Network Automation: Best Courses, Repos & Tutorials

Network automation is one of the fastest-growing skills in IT — and most network engineers who haven't started yet are underestimating how quickly it's becoming a baseline requirement.

The numbers are hard to ignore. Job postings requiring Python or Ansible for network roles have more than tripled in the past four years. Engineers with automation skills consistently command salaries 20–30% higher than peers who still rely on CLI-only workflows. And with infrastructure teams being asked to do more with fewer hands, the manual way of configuring switches and routers one-by-one is simply running out of steam.

There are 470+ courses on this topic waiting for you at the network automation browse page. This guide cuts through the noise and tells you which ones are worth your time — plus the free tools, GitHub repos, YouTube channels, and communities that practicing engineers actually use.

Key Takeaways

• Network automation courses that teach Python and Ansible together are the most job-relevant training you can get right now.
• The free Kirk Byers PyNet course is the best free starting point for most network engineers.
• "Net DevOps: Cisco Python, Automation, NETCONF, SDN" has 127,000+ students — the most-enrolled course in this space.
• GitHub repos like awesome-network-automation give you a live map of the entire ecosystem.
• Most network automation roles require Python basics plus one orchestration tool — Ansible is the safe bet.

In This Article

• Why Network Automation Is Taking Over IT Ops
• Network Automation Training That Engineers Trust
• Which Tool Should You Learn First?
• The Network Automation Resources I Keep Coming Back To
• Network Automation YouTube Channels Worth Following
• Network Automation GitHub Repos Worth Starring
• Network Automation Books Worth Reading
• Related Network Automation Skills Worth Exploring
• Frequently Asked Questions About Network Automation

Why Network Automation Is Taking Over IT Ops

Network automation means using code — typically Python, Ansible, or both — to configure, manage, and monitor network devices at scale instead of doing it manually through a CLI (command-line interface, meaning you type commands one device at a time).

The shift is being driven by two forces at once. First, modern infrastructure is too big for manual management. A mid-size enterprise might have hundreds of switches and routers. Configuring each one by hand is slow, error-prone, and doesn't scale. Second, cloud-native environments and DevOps practices have set a new standard: infrastructure should be defined as code, version-controlled, tested, and deployed automatically.

That's where network automation comes in. When you write an Ansible playbook to push a consistent configuration to 200 Cisco switches at once, you eliminate the "I accidentally typo'd the wrong subnet on switch 47" problem. You also create an audit trail. And you can roll back changes in seconds.

The tools at the center of this world:

• Python — the scripting language that ties everything together
• Ansible — the most popular automation framework for network tasks (agentless, YAML-based)
• Netmiko — a Python library for SSH connections to network devices
• NAPALM (Network Automation and Programmability Abstraction Layer with Multivendor support) — a Python library that lets you talk to different vendors' devices using one unified API
• Nornir — a Python-native automation framework (more code-heavy than Ansible, more flexible)

You don't need to learn all of these at once. Start with Python basics and one tool — see the decision table below.

Network Automation Training That Engineers Trust

The courses below are ranked by enrollment and practical quality. They vary in price — some are free, some paid — and in depth.

1. Net DevOps: Cisco Python, Automation, NETCONF, SDN, Docker [Editors' Choice]

Instructor: NetSecCloud Training | Platform: Udemy | Students: 127,000+

This is the most-enrolled network automation course on the market, and the enrollment count isn't just hype. It covers Python, Ansible, NETCONF (a network management protocol), SDN (Software-Defined Networking), and Docker — the full stack that senior network engineers are expected to know.

What sets it apart: the NETCONF/YANG section is genuinely rare in paid courses. Most courses skip it. This one doesn't.

View on TutorialSearch

2. Master Network Automation with Python for Network Engineers [Editors' Choice]

Instructor: Andrei Dumitrescu | Platform: Udemy | Students: 33,000+

Andrei Dumitrescu is one of the most consistent instructors on Udemy — his courses are well-structured and don't assume you already know Python. This one starts from zero Python knowledge and builds toward real network automation scripts.

The exercises use actual network topologies (with GNS3, a network simulator), which matters. Theory without hands-on practice is how people forget.

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3. Network Automation - Python3 and Ansible

Instructor: Network Journey | Platform: Udemy | Students: 22,000+ | Price: Free

This is a rare find: a free course with real depth. It covers both Python3 and Ansible in a single structured curriculum, which saves you from stitching together separate tutorials.

For engineers on a budget who want a solid foundation before paying for anything, start here.

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4. Ansible for Network Automation - Hands On!!

Instructor: Various | Platform: Udemy | Students: 11,000+

The title delivers what it promises. Most Ansible courses are IT operations-focused — this one is specifically built for network engineers configuring Cisco, Juniper, and Arista gear. The labs are hands-on and the YAML playbooks are production-realistic.

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5. Network Automation: A Bootcamp for Beginners [Editors' Choice]

Instructor: Prathap Shetty | Platform: Udemy | Rating: 4.6/5

Strong rating, beginner-friendly structure. If you find the other courses assume too much background, this bootcamp format is the right entry point. It covers the fundamentals without drowning you in jargon.

