3.2. Using facts-finder - Method 1 (DeviceDB)

Import necessary package, modules

Define your input files ( i.e. capture files )

Generate and evaluate database from device

Write database to Excel

Important

Use this method-1 (using DeviceDB), if only device commands output captures are availalble.

Go for more advanced method-2 (using CleanFacts), if parsed excel device facts are also available along with device commands output captures.

3.2.1. Detailed How To

Import necessary package, modules
from facts_finder import DeviceDB
from facts_finder import device
from nettoolkit import write_to_xl
Define your input files ( i.e. captures )
file = "file_with_output_captured.log"          # provide capture file
Attention

It is advisable to capture command output using capture_it package. So manual editing can be avoided.

Otherwise modify output as mentioned in information below, such that facts_finder can read it.

All commands output should be stored in a single file.
Generate and evaluate database from device
_model = device(file)           # select the model based on input file
device_database = DeviceDB()    # create a new device database object
df_dict = device_database.evaluate(_model)      # evaluate object by providing necessary model, and return dictionary
Write database to Excel
write_to_xl("output_file.xlsx", df_dict, index=True, overwrite=True)    # write output to Excel
Parameters:

df_dict: [mandatory] dictionary extracted after evaluation, to write to excel.

index: [optional] keep or remove index columns

overwrite: [optional] overwrite or create a new output excel file.

Important

Below are the commands requires to be captured from device for Cisco Devices.

show lldp neighbors
show lldp neighbors detail
show cdp neighbors
show cdp neighbors detail
show interfaces
show interfaces switchport
show interfaces status
show interfaces description
show ipv6 interface brief
show mac address-table
show ip arp
show etherchannel summary
show ip bgp all summary
show ip bgp vpnv4 all neighbors
show vrf
show ip vrf interfaces
show route-map
show running-config
show version

command output format should be as follows

! ==========================================

! output for command: show runn

! ==========================================

<<output of command>> …

No hostname-prompt requires to be mentioned in command line.

Important

Below are the commands requires to be captured from device for Juniper Devices.

show lldp neighbors
show configuration
show version
show interfaces
show interfaces descriptions
show chassis hardware
show lacp interfaces
show arp

command output format should be as follows

# ===================================================

# output for command: show configuration | no-more

# ===================================================

<<output of command>> …

No hostname-prompt requires to be mentioned in command line.

Notice

Make a note that output differs between version to version on devices, and thus it is obvious that parsing may not work every where, incase if format differs from expectation.

Make sure to cross-check the generated facts before using it.