Developing network resource modules

The resource module builder is an Ansible Playbook that helps developers scaffold and maintain an Ansible network resource module.

The resource module builder has the following capabilities:

  • Uses a defined model to scaffold a resource module directory layout and initial class files.
  • Scaffolds either an Ansible role or a collection.
  • Subsequent uses of the resource module builder will only replace the module arspec and file containing the module docstring.
  • Allows you to store complex examples along side the model in the same directory.
  • Maintains the model as the source of truth for the module and use resource module builder to update the source files as needed.
  • Generates working sample modules for both <network_os>_<resource> and <network_os>_facts.

Accessing the resource module builder

To access the resource module builder:

  1. clone the github repository:
git clone https://github.com/ansible-network/resource_module_builder.git
  1. Install the requirements:
pip install -r requirements.txt

Creating a model

You must create a model for your new resource. The resource module builder uses this model to create:

  • The scaffold for a new module
  • The argspec for the new module
  • The docstring for the new module

The model is then the single source of truth for both the argspec and docstring, keeping them in sync. Use the resource module builder to generate this scaffolding. For any subsequent updates to the module, update the model first and use the resource module builder to update the module argspec and docstring.

For example, the resource model builder includes the myos_interfaces.yml sample in the models directory, as seen below:

---
GENERATOR_VERSION: '1.0'
ANSIBLE_METADATA: |
    {
        'metadata_version': '1.1',
        'status': ['preview'],
        'supported_by': '<support_group>'
    }
NETWORK_OS: myos
RESOURCE: interfaces
COPYRIGHT: Copyright 2019 Red Hat
LICENSE: gpl-3.0.txt

DOCUMENTATION: |
  module: myos_interfaces
  version_added: 2.9
  short_description: 'Manages <xxxx> attributes of <network_os> <resource>'
  description: 'Manages <xxxx> attributes of <network_os> <resource>.'
  author: Ansible Network Engineer
 notes:
    - 'Tested against <network_os> <version>'
  options:
    config:
      description: The provided configuration
      type: list
      elements: dict
      suboptions:
        name:
          type: str
          description: The name of the <resource>
        some_string:
          type: str
          description:
          - The some_string_01
          choices:
          - choice_a
          - choice_b
          - choice_c
          default: choice_a
        some_bool:
          description:
          - The some_bool.
          type: bool
        some_int:
          description:
          - The some_int.
          type: int
          version_added: '1.1'
        some_dict:
          type: dict
          description:
          - The some_dict.
          suboptions:
            property_01:
              description:
              - The property_01
              type: str
    state:
      description:
      - The state of the configuration after module completion.
      type: str
      choices:
      - merged
      - replaced
      - overridden
      - deleted
      default: merged
EXAMPLES:
  - deleted_example_01.txt
  - merged_example_01.txt
  - overridden_example_01.txt
  - replaced_example_01.txt

Notice that you should include examples for each of the states that the resource supports. The resource module builder also includes these in the sample model.

See Ansible network resource models for more examples.

Using the resource module builder

To use the resource module builder to create a collection scaffold from your resource model:

ansible-playbook -e rm_dest=<destination for modules and module utils> \
                 -e structure=collection \
                 -e collection_org=<collection_org> \
                 -e collection_name=<collection_name> \
                 -e model=<model> \
                 site.yml

Where the parameters are as follows:

  • rm_dest: The directory where the resource module builder places the files and directories for the resource module and facts modules.
  • structure: The directory layout type (role or collection)
    • role: Generate a role directory layout.
    • collection: Generate a collection directory layout.
  • collection_org: The organization of the collection, required when structure=collection.
  • collection_name: The name of the collection, required when structure=collection.
  • model: The path to the model file.

To use the resource module builder to create a role scaffold:

ansible-playbook -e rm_dest=<destination for modules and module utils> \
                 -e structure=role \
                 -e model=<model> \
                 site.yml

Examples

Collection directory layout

This example shows the directory layout for the following:

  • network_os: myos
  • resource: interfaces
ansible-playbook -e rm_dest=~/github/rm_example \
                 -e structure=collection \
                 -e collection_org=cidrblock \
                 -e collection_name=my_collection \
                 -e model=models/myos/interfaces/myos_interfaces.yml \
                 site.yml