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6. Ansible for Network Engineers - Cisco IOS, Junos, Arista

Instructor: Various | Platform: Udemy | Students: 3,100+

Vendor-specific and practical. If your environment is primarily Cisco, Juniper, or Arista, this course focuses exactly on those platforms rather than generic Ansible use cases.

View on TutorialSearch

7. Network Automation with Python Netmiko

Instructor: NetSecCloud Training | Platform: Udemy

Netmiko is the Python library you'll use most often when scripting against Cisco and other vendors' devices. This course goes deep on it. Great as a companion to any of the courses above once you have Python basics under your belt.

View on TutorialSearch

Everyone recommends starting with Ansible. I'd push back slightly: if you don't know any Python, learn just enough Python first — two to three weeks of basics. Ansible without Python knowledge works until it doesn't, and when you hit a complex use case or need to debug a failing playbook, Python knowledge is the difference between an hour-long fix and a three-day headache.

Which Tool Should You Learn First?

Here's a quick decision guide for the most common starting situations:

The honest answer: Python + Ansible is the combination that gets you hired. Everything else is a specialization on top of that foundation.

The Network Automation Resources I Keep Coming Back To

PyNet — Python for Network Engineers (Kirk Byers) [Editors' Choice]

pynet.twb-tech.com is the closest thing to a canonical free curriculum for this space. Kirk Byers is the creator of Netmiko and a co-maintainer of NAPALM — when he teaches Python for network automation, it's practitioner knowledge, not textbook theory.

The free 10-week email course delivers lessons with videos and hands-on exercises. It's been running since 2014 and the materials are regularly updated. Paid courses on Ansible and Nornir are also available if you want to go further.

Ansible Network Automation Docs

The official Ansible network automation documentation is genuinely well-written. The Getting Started guide is designed for network engineers specifically — not generic IT ops people — and it shows.

If you understand networking but have never touched Ansible, this guide is built for you.

NAPALM Documentation

NAPALM on Read the Docs is the reference for the multivendor Python library. Once you're using it, you'll come back to this constantly. The Ansible + NAPALM integration tutorial is particularly useful.

PyNetLabs Network Automation Roadmap

The Complete Network Automation Roadmap at PyNetLabs is a structured path from "I know networking" to "I can automate infrastructure." It maps out the sequence of tools to learn and why. Better than trying to figure out the order yourself.

APNIC Blog — Automation Tools Comparison

If you're confused about the difference between Paramiko, Netmiko, NAPALM, Ansible, and Nornir (and when to use each), the APNIC Blog explainer is the clearest overview I've seen. Read this before you commit to a tool path.

If cloud automation is on your roadmap as well, Terraform is the next natural step after Ansible — the two tools complement each other well.

Network Automation YouTube Channels Worth Following

David Bombal — GNS3 and Network Automation

David Bombal produces daily videos on GNS3, CCNA, SDN, and network automation. He's a CCIE-certified instructor with real-world lab setups. If you're a visual learner who wants to see Ansible playbooks running against actual (simulated) Cisco gear, his channel is the place.

Search for his Ansible and Python automation playlists specifically — the GNS3 lab demos are especially good.

Network Chuck

Network Chuck has nearly 4 million subscribers for a reason. His Python-for-network-engineers series is beginner-friendly without being slow. The production quality is high, the pace is good, and he uses real-world scenarios.

His weakness: he covers a lot of ground but doesn't always go deep. Treat his videos as fast introductions, then go deeper with a paid course or Kirk Byers for hands-on practice.

Roger Perkins — Ansible Network Automation

Roger Perkins' channel is specifically focused on Ansible network automation with Cisco, Nornir, NAPALM, and Git — which makes it more specialized and more useful than general-purpose DevOps Ansible tutorials. If you want to see real Ansible playbooks targeting network devices (not just servers), this channel delivers.

Jeremy's IT Lab

Best known for CCNA preparation, Jeremy's IT Lab has excellent explainer content on network fundamentals. Strong visual aids and clear explanations. Less focused on automation, but great for solidifying the networking knowledge that automation builds on.

Network Automation GitHub Repos Worth Starring

awesome-network-automation (networktocode)

github.com/networktocode/awesome-network-automation — this is the definitive curated list for the space. Courses, tools, libraries, frameworks, blog posts, communities — all organized. Star it and treat it as a living reference.

Network to Code is also the company behind Nautobot, NAPALM, and several other community tools. Their GitHub org is worth browsing.

napalm (napalm-automation)

github.com/napalm-automation/napalm — the actual NAPALM library. Worth starring to follow releases and see the issue tracker. When you're debugging a NAPALM vendor driver, the issues tab is where you'll find answers.

netops-roadmap (devopshobbies)

github.com/devopshobbies/netops-roadmap — a structured roadmap for learning NetOps (network + DevOps). Covers the tooling sequence, certification paths, and key skills. Useful as a checklist alongside any course.

cisco-ie/awesome-network-programmability

github.com/cisco-ie/awesome-network-programmability — Cisco's own curated list of networking programmability and automation resources. More vendor-specific than the networktocode list, but useful if your environment is Cisco-heavy.

