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Platform Support

The plugin uses Scrapli as the primary connection library with Netmiko as a fallback, providing robust support for various network device platforms.

Primary Connection Engine: Scrapli

Scrapli provides fast, modern SSH connectivity with structured output parsing capabilities:

  • Cisco IOS/IOS-XE (cisco_ios)
  • Cisco NX-OS (cisco_nxos)
  • Cisco IOS-XR (cisco_iosxr)
  • Juniper Junos (juniper_junos)
  • Arista EOS (arista_eos)

Fallback Connection: Netmiko

When Scrapli encounters connection issues, the plugin automatically falls back to Netmiko for broader device compatibility:

  • Extended Platform Support - Covers additional vendor platforms and older device models
  • Legacy Device Support - Better compatibility with older firmware versions
  • SSH Troubleshooting - Alternative SSH implementation for problematic connections

Key Benefits

  • Automatic Fallback: Seamless switching between connection methods
  • TextFSM Integration: Structured data parsing for show commands
  • JSON Output: Native support for modern network OS JSON responses

Platform Configuration

Platforms are configured in NetBox's DCIM section. The plugin uses the platform's slug field to determine the appropriate connector:

  • Ensure your devices have the correct platform assigned
  • Use standard platform slugs (e.g., cisco_ios, cisco_nxos, juniper_junos)
  • The plugin automatically normalizes platform names for compatibility

For detailed configuration, see the Plugin Configuration Guide.