├── docs
├── LICENSE.txt
├── playbooks
├── plugins
|   ├── action
|   ├── filter
|   ├── inventory
|   ├── modules
|   |   ├── __init__.py
|   |   ├── myos_facts.py
|   |   └──  myos_interfaces.py
|   └──  module_utils
|       ├── __init__.py
|       └──  network
|           ├── __init__.py
|           └──  myos
|               ├── argspec
|               |   ├── facts
|               |   |   ├── facts.py
|               |   |   └──  __init__.py
|               |   ├── __init__.py
|               |   └──  interfaces
|               |       ├── __init__.py
|               |       └──  interfaces.py
|               ├── config
|               |   ├── __init__.py
|               |   └──  interfaces
|               |       ├── __init__.py
|               |       └──  interfaces.py
|               ├── facts
|               |   ├── facts.py
|               |   ├── __init__.py
|               |   └──  interfaces
|               |       ├── __init__.py
|               |       └──  interfaces.py
|               ├── __init__.py
|               └──  utils
|                   ├── __init__.py
|                   └──  utils.py
├── README.md
└──  roles

Role directory layout

This example displays the role directory layout for the following:

  • network_os: myos
  • resource: interfaces
ansible-playbook -e rm_dest=~/github/rm_example/roles/my_role \
                 -e structure=role \
                 -e model=models/myos/interfaces/myos_interfaces.yml \
                 site.yml

roles
└── my_role
    ├── library
    │   ├── __init__.py
    │   ├── myos_facts.py
    │   └── myos_interfaces.py
    ├── LICENSE.txt
    ├── module_utils
    │   ├── __init__.py
    │   └── network
    │       ├── __init__.py
    │       └── myos
    │           ├── argspec
    │           │   ├── facts
    │           │   │   ├── facts.py
    │           │   │   └── __init__.py
    │           │   ├── __init__.py
    │           │   └── interfaces
    │           │       ├── __init__.py
    │           │       └── interfaces.py
    │           ├── config
    │           │   ├── __init__.py
    │           │   └── interfaces
    │           │       ├── __init__.py
    │           │       └── interfaces.py
    │           ├── facts
    │           │   ├── facts.py
    │           │   ├── __init__.py
    │           │   └── interfaces
    │           │       ├── __init__.py
    │           │       └── interfaces.py
    │           ├── __init__.py
    │           └── utils
    │               ├── __init__.py
    │               └── utils.py
    └── README.md

Using the collection

This example shows how to use the generated collection in a playbook:

----
- hosts: myos101
  gather_facts: False
  tasks:
  - cidrblock.my_collection.myos_interfaces:
    register: result
  - debug:
      var: result
  - cidrblock.my_collection.myos_facts:
  - debug:
      var: ansible_network_resources

Using the role

This example shows how to use the generated role in a playbook:

- hosts: myos101
  gather_facts: False
  roles:
  - my_role

- hosts: myos101
  gather_facts: False
  tasks:
  - myos_interfaces:
    register: result
  - debug:
      var: result
  - myos_facts:
  - debug:
      var: ansible_network_resources

Resource module structure and workflow

The resource module structure includes the following components:

Module
  • library/<ansible_network_os>_<resource>.py.
  • Imports the module_utils resource package and calls execute_module API
def main():
    result = <resource_package>(module).execute_module()
Module argspec
  • module_utils/<ansible_network_os>/argspec/<resource>/.
  • Argspec for the resource.
Facts
  • module_utils/<ansible_network_os>/facts/<resource>/.
  • Populate facts for the resource.
  • Entry in module_utils/<ansible_network_os>/facts/facts.py for get_facts API to keep <ansible_network_os>_facts module and facts gathered for the resource module in sync for every subset.
  • Entry of Resource subset in FACTS_RESOURCE_SUBSETS list in module_utils/<ansible_network_os>/facts/facts.py to make facts collection work.
Module package in module_utils
  • module_utils/<ansible_network_os>/<config>/<resource>/.
  • Implement execute_module API that loads the configuration to device and generates the result with changed, commands, before and after keys.
  • Call get_facts API that returns the <resource> configuration facts or return the difference if the device has onbox diff support.
  • Compare facts gathered and given key-values if diff is not supported.
  • Generate final configuration.
Utils
  • module_utils/<ansible_network_os>/utils.
  • Utilities for the <ansible_network_os> platform.

Developer notes

The tests rely on a role generated by the resource module builder. After changes to the resource module builder, the role should be regenerated and the tests modified and run as needed. To generate the role after changes:

rm -rf rmb_tests/roles/my_role
ansible-playbook -e rm_dest=./rmb_tests/roles/my_role \
                 -e structure=role \
                 -e model=models/myos/interfaces/myos_interfaces.yml \
                 site.yml