Pairing network automation skills with Linux fundamentals and Docker containers opens up the full modern infrastructure engineering skill set.

Network Automation Books Worth Reading

Network Programmability and Automation, 2nd Edition [Editors' Choice]

Authors: Matt Oswalt, Christian Adell, Scott S. Lowe, Jason Edelman | Publisher: O'Reilly

The standard text for this field. The 2nd edition covers Linux, Python, APIs, Git, Ansible, Nornir, Terraform, and cloud-native tools like Docker and Kubernetes. It's thorough without being academic — the authors are practitioners.

Available on O'Reilly Learning (subscription) and on Amazon.

This is the book you give a network engineer who's serious about making the transition. A warning: it's dense. Read it alongside a course, not as a standalone.

Network Programmability and Automation Fundamentals

A more accessible companion volume — less comprehensive, but easier to start with if the main text feels overwhelming. Also from O'Reilly. Available here.

Free: Kirk Byers' Online Materials

pynet.twb-tech.com isn't just a course — it's a library of written materials, exercises, and solutions. If you work through every exercise on that site, you'll know more than 90% of the paid course options cover.

Understanding IT expertise broadly — including security, cloud, and monitoring — is what separates automation specialists from people who just know the tools.

Related Network Automation Skills Worth Exploring

Network automation doesn't exist in a vacuum. These related skills pair naturally with it:

• DevOps Automation — 699+ courses covering the broader CI/CD and infrastructure automation world. Network automation is one part of this larger discipline.
• Cloud Automation — 267+ courses. Once you're automating on-prem networks, cloud infrastructure automation with Terraform is the next frontier.
• Linux Fundamentals — 515+ courses. Almost every network automation tool runs on Linux. Comfort at the terminal is non-negotiable.
• Docker Containers — 411+ courses. Network automation pipelines increasingly run in containers. Basic Docker knowledge is becoming a standard requirement.
• DevOps Essentials — 336+ courses. Git, CI/CD, and version control principles apply directly to network automation workflows.
• Network Fundamentals — 272+ courses. Automation amplifies your networking knowledge. If your TCP/IP, BGP, and OSPF fundamentals are rusty, shore those up first.
• IT Expertise — 914+ courses covering the broader IT operations skill set.
• Windows Systems — 454+ courses. Relevant for hybrid environments where Windows Server plays a role in network operations.

Frequently Asked Questions About Network Automation

How long does it take to learn network automation?

It depends on your starting point. If you already work in networking and know TCP/IP well, you can get to a productive level with Python + Ansible in 3–6 months of consistent practice. Complete beginners — learning both networking and automation from scratch — should plan for 12–18 months. Find network automation courses here filtered by skill level.

Do I need to know programming before learning network automation?

You don't need deep programming skills, but some Python basics help a lot. Variables, loops, functions, and file I/O — if you can write a simple Python script, you have enough to start. The Kirk Byers free course at pynet.twb-tech.com assumes no prior coding experience and is a solid starting point.

What is Network Automation used for in DevOps?

Network automation streamlines network management tasks in DevOps pipelines. It enables automated provisioning, configuration, and monitoring of network devices — which means faster deployments, fewer human errors, and consistent configurations across your entire infrastructure. Explore DevOps automation courses to see how network automation fits into the bigger picture.

Can I get a job in network automation?

Yes — and demand is growing. Job titles include Network Automation Engineer, NetDevOps Engineer, and Network Infrastructure Engineer. Most roles expect Python + Ansible skills, comfort with Git, and some exposure to cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP). Cisco's DevNet certification path is also worth considering for career signaling.

What is the difference between network automation and orchestration?

Network automation handles individual tasks — like pushing a config to a device or running a show command across 50 switches. Orchestration coordinates complex workflows across multiple systems — like spinning up a new network segment, configuring routing, and updating a monitoring tool, all in sequence. Automation is what orchestration is built from. Tools like Ansible blur the line, since they can do both.

How does network automation improve security?

Automation enforces consistency. When every firewall rule is written as code and deployed via Ansible, there's no "I forgot to update the rule on switch 12" scenario. Automated configuration management also makes drift detection straightforward — run a compliance check, get a report on every device that's out of spec. Speed of response to vulnerabilities improves dramatically when a patch can be deployed to 500 devices in minutes.

If you're deciding where to begin: start with the Net DevOps course if you want the most comprehensive paid curriculum, or go straight to Kirk Byers' free PyNet course if you want to try before you buy. Both paths work — the important thing is starting. The gap between engineers who can automate and those who can't is widening every year, and it's not going to narrow on its own.

You can browse the full collection of 470+ courses at our network automation page, or search the DevOps & IT category for related skills.