Parser is a file used to parse and extract key metrics (as known as variables) from command lines or device configurations for specific device types.

The section introduces the types and parsing methods of a parser.

Parser Type

The system provides the following types of parsers to suit the data from different sources of types:

▪CLI Command Parser — define how to parse and extract key metrics from the outputs of a CLI command.  

▪Configuration Parser — define how to parse and extract key metrics from configuration files.

▪SNMP Parser — define how to parse and extract key metrics from the outputs of an SNMP command.

▪API Parser — define how to parse and extract key metrics from an SDN network or third-party system via APIs.

Parsing Method

The system provides the following parsing methods to define a parser based on the returned data format of a commands

▪Keyword — parse data with a single instance only, such as device CPU usage, and version number.

▪Paragraph — parse data with multiple instances, such as MTU for different interfaces of a device. It can have nested keyword parsing, table or filter parsing method.

▪Table — parse table-formatted data, such as OSPF neighbor table. It can have nested filter parsing method only.

▪Filter — filter data based on conditions. It can have any nested parsing methods.

▪Script — suitable for experienced users to define a parser by using Python scripts.

About how to choose a parsing method when defining a parser, see Selecting a Parsing Method for details.

 

See also:

▪Creating a CLI Command Parser