pyats.connections
pyATS Connection: Device Connection Handling & Base Classes
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you are building network automation or testing workflows within the pyATS ecosystem or need a standardized abstraction for device connectivity. The package is actively maintained, permissively licensed, and well-integrated with pyATS and unicon. Not recommended as a standalone tool for simple device communication; consider it only as part of a broader testing or automation strategy.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.8 or later; Linux or macOS only (Windows not supported).
- Active maintenance with recent release (7 days old).
- Medium install friction due to three runtime dependencies (pyats.datastructures, pyats.async, unicon) and pre-built wheels across Python 3.10–3.14 on Linux and macOS, but no Windows support.
License · maintenance · safety
Apache 2.0 (permissive) — Apache 2.0 permissive license allows commercial and private use with minimal restrictions; suitable for most production and internal projects.
last release 2026-08-07 (7 days)
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 295,643 downloads/mo, #7,919 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install pyats.connections
from pyats.connections import Connection
# Connection class provides the abstraction for device connectivity- Specific device types and protocols supported beyond telnet and SSH
- Whether unicon is required or optional for basic connection functionality
- Documentation availability and completeness for standalone use outside full pyATS
What it is and what it does
pyats.connections is a sub-component of the pyATS testing ecosystem that abstracts device connectivity for network automation and testing scripts. It provides top-level connection classes and interfaces to enable developers to create custom connection implementations, with built-in support for protocols like telnet and SSH. The package is designed to integrate with the broader pyATS framework for data-driven, reusable testing across network infrastructure.
The package depends on pyats.datastructures, pyats.async, and unicon (Cisco's device interaction library), making it part of a larger ecosystem rather than a standalone tool. It is actively maintained, with recent releases and support for modern Python versions (3.10–3.14). Installation is straightforward on Linux and macOS, though Windows is not supported.
Use it for
- Establish and manage SSH/telnet connections to network devices in automated test scripts
- Build custom connection handlers for specialized network device types or protocols
- Integrate device connectivity into larger pyATS-based test suites for network validation
- Abstract device communication logic to enable reusable connection patterns across test cases
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you are building network automation or testing workflows within the pyATS ecosystem or need a standardized abstraction for device connectivity.
The package is actively maintained, permissively licensed, and well-integrated with pyATS and unicon. Not recommended as a standalone tool for simple device communication; consider it only as part of a broader testing or automation strategy.
Install
pyats-connections on PyPI
Before you install
Active maintenance with recent release (7 days old). Medium install friction due to three runtime dependencies (pyats.datastructures, pyats.async, unicon) and pre-built wheels across Python 3.10–3.14 on Linux and macOS, but no Windows support.
Requires Python 3.8 or later; Linux or macOS only (Windows not supported).
License in practice
Apache 2.0 permissive license allows commercial and private use with minimal restrictions; suitable for most production and internal projects.
Quickstart
pip install pyats.connections
from pyats.connections import Connection
# Connection class provides the abstraction for device connectivityVerify before relying
- Specific device types and protocols supported beyond telnet and SSH
- Whether unicon is required or optional for basic connection functionality
- Documentation availability and completeness for standalone use outside full pyATS
Package facts
| License | Apache 2.0 permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.8 |
| Install friction | Medium. Platform-specific wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 3 packagespyats.datastructurespyats.asyncunicon |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 7 days since the last release |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 295,643 / month, #7,919 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableDevelopment Status :: 6 - MatureEnvironment :: ConsoleIntended Audience :: DevelopersIntended Audience :: Information TechnologyIntended Audience :: System AdministratorsIntended Audience :: Telecommunications IndustryLicense :: OSI Approved :: Apache Software LicenseOperating System :: MacOSOperating System :: POSIX :: LinuxProgramming Language :: Python :: 3 :: OnlyProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonTopic :: Software Development :: Build ToolsTopic :: Software Development :: LibrariesTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python ModulesTopic :: Software Development :: Testing |
Evidence: pyats_connections-26.7-cp310-cp310-macosx_11_0_universal2.whl; pyats_connections-26.7-cp310-cp310-manylinux2014_aarch64.whl; pyats_connections-26.7-cp310-cp310-manylinux2014_x86_64.whl; pyats_connections-26.7-cp311-cp311-macosx_11_0_universal2.whl; pyats_connections-26.7-cp311-cp311-manylinux2014_aarch64.whl; pyats_connections-26.7-cp311-cp311-manylinux2014_x86_64.whl; pyats_connections-26.7-cp312-cp312-macosx_11_0_universal2.whl; pyats_connections-26.7-cp312-cp312-manylinux2014_aarch64.whl; pyats_connections-26.7-cp312-cp312-manylinux2014_x86_64.whl; pyats_connections-26.7-cp312-cp312-musllinux_1_2_x86_64.whl; pyats_connections-26.7-cp313-cp313-macosx_11_0_universal2.whl; pyats_connections-26.7-cp313-cp313-manylinux2014_aarch64.whl; pyats_connections-26.7-cp313-cp313-manylinux2014_x86_64.whl; pyats_connections-26.7-cp314-cp314-macosx_11_0_universal2.whl; pyats_connections-26.7-cp314-cp314-manylinux2014_aarch64.whl; pyats_connections-26.7-cp314-cp314-manylinux2014_x86_64.whl
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