\#string}{\code{string}} represeting \emph{error-type} element

\end{memberdesc}

\index{severity (ncclient.operations.rpc.RPCError attribute)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.operations.rpc.RPCError.severity}{}\begin{memberdesc}{severity}

\href{http://docs.python.org/library/string.html\#string}{\code{string}} represeting \emph{error-severity} element

\end{memberdesc}

\index{tag (ncclient.operations.rpc.RPCError attribute)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.operations.rpc.RPCError.tag}{}\begin{memberdesc}{tag}

\href{http://docs.python.org/library/string.html\#string}{\code{string}} represeting \emph{error-tag} element

\end{memberdesc}

\index{path (ncclient.operations.rpc.RPCError attribute)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.operations.rpc.RPCError.path}{}\begin{memberdesc}{path}

\href{http://docs.python.org/library/string.html\#string}{\code{string}} or \href{http://docs.python.org/library/constants.html\#None}{\code{None}}; represeting \emph{error-path} element

\end{memberdesc}

\index{message (ncclient.operations.rpc.RPCError attribute)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.operations.rpc.RPCError.message}{}\begin{memberdesc}{message}

\href{http://docs.python.org/library/string.html\#string}{\code{string}} or \href{http://docs.python.org/library/constants.html\#None}{\code{None}}; represeting \emph{error-message} element

\end{memberdesc}

\index{info (ncclient.operations.rpc.RPCError attribute)}

\hypertarget{ncclient.operations.rpc.RPCError.info}{}\begin{memberdesc}{info}

\href{http://docs.python.org/library/string.html\#string}{\code{string}} or \href{http://docs.python.org/library/constants.html\#None}{\code{None}}, represeting \emph{error-info} element

\end{memberdesc}

\end{classdesc}

\subsection{NETCONF Operations}

\subsubsection{Dependencies}

Operations may have a hard dependency on some capability, or the dependency may arise at request-time due to an optional argument. In any case, a \hyperlink{ncclient.operations.MissingCapabilityError}{\code{MissingCapabilityError}} is raised if the server does not support the relevant capability.

\hypertarget{return}{}

\subsubsection{Return type}

The return type for the \code{request()} method depends of an operation on whether it is synchronous or asynchronous (see base class \code{RPC}).

\begin{itemize}

\item {} 

For synchronous requests, it will block waiting for the reply, and once it has been received an \code{RPCReply} object is returned. If an error occured while waiting for the reply, it will be raised.

\item {} 

For asynchronous requests, it will immediately return an \href{http://docs.python.org/library/threading.html\#threading.Event}{\code{Event}} object. This event is set when a reply is received, or an error occurs that prevents a reply from being received. The \code{reply} and \code{error} attributes can then be accessed to determine which of the two it was :-)

\end{itemize}

\subsubsection{General notes on parameters}

\hypertarget{source-target}{}\paragraph{Source / target parameters}

Where an operation takes a source or target parameter, it is mainly the case that it can be a datastore name or a URL. The latter, of course, depends on the \emph{:url} capability and whether the capability supports the specific schema of the URL. Either must be specified as a \href{http://docs.python.org/library/string.html\#string}{\code{string}}.

If the source may be a \emph{\textless{}config\textgreater{}} element, e.g. for \hyperlink{ncclient.operations.Validate}{\code{Validate}}, specify in \hyperlink{dtree}{\emph{DictTree XML representation}} with the root element as \emph{\textless{}config\textgreater{}}.

\hypertarget{filter}{}

\paragraph{Filter parameters}

Filter parameters, where applicable, can take one of the following types:

\begin{itemize}

\item {} \begin{description}