Python is a programming language that has high-level data structures and a simple approach to object-oriented programming. Python’s syntax and dynamic typing, together with its interpreted nature, make it an ideal language for scripting and rapid application development in many areas on most platforms.

The Python interpreter and the standard library are freely available in source or binary form for all major platforms from the Python website at www.python.org. The Python website also distributes and links to many free third-party Python modules, programs and tools, and additional documentation.

The Cisco Nexus Series devices support Python in both interactive and noninteractive (script) modes. This means that the Python interpreter is now embedded in the Cisco NX-OS and you can execute Python commands and scripts directly on the switch. This is also referred to as the on-box Python. Python is also supported in the Guest Shell environment.

The initial version of Python that was supported was 2.7, but as it is end-of-life and end-of-support, currently the supported version is v3. The command that you need to use is python3.

The Python scripting capability provides programmatic access to the device’s CLI to perform various tasks and PowerOn Auto Provisioning (POAP) or Embedded Event Manager (EEM) actions. Python can also be accessed from the Bash shell.

The Python scripting capability on Cisco Nexus switches enables you to perform the following tasks:

Run a script to verify configuration on switch bootup

Back up a configuration

Perform proactive congestion management by monitoring and responding to buffer utilization characteristics

Perform integration with the PowerOn Auto Provisioning or EEM modules

Perform a job at a specific time interval (such as Port Auto Description)

Programmatically access the switch command-line interface to perform various tasks