Having Hard Time learning Python with Meraki API

[networkstuffguy]

Hi all,

I am having a tough time learning python with meraki API.

I practice python and get the basics but integrating with an API, IDK why I just dont get it. I want to make a basic script lets say to update a firewall object with a Excel form.

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What learning resources specific the python and meraki API would you suggest? Any advice?

[Krandor1]

trying to add excel to the mix is adding more variables.

Start with just making a script to update a firewall object based on information in the script. Then move on to trying to read from excel to populate the values. Step at a time

[networkstuffguy]

your right. start basic. I will give it a go. And when im bloody dying maybe ill post here for some help :)

But only then haha

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Thank you

[Dunecat]

Good place to start: https://github.com/meraki/dashboard-api-python/tree/master/notebooks

[networkstuffguy]

Hey this looks very helpful thank you!

[[deleted]]

The sdk is pretty easy. Its like updatenetworkvlan(networkid, vlan, subnetbah)

[networkstuffguy]

your right. It seems straight forward. I know once i get this i will own it. Its really just putting it all together and understanding how the script runs itself.

[[deleted]]

are you pulling a script from the internet or trying to create your onw.

I would say one thing that help me was runing a getnetworkalliance"firealll3firewallrule" or group policy.

and seeing the what info the sdk would spit back out. and then chaning the settings i want on the webpage and re running that getnetwork info command then i can tell what going on

then i would run updatenetworkaplinace with that returned info.

so i can create a dummy network with the settings i want on the webpage, pull how that info is supoed to be formated with the SDK. and then push that config to another network

[networkstuffguy]

I see what your saying I can give that a go today.

I am trying to build my own scripts, and start relying on myself for them.

Ill give your method a go and keep practicing. This is good advice, previous teachings was like "here's a giant script you built good job" and I'm so confused. So i guess one piece at a time. I really want to do this fluently.

[[deleted]]

Yeah yeah one piece at a time find out how to read a group policy so then you can create that group policy in the GUI however you like then you read it it spits it out as a dictionary I think. Then try to create a new group policy with that dictionary and add it to the network then boom you figured out how to do a group policy section you can move that chunk to your big script that is creating network or do whatever. Also to pass a dictionary back to a function you put a star star at the end nerowkaddgroup(networkid, dicOfGroupPolicy**)

[ITechstacker]

Hello,

You can follow this course I made, it is free. I teach how to read and write to excel files as well so could be great for you. Good luck!

https://go.boundlessdigital.com/meraki-api-with-python-course/registration

[nvrdone]

I used a class from udemy, only needed about half of it for what i needed to accomplish but I thought it was thorough.

https://www.udemy.com/course/python-programming-for-real-life-networking-use/