Ansible Network Collection for Enterprise SONiC Distribution by Dell Technologies

This collection includes Ansible core modules, network resource modules, and plugins needed to provision and manage Dell EMC PowerSwitch platforms running Enterprise SONiC Distribution by Dell Technologies. Sample playbooks and documentation are also included to show how the collection can be used.

Supported connections

The SONiC Ansible collection supports network_cli and httpapi connections.

Plugins

CLICONF plugin

HTTPAPI plugin

Collection core modules

Collection network resource modules

Listed are the SONiC Ansible network resource modules which need httpapi as the connection type. Supported operations are merged, deleted, replaced and overridden.

Sample use case playbooks

The playbooks directory includes this sample playbook that shows end-to-end use cases.

Version compatibility

• Recommended Ansible version 2.17 or higher (This is required for enterprise_sonic collection version >= 3.2.0).
• Enterprise SONiC Distribution by Dell Technologies version 3.1 or higher
• Recommended Python 3.10 or higher (This is required for enterprise_sonic collection version >= 3.2.0.).
• Dell Enterprise SONiC images for releases 3.1 - 3.5: Use Ansible Enterprise SONiC collection version 1.1.0 or later 1.m.n versions (from the 1.x branch of this repo)
• Dell Enterprise SONiC images for release 4.0 and later 4.x.y releases before 4.4.0: Use Ansible Enterprise SONiC collection version 2.0.0 or later 2.m.n releases (from the "2.x" branch of this repo).
• Dell Enterprise SONiC images for release 4.4.0 and later 4.x.y releases: Use Ansible Enterprise SONiC collection version 3.0.0 or later 3.m.n releases (from the "main" branch of this repo).

NOTE: Community SONiC versions that include the Management Framework container should work as well, however, this collection has not been tested nor validated with community versions and is not supported.

Setting Environment Variables

Option 1: Add the environment variable while running the playbook.

  ANSIBLE_NETWORK_GROUP_MODULES=sonic ansible-playbook sample_playbook.yaml -i inventory.ini

Option 2: Add the environment variable in user profile.

  ANSIBLE_NETWORK_GROUP_MODULES=sonic

Installation of Enterprise SONiC collection from Ansible Galaxy

Install the latest version of the Enterprise SONiC collection from Ansible Galaxy.

  ansible-galaxy collection install dellemc.enterprise_sonic

To install a specific version, specify a version range identifier. For example, to install the most recent version that is greater than or equal to 1.0.0 and less than 2.0.0.

  ansible-galaxy collection install 'dellemc.enterprise_sonic:>=1.0.0,<2.0.0'

Sample playbooks

VLAN configuration using CLICONF

sonic_network_cli.yaml

---

- name: SONiC Management Framework CLI configuration examples
  hosts: sonic_switches
  gather_facts: no
  connection: network_cli
  tasks:
    - name: Add VLAN entry
      dellemc.enterprise_sonic.sonic_config:
        commands: ['interface Vlan 700','exit']
        save: yes
      register: config_op
    - name: Test SONiC single command
      dellemc.enterprise_sonic.sonic_command:
        commands: 'show vlan'
      register: cmd_op

VLAN configuration using HTTPAPI

sonic_httpapi.yaml

---

- name: SONiC Management Framework REST API examples
  hosts: sonic_switches
  gather_facts: no
  connection: httpapi
  tasks:
    - name: Perform PUT operation to add a VLAN network instance
      dellemc.enterprise_sonic.sonic_api:
        url: data/openconfig-network-instance:network-instances/network-instance=Vlan100
        method: "PUT"
        body: {"openconfig-network-instance:network-instance": [{"name": "Vlan100","config": {"name": "Vlan100"}}]}
        status_code: 204
    - name: Perform GET operation to view VLAN network instance
      dellemc.enterprise_sonic.sonic_api:
        url: data/openconfig-network-instance:network-instances/network-instance=Vlan100
        method: "GET"
        status_code: 200
      register: api_op

Configuration using network resource modules

sonic_resource_modules.yaml

---

- name: VLANs, Layer 2 and Layer 3 interfaces configuration using Enterprise SONiC resource modules
  hosts: sonic_switches
  gather_facts: no
  connection: httpapi
  tasks:
   - name: Configure VLANs
     dellemc.enterprise_sonic.sonic_vlans:
        config:
         - vlan_id: 701
         - vlan_id: 702
         - vlan_id: 703
         - vlan_id: 704
        state: merged
     register: sonic_vlans_output
   - name: Configure Layer 2 interfaces
     dellemc.enterprise_sonic.sonic_l2_interfaces:
        config:
        - name: Eth1/2
          access:
            vlan: 701
          trunk:
            allowed_vlans:
              - vlan: 702
              - vlan: 703
        state: merged
     register: sonic_l2_interfaces_output
   - name: Configure Layer 3 interfaces
     dellemc.enterprise_sonic.sonic_l3_interfaces:
       config:
        - name: Eth1/3
          ipv4:
            - address: 8.1.1.1/16
          ipv6:
            - address: 3333::1/16
       state: merged
     register: sonic_l3_interfaces_output

host_vars/sonic_sw1.yaml

hostname: sonic_sw1

# Common parameters for connection type httpapi or network_cli:
ansible_user: xxxx
ansible_password: xxxx
ansible_network_os: dellemc.enterprise_sonic.sonic

# Additional parameters for connection type httpapi:
ansible_httpapi_use_ssl: true
ansible_httpapi_validate_certs: false

inventory.ini

[sonic_sw1]
sonic_sw1 ansible_host=100.104.28.119

[sonic_sw2]
sonic_sw2 ansible_host=100.104.28.120

[sonic_switches:children]
sonic_sw1
sonic_sw2

Support

Support is provided for all of the collection modules for Ansible version 2.17 or higher.

To submit a support request for this collection, open a GitHub issue under the collection repository.

Releasing, Versioning and Deprecation

This collection follows Semantic Versioning. More details on versioning can be found in the Ansible docs.

We plan to regularly release new minor or bugfix versions once new features or bugfixes have been implemented.

Enterprise SONiC Ansible Modules deprecation cycle is aligned with Ansible.

Source control branches on Github: - Released code versions are located on "release" branches with names of the form "M.x", where "M" specifies the "major" release version for releases residing on the branch. - Unreleased and pre-release code versions are located on sub-branches of the "main" branch. This is a development branch, and is not intended for use in production environments.

Code of Conduct

This repository adheres to the Ansible Community code of conduct

Communication

• Join the Ansible forum:
• Get Help: get help or help others.
• Social Spaces: gather and interact with fellow enthusiasts.

• News & Announcements: track project-wide announcements including social events.

• The Ansible Bullhorn newsletter: used to announce releases and important changes.

For more information about communication, see the Ansible communication guide.

License Information

This collection is published under the GNU General Public License.

© Copyright 2025 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.