Revolutionizing Scripting: Advanced Use-cases for Python Automation in Linux

Python, known for its versatility and simplicity, is extensively used for scripting and automation on Linux systems. It not only improves productivity and efficiency but also drives innovation by providing advanced functionalities that were either difficult or impossible to achieve with traditional shell scripts. This blog will explore how Python can be used to automate complex tasks on Linux, providing both examples and tips to enhance your system management capabilities.

Automation with Python on Linux

Python interacts very efficiently with Linux environments, allowing for sophisticated automations and scripts.

System Monitoring and Management

• Log File Management: Automate the rotation, archiving, and analysis of log files, which is crucial for maintaining system health.

import glob
import shutil

# Rotate log files
for log_file in glob.glob('/var/log/*.log'):
    shutil.move(log_file, log_file + '.old')

# Archive old logs
shutil.make_archive('archived_logs', 'zip', '/var/log/')

• System Health Check: Develop scripts to monitor CPU usage, memory usage, disk space, and network performance.

import psutil

# Check CPU usage
cpu_usage = psutil.cpu_percent()
print('CPU Usage:', cpu_usage)

# Check available memory
memory = psutil.virtual_memory()
print('Available Memory:', memory.available)

Automation of Routine Tasks

• File Management: Automate the creation, deletion, and backup of files and directories.

import os

# Create a directory
os.makedirs('/path/to/new/directory', exist_ok=True)

# Delete files older than 30 days
import os, time
current_time = time.time()

for file in os.listdir('/path/to/directory'):
    file_path = os.path.join('/path/to/directory', file)
    if os.stat(file_path).st_mtime < current_time - 30 * 86400:
        os.remove(file_path)

• Automated System Updates: Schedule and manage system updates without manual intervention.

import subprocess

# Run system update
subprocess.run(['sudo', 'apt-get', 'update'])
subprocess.run(['sudo', 'apt-get', 'upgrade', '-y'])

Advanced Networking Automation

Leveraging Python for network automation is increasingly popular in managing complex network configurations and operations.

• Network Configuration: Script network settings such as changing IP addresses, updating DNS configurations, and managing firewall rules.

import subprocess

# Change IP address
subprocess.run(['ifconfig', 'eth0', '192.168.1.100'])

# Update DNS configuration
with open('/etc/resolv.conf', 'w') as file:
    file.write('nameserver 8.8.8.8\nnameserver 8.8.4.4\n')

• Network Monitoring: Use scripts to track traffic, analyze network logs, and alert for unusual activities.

import socket
import struct

# Monitor incoming network traffic
sock = socket.socket(socket.AF_PACKET, socket.SOCK_RAW, socket.ntohs(3))

while True:
    raw_data, addr = sock.recvfrom(65536)
    ip_header = raw_data[14:34]
    ip_hdr = struct.unpack('!BBHHHBBH4s4s', ip_header)
    print('IP Source Address:', socket.inet_ntoa(ip_hdr[8]))
    print('IP Destination Address:', socket.inet_ntoa(ip_hdr[9]))

Conclusion

Python’s capabilities on Linux extend beyond simple scripts; they encompass automated solutions that tackle complex system and network management tasks. By embracing Python’s powerful libraries and features alongside Linux, individuals and organizations can significantly boost their operational capabilities, efficiency, and responsiveness to system events.