Absolute Novice; Want to learn TCL for IOS

[kidseven112002]

Anyone! I am a mid level network engineer that needs to learn how to automate building switches; my job period. I don't really know where to start, but I know I want to run a script that can learn what ports a device has and configure it from a standard template we use dynamically. Maybe on with the template being pulled via SCP? I know this is a complex question, but any guidance on where to start or what a script to find the ports on a device would look like would be greatly appreciated? I did start reading the "TCL Scripting for IOS" to learn the basics, but I don't natively think like a programmer.

KC

[Joe Clarke · Accepted solution]

Have a look at https://supportforums.cisco.com/blog/12218591/automating-cisco-live-2014-san-francisco .  This blog article discusses a zero-touch switch automation solution and points you to my code.  The solution has evolved quite a bit since this blog, but the principles are the same.  It should do pretty much what you want from the sound of it.

[kidseven112002]

Joe, side question... where did you get started in programming and aside from me reading the Cisco books and watching random videos where should I go to legitimately learn tcl for networking? I will unfortunately still be using devices that don't support python for a while hence why I'm still asking for tcl guidance. (3850 switches mainly)

[Joe Clarke]

I started in college.  Learned C++ and Java, taught myself Perl.  I taught myself Tcl when Cisco opened it up.  I mainly used book references at the time, but now sites like Stackoverflow are great to learn by example.

The 3850 are the first IOS family to support on-box Python starting in 16.5(1).  I'll be discussing this very thing at CiscoLive next week.