---
id: netconf-client
version: "3.6.0"
license: Apache-2.0
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# netconf-client — A Python NETCONF client

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 107.7K/mo

## What it is and what it does

netconf_client is a lightweight NETCONF protocol client for Python that communicates with network devices and management systems over SSH or TLS. It provides a Manager interface to send NETCONF RPC messages (edit_config, get, etc.) and receive XML responses, making it suitable for automating device configuration and state retrieval in network operations workflows.

The library is intentionally simpler than some alternatives, with a smaller codebase and fewer dependencies. It assumes you are sending valid NETCONF messages to a compliant server, which means less defensive error checking but also less overhead and fewer workarounds for non-standard device behavior. It depends on lxml for XML handling and paramiko for SSH transport.

Use it for:

- Automate configuration changes on NETCONF-compliant network devices (routers, switches, firewalls) via SSH.
- Query device state and operational data from network management systems using NETCONF get and get-config operations.
- Build network provisioning or remediation scripts that interact with standards-based device APIs.
- Test NETCONF server implementations by sending raw or edge-case protocol messages.
- Integrate device management into Python-based orchestration or monitoring platforms.

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

A NETCONF client library for Python that enables SSH and TLS communication with NETCONF servers to retrieve and edit device configurations using XML-based protocol messages.

Yes. The package is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, supports current Python versions, and offers a simpler alternative to heavier NETCONF libraries when you need straightforward SSH/TLS communication with standards-compliant devices. Install friction is low and the Apache-2.0 license is permissive. Best suited for teams comfortable with NETCONF protocol basics and RFC-compliant device behavior.

## Install

pip install netconf-client
uv add netconf-client
poetry add netconf-client

## Installing netconf-client

Before you install: Low install friction with a pure-Python wheel distribution. Actively maintained with a recent release (79 days ago) and current Python version support (3.8–3.11). Two lightweight runtime dependencies (lxml and paramiko) are well-established libraries.

License in practice: Apache-2.0 is a permissive license; you may use, modify, and distribute this package freely in commercial and private projects, provided you include a copy of the license and note any material changes.

Quickstart:

pip install netconf-client

from netconf_client.connect import connect_ssh
from netconf_client.ncclient import Manager

session = connect_ssh(host="localhost", port=830, username="admin", password="password")
mgr = Manager(session, timeout=120)
print(mgr.get(filter="...").data_xml)

Requires a NETCONF server listening on the target host (typically port 830) and valid credentials; Python 3.8 or later.

Verify before relying:

- Whether lxml can actually be bypassed in practice and what the performance implications are.
- Extent of error checking differences versus ncclient and whether that matters for your use case.
- Whether TLS session support is production-ready or still experimental.

## Package facts

- License: Apache-2.0 (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 107.7K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

netconf client python, network device configuration management, ssh netconf protocol, xml device config retrieval, network automation netconf, tls netconf sessions, device state queries, network-automation, device-management, protocol-client

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