Rust for Network Programming and Automation: Learn to Design and Automate Networks, Performance Optimization, and Packet Analysis with low-level Rust

Rust for Network Programming and Automation

Learn to Design and Automate Networks, Performance Optimization, and Packet Analysis with low-level Rust

Brian Anderson

Copyright © 2023 GitforGits

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-8196228538

Contents

Preface

Chapter 1: Basics of Network Automation

Need of Network Automation

Evolution of Network Management

Necessity and Rise of Network Automation

Opportunities for Today and Future

Types of Network Automation

Configuration Automation

Network Monitoring Automation

Provisioning Automation

Security Automation

Software Defined Networks

Understanding SDN Architecture

Types of SDN

Network Protocols

Role of Network Protocols

Importance of Network Protocols

Types of Network Protocols

Network Automation Tools

Role of Network Automation Tools

Network Automation Tool Categories

Network Automation Architectures

Network Devices

Network Automation Tools

Network Automation Engine

Summary

Chapter 2: Essentials of Linux for Networks

Overview of Network-Related Commands

Purpose of Network Related Commands

Advantages of Network Commands

Examples of Network Commands:

Using ‘ifconfig’

Using ‘iwconfig’

Using ‘dig’

Using ‘traceroute’

Using ‘netstat’

Using ‘nslookup’

Searching Wireless Devices

Using ‘iwlist’

Modifying IPv4 Addresses

Understanding IPv4

Modifying the Addresses (IPv4)

Modifying IPv6 Addresses

Deleting IP Address

Cloning IP Addresses

What is Cloning of IP Address?

Steps to Clone IP

How to Clone the IP Address

Considerations While Cloning IP

Evaluating DNS Server

Need of DNS Evaluation

Steps to Evaluate DNS Server

Modifying DNS Server

Ways to Modify DNS Server

Summary

Chapter 3: Rust Basics for Networks

Overview

Variables

Constants

Functions

Control Flow

If Statements

Loop Statements

While Statements

For Statements

Pattern Matching

Summary

Chapter 4: Core Rust for Networks

Mutability

Overview

Application of Mutability in Network Programming

Sample Program on Mutability

Ownership

Overview

Sample Program on Ownership

Borrowing

Overview

Sample Program on Borrowing

Borrowing for Data Buffers

Structs

Overview

Struct Syntax

Enums & Pattern Matching

Overview

Enum Syntax

Pattern Matching

Use of Enums

Enums for Simple Server

Data Enumeration

Traits

Using Trait Syntax

Sample Program to use Trait in Networks

Error Handling

Overview

Result, Ok and Err

Panic! Macro

Summary

Chapter 5: Rust Commands for Networks

Standard Commands In-Use

Networking Commands

std::net

tokio

hyper

env_logger

reqwest

Summary

Chapter 6: Programming & Designing Networks

LAN

Overview of LAN Setup

Defining Network Topology using Graphviz

Assign IP Address

Configure Network Devices using Netlink

WAN

Overview of WAN Setup

Determine Network Requirements

Choose the WAN Technology

Select a WAN Service Provider

Configure the WAN Routers

Configure the WAN Interfaces

WLAN

Overview of WLAN Setup

End-to-end Setup of a WLAN

Cloud Networks

End-to-end Setup of a Cloud Network

VPN

Stages to Configure a VPN

Rust Program to Setup VPN

Data Center Network

Stages to Setup a Data Center Network

Rust Program to Setup a Data Center Network

Summary

Chapter 7: Establishing & Managing Network Protocols

Establishing TCP/IP

Choose Port Number

Bind to a Socket

Accept Incoming Connections

Process Incoming Data

Handle Errors

Choose Port Number

Allocation of Port Numbers

Application-wise Port Numbers

Selection of Rust Networking Library

Tokio

Mio

Rust-async

Installing and Configuring Tokio

Installing and Configuring Mio

Installing and Configuring Rust-async

Creating TCP Listener/Binding Socket

Understanding Binding Sockets and TCP Listening

Create TCP Listener using Tokio and Mio

Create TCP Listener using Rust-async

Accept Incoming Connections

Overview

Steps to Accept Connections

Accept Incoming Connections using Tokio

Accept Incoming Connections using Mio

Accept Incoming Connections using Rust-async

Processing of Incoming Data

Process Incoming Data with Tokio

Process Incoming Data with Mio

Process Incoming Data with Rust-async

Handle Errors

Handling Errors using Tokio

Handling Errors using Mio

Handling Errors using Rust-async

Summary

Chapter 8: Packet & Network Analysis

Understanding Packets

Packet Manipulation Tools

Overview

pnet

libtin

Create a Packet Capture Loop

Overview

Packet Capture Process

Capturing Packets using pnet

Process the Captured Packets

Overview

Procedure to Process Captured Packets

Processing Captured Packets using pnet

Analyze the Captured Packets

Overview

Packet Analysis Use-cases

Analyzing Packets

Summary

Chapter 9: Network Performance Monitoring

Network and Performance Monitoring

Why Monitoring Networks?

