Automating File Operations via Python
Andrew Miller, Nicholas Kobylski, Elias Qamar, Jimmy Xiao, Nicholas Veal, Richard Kenney, Nicholas Wysocki, Mohammed Mahmoud · 2022
Python is a computer programming language which is used for many purposes, including automating tasks. To reduce cost and increase the level of operating efficiency, network engineers made this possible by developing network automation techniques to automate recurring tasks, such as file backup. File backups are a necessity for maintaining data in local storage. Using Python and a collection of modules and functions, such as shutil to copy data from one file to another, and os and sys to obtain the file path allows a beginner to develop this automation. Up until now, legacy methods used by network engineers were not only time-consuming, but they required relevant knowledge about the related protocols and technologies. We are now lucky to have support from most major network companies, resulting in a large open-source community where you can find key information to use the power of automation within many different applications. In this paper, we will focus on task automation, such as automating file backups, the different ways it can be implemented through techniques and technologies, and why it is essential for personal and business use.