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NAPALM

github.com

Free plan macOSLinuxAPISelf-hosted
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Spec score 7.8 #12 of 29 in Network Automation Software

What it is

NAPALM is a free Python library for automating network devices from multiple vendors through a shared API. It connects to devices, changes configurations, and retrieves operational data. Its core drivers cover Arista EOS, Cisco IOS, Cisco IOS-XR, Cisco NX-OS, and Juniper JunOS, with additional community drivers. Configuration methods include replace, merge, compare, commit-confirm, and rollback, although availability depends on the platform. Getters can return device facts, configurations, interface information, BGP neighbors, and environment data, with coverage varying by driver. For validation, NAPALM can compare live device state against YAML expectations and create a compliance report. The project identifies integrations with Ansible, SaltStack, and StackStorm. Installation uses `pip install napalm`, which includes the currently available core drivers. Version 5.1.0 and later supports Python 3.9 and later. It is self-hosted, licensed under Apache-2.0, and free at free. Documentation advises checking platform-specific caveats before use.

Spec sheet

Purpose
NAPALM is a Python library for interacting with network devices from different vendors through a unified API.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Intended users
NAPALM is aimed at people automating and validating network devices across multiple vendors through Python and automation frameworks.Read 4 Oct 2026 · napalm.readthedocs.io
Integrations
The project README identifies integrations with Ansible, SaltStack, and StackStorm.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Support
The README points users to the napalm channel on the network.toCode() Slack team for help.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
License
The GitHub repository identifies the project license as Apache-2.0.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Community drivers
NAPALM also supports community-driven drivers in addition to its core drivers.Read 4 Oct 2026 · napalm.readthedocs.io
Configuration and data
The library provides methods to connect to devices, manipulate configurations, and retrieve data.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Configuration operations
The documented configuration methods include replace, merge, compare, commit-confirm, and rollback, with availability varying by platform.Read 4 Oct 2026 · napalm.readthedocs.io
Core device support
The documentation lists core drivers for Arista EOS, Cisco IOS, Cisco IOS-XR, Cisco NX-OS, and Juniper JunOS.Read 4 Oct 2026 · napalm.readthedocs.io
Data retrieval
Documented getters retrieve information such as device facts, configuration, interfaces, BGP neighbors, and environment data, with support varying by driver.Read 4 Oct 2026 · napalm.readthedocs.io
Deployment validation
NAPALM can compare live device state with YAML-defined expectations and produce a compliance report.Read 4 Oct 2026 · napalm.readthedocs.io
Installation
The project documents installation with pip install napalm and states that the package includes all currently available core drivers.Read 4 Oct 2026 · napalm.readthedocs.io
Platform caveats
The device support documentation warns users to review platform-specific caveats before using the library.Read 4 Oct 2026 · napalm.readthedocs.io
Runtime requirement
The repository README states that NAPALM 5.1.0 and later supports Python 3.9 and later.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Security policy
GitHub reports that the project has not set up a SECURITY.md file and has no published security advisories.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

NAPALM Free Open-source Python library · install with pip · device and driver support varies Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com

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Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Core drivers cover five named vendor platforms
  • Configuration operations include rollback and commit-confirm
  • Can validate live state against YAML expectations
  • Integrates with Ansible, SaltStack, and StackStorm

Limits

  • Operation availability varies by platform
  • Data support varies by driver
  • Requires Python 3.9 or later
  • No SECURITY.md file or published security advisories

Who it suits

NAPALM suits people automating and validating network devices across vendors with Python and automation frameworks. It is intended for users comfortable running a self-hosted library and checking driver-specific support.

Verdict

NAPALM brings multi-vendor device access, configuration changes, data retrieval, and state validation into a Python library. Driver-dependent coverage and platform caveats are important to check for the devices and operations in scope.

Where Specifiction places it

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