Performance Monitoring Techniques

Network Performance Metrics & Indicators

Understanding Network Performance Metrics

Exploring Network Performance Indicators

Monitoring Network Availability

Setting Up the Project

Implementing Network Monitoring

Setting Up Monitoring Alerts

Putting It All Together

Running the Application

Monitoring Network Utilization

Setting Up the Project

Implementing Network Utilization Monitoring

Setting Up Monitoring Alerts

Putting It All Together

Running the Application

Monitoring Latency, Packet Loss and Jitter

Installing the pingr Crate

Sending Ping Requests

Continuously Monitoring Latency

Summary

Preface

Rust for Network Programming and Automation is a pragmatic guide that trains you through the Rust to design networks and begin with automating network administration. The book introduces you to the powerful libraries and commands of Rust that are essential for designing, administering and automating networks. You will learn how to use Rust's networking libraries like tokio, mio and rust-async to create scalable and efficient network applications.

The book provides a wide range of practical examples and use-cases, which help to simplify complex coding concepts and ensure that you understand the material in-depth. You will discover how to establish network protocols like TCP and IP networks, run packet and network analysis, measure performance indicators and set up monitoring alerts and notifications. The book is an excellent resource for network engineers and administrators who want to gain a deep understanding of Rust programming for networking.

The author of Rust for Network Programming and Automation has a wealth of experience in network programming and automation with practical insights. The book is perfect for anyone who wants to master Rust programming for network automation and gain a competitive edge in the field. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced programmer, this book will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to excel in network programming and automation using Rust.

In this book you will learn how to:

Use Rust to automate network configuration, deployment, and maintenance tasks

Capture and inspect packets, decode protocols, and analyze network traffic

Set up monitoring alerts, notifications, and manage network infrastructure

Create scripts and applications that automate repetitive network tasks

Monitor network performance indicators like latency, throughput, and packet loss

Understand Rust's syntax, data types, control structures, and functions

Make use of Rust's networking libraries like Tokio, mio and rust-async to create networking programs

Establish network connections and handle data transmission between different devices

GitforGits

Prerequisites

This book assumes you are absolutely new to rust programming and believes in rust to make some of the great performing applications. If you know any other programming prior to this book, reading this book at speed can finish truly in a day.

Rust is a modern, safe and efficient systems programming language that is widely used in industry and is a good choice for developers who want to build high-performance, concurrent, and safe systems.

Codes Usage

Are you in need of some helpful code examples to assist you in your programming and documentation? Look no further! Our book offers a wealth of supplemental material, including code examples and exercises.

Not only is this book here to aid you in getting your job done, but you have our permission to use the example code in your programs and documentation. However, please note that if you are reproducing a significant portion of the code, we do require you to contact us for permission.

But don't worry, using several chunks of code from this book in your program or answering a question by citing our book and quoting example code does not require permission. But if you do choose to give credit, an attribution typically includes the title, author, publisher, and ISBN. For example, Rust for Network Programming and Automation by Brian Anderson.

If you are unsure whether your intended use of the code examples falls under fair use or the permissions outlined above, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected]. 

We are happy to assist and clarify any concerns.

Acknowledgement

Brian Anderson expresses his gratitude to all of the other contributors to Rust and work tirelessly to improve the quality of the programming language. Brian would want to express his gratitude to the copywriters, tech editors, and reviewers who helped create a powerful yet simple book that outperforms rust coding in a relatively short period of time. And, lastly to his entire family and friends extending their support to finish the project at the earliest.

Chapter 1: Basics of Network Automation

Need of Network Automation

Evolution of Network Management

Network automation refers to the use of software tools and technologies to simplify and automate the management, configuration, and operation of computer networks. It involves leveraging various technologies, including machine learning, artificial intelligence, and orchestration, to enable networks to operate more efficiently, accurately, and securely. Network automation has evolved significantly over the years, driven by the need to reduce complexity, improve reliability, and increase agility in network management.

