network_cli – Use network_cli to run command on network appliances

New in version 2.3.

Synopsis

  • This connection plugin provides a connection to remote devices over the SSH and implements a CLI shell. This connection plugin is typically used by network devices for sending and receiving CLi commands to network devices.

Parameters

Parameter Choices/Defaults Configuration Comments
become
boolean
Default:
"no"
ini entries:

[privilege_escalation]
become = no

env:ANSIBLE_BECOME
var: ansible_become
The become option will instruct the CLI session to attempt privilege escalation on platforms that support it. Normally this means transitioning from user mode to enable mode in the CLI session. If become is set to True and the remote device does not support privilege escalation or the privilege has already been elevated, then this option is silently ignored.
Can be configured from the CLI via the --become or -b options.
become_method
-
Default:
"sudo"
ini entries:

[privilege_escalation]
become_method = sudo

env:ANSIBLE_BECOME_METHOD
var: ansible_become_method
This option allows the become method to be specified in for handling privilege escalation. Typically the become_method value is set to enable but could be defined as other values.
host
-
Default:
"inventory_hostname"
var: ansible_host
Specifies the remote device FQDN or IP address to establish the SSH connection to.
host_key_auto_add
boolean
Default:
"no"
ini entries:

[paramiko_connection]
host_key_auto_add = no

env:ANSIBLE_HOST_KEY_AUTO_ADD
By default, Ansible will prompt the user before adding SSH keys to the known hosts file. Since persistent connections such as network_cli run in background processes, the user will never be prompted. By enabling this option, unknown host keys will automatically be added to the known hosts file.
Be sure to fully understand the security implications of enabling this option on production systems as it could create a security vulnerability.
network_os
-
var: ansible_network_os
Configures the device platform network operating system. This value is used to load the correct terminal and cliconf plugins to communicate with the remote device.
password
-
var: ansible_password
var: ansible_ssh_pass
var: ansible_ssh_password
Configures the user password used to authenticate to the remote device when first establishing the SSH connection.
persistent_buffer_read_timeout
float
Default:
0.1
ini entries:

[persistent_connection]
buffer_read_timeout = 0.1

env:ANSIBLE_PERSISTENT_BUFFER_READ_TIMEOUT
var: ansible_buffer_read_timeout
Configures, in seconds, the amount of time to wait for the data to be read from Paramiko channel after the command prompt is matched. This timeout value ensures that command prompt matched is correct and there is no more data left to be received from remote host.
persistent_command_timeout
integer
Default:
30
ini entries:

[persistent_connection]
command_timeout = 30

env:ANSIBLE_PERSISTENT_COMMAND_TIMEOUT
var: ansible_command_timeout
Configures, in seconds, the amount of time to wait for a command to return from the remote device. If this timer is exceeded before the command returns, the connection plugin will raise an exception and close.
persistent_connect_timeout
integer
Default:
30
ini entries:

[persistent_connection]
connect_timeout = 30

env:ANSIBLE_PERSISTENT_CONNECT_TIMEOUT
var: ansible_connect_timeout
Configures, in seconds, the amount of time to wait when trying to initially establish a persistent connection. If this value expires before the connection to the remote device is completed, the connection will fail.
persistent_log_messages
boolean
Default:
"no"
ini entries:

[persistent_connection]
log_messages = no

env:ANSIBLE_PERSISTENT_LOG_MESSAGES
var: ansible_persistent_log_messages
This flag will enable logging the command executed and response received from target device in the ansible log file. For this option to work 'log_path' ansible configuration option is required to be set to a file path with write access.
Be sure to fully understand the security implications of enabling this option as it could create a security vulnerability by logging sensitive information in log file.
port
integer
Default:
22
ini entries:

[defaults]
remote_port = 22

env:ANSIBLE_REMOTE_PORT
var: ansible_port
Specifies the port on the remote device that listens for connections when establishing the SSH connection.
private_key_file
-
ini entries:

[defaults]
private_key_file = VALUE

env:ANSIBLE_PRIVATE_KEY_FILE
var: ansible_private_key_file
The private SSH key or certificate file used to authenticate to the remote device when first establishing the SSH connection.
remote_user
-
ini entries:

[defaults]
remote_user = VALUE

env:ANSIBLE_REMOTE_USER
var: ansible_user
The username used to authenticate to the remote device when the SSH connection is first established. If the remote_user is not specified, the connection will use the username of the logged in user.
Can be configured from the CLI via the --user or -u options.
timeout
integer
Default:
120
Sets the connection time, in seconds, for communicating with the remote device. This timeout is used as the default timeout value for commands when issuing a command to the network CLI. If the command does not return in timeout seconds, an error is generated.

Status

Authors

  • Ansible Networking Team

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If you notice any issues in this documentation, you can edit this document to improve it.

Hint

Configuration entries for each entry type have a low to high priority order. For example, a variable that is lower in the list will override a variable that is higher up.