In the early days of computer networking, network automation was limited to basic scripting and command-line interfaces. This was a time-consuming and error-prone process that required extensive manual intervention by network engineers. As networks grew in complexity, it became increasingly challenging to manage them using these traditional methods.

The introduction of network management systems (NMS) in the 1990s marked the beginning of the evolution of network automation. NMS software allowed network engineers to manage and monitor networks from a centralized location, reducing the need for manual intervention. NMS also made it possible to collect and analyze network data, providing insights into network performance, usage, and security.

In the 2000s, the rise of software-defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualization (NFV) led to a significant shift in network automation. These technologies allowed networks to be virtualized, abstracting network resources from the underlying hardware. This made it possible to create and manage networks more flexibly, without the need for extensive manual intervention.

With the advent of cloud computing, network automation has become even more critical. Cloud networks are highly dynamic, with workloads moving between virtual machines and containers in real-time. This has led to the development of automation tools that can detect and respond to changes in the network automatically. These tools use machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms to identify potential issues and recommend or take corrective actions.

Today, network automation is an integral part of modern network management. It enables organizations to create, configure, and manage networks more efficiently and accurately, reducing the risk of errors and downtime. Network automation also allows network engineers to focus on higher-level tasks, such as network design and optimization, rather than routine maintenance and configuration.

Overall, network automation has evolved significantly over the years, driven by the need to manage increasingly complex networks more efficiently and accurately. The introduction of network management systems, software-defined networking, and cloud computing has played a significant role in this evolution. Today, network automation is a critical component of modern network management, enabling organizations to improve network reliability, security, and agility.

Necessity and Rise of Network Automation

The demand and necessity for network automation by businesses are driven by several factors, including the increasing complexity of network infrastructures, the need for greater agility and efficiency, and the rising threat of cybersecurity attacks. Given below are some facts and statistics that highlight the demand and necessity of network automation by businesses:

Network Complexity: Today's networks are more complex than ever before, with multiple devices, applications, and services requiring configuration and management. According to a survey by Enterprise Management Associates, 82% of organizations reported that their networks have become more complex over the past five years.

Time and Cost Savings: Network automation can save businesses both time and money. A report by Juniper Networks found that network automation could reduce the time required for routine network configuration tasks by up to 90%. In addition, automation can reduce the risk of errors and downtime, which can be costly for businesses.

Greater Agility: Businesses need to be able to respond quickly to changes in the market, and network automation can help them do so. A study by Enterprise Management Associates found that businesses that adopted network automation were able to respond to changes in network infrastructure up to 10 times faster than those that did not.

Cybersecurity: The threat of cybersecurity attacks is a growing concern for businesses, and network automation can help to mitigate this risk. According to a study by the Ponemon Institute, 75% of businesses believe that automation can improve their cybersecurity posture.

Employee Productivity: Network automation can free up IT staff to focus on more strategic tasks, which can improve employee productivity. According to a survey by Network World, 75% of IT professionals believe that network automation can improve employee productivity.

Business Continuity: Downtime can be costly for businesses, and network automation can help to ensure business continuity. A report by Cisco found that businesses that use network automation experience 60% less downtime than those that do not.

Cloud Adoption: Cloud adoption is on the rise, and network automation can help businesses to manage their cloud infrastructures more efficiently. A survey by the Cloud Security Alliance found that 50% of businesses use network automation to manage their cloud networks.

To summarize, the demand and necessity for network automation by businesses are driven by a range of factors, including network complexity, time and cost savings, greater agility, cybersecurity, employee productivity, business continuity, and cloud adoption. With the increasing complexity of networks and the growing threat of cybersecurity attacks, businesses that adopt network automation are better positioned to improve their network performance, reduce downtime, and respond quickly to changes in the market.

Opportunities for Today and Future

As network automation continues to gain prominence in the IT industry, a wide range of career roles has emerged in this field. Given below are some of the key roles in network automation and the responsibilities that they typically take care of:

Network Automation Engineer: A network automation engineer is responsible for developing and implementing software tools and scripts to automate network management processes. They are responsible for designing and implementing automated network solutions, analyzing network performance data, and troubleshooting issues related to network automation. A network automation engineer should have a good understanding of network protocols, scripting languages, and automation tools such as Ansible and Python.

Network Automation Architect: A network automation architect is responsible for designing and implementing the overall network automation strategy for an organization. They are responsible for developing network automation policies, procedures, and standards, and for ensuring that network automation solutions align with business objectives. A network automation architect should have a deep understanding of network architecture, automation tools, and best practices for network automation.