Nornir
Nornir is a free, open-source Python automation framework for managing inventory and dispatching tasks to nodes and devices.
What Nornir is
Nornir is a free, open-source Python automation framework for managing inventory and dispatching tasks to nodes and devices. It is designed to be used directly from Python. Its inventory groups hosts, groups, and defaults; reusable tasks run for individual hosts and return results. The included ThreadedRunner executes tasks across hosts with threads and defaults to 20 workers. Nornir supports plugins for inventory, transforms, connections, runners, and processors. Community plugins connect it with NAPALM, Netmiko, NetBox, Ansible inventories, Scrapli, Nautobot, and other systems and libraries. The package is published on PyPI and can be installed with pip; the current package requires Python >=3.10. It uses the Apache-2.0 license and supports configuration management, workflow orchestration, and network testing. Listed supported platforms include Cisco IOS, Cisco NX-OS, Arista EOS, Junos, and Palo Alto PAN-OS. Users need basic Python knowledge, package installation skills, and familiarity with variables, functions, and imports. OpsMill stewards and maintains the project while keeping it community-led and open source.
Good
- Free and open source under Apache-2.0.
- ThreadedRunner defaults to 20 workers.
- Community plugins connect to network tools and systems.
- Supports configuration management and network testing.
Watch out
- Requires basic Python knowledge.
- Current package requires Python >=3.10.
- Self-hosted deployment requires package installation.
Who it suits
Nornir suits users comfortable with basic Python who want to automate work across network devices. It is self-hosted and can be extended through plugins.
Verdict
Nornir offers a Python-native way to manage inventory and run tasks across devices, with a plugin ecosystem and threaded execution. It is a better fit for users comfortable installing and working with Python packages.
Plans and prices
From Nornir's own pricing page, checked 30 Sep 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Nornir | Free | open source · Apache 2 license · public repositories · free forever |
The facts
Each one read from Nornir's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Core responsibilities
- Nornir manages inventory and dispatches tasks to nodes and devices.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Execution
- The included ThreadedRunner executes tasks over hosts using threads and defaults to 20 workers.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Execution characteristics
- OpsMill describes Nornir as a pure Python, multi-vendor execution engine with parallel writes, idempotence, and dry-run safety.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Installation
- Nornir is published to PyPI and can be installed with pip install nornir.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Integrations
- Community plugins support NAPALM, Netmiko, NetBox, Ansible inventories, Scrapli, Nautobot, and other systems and libraries.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Intended users
- Users need basic Python knowledge, package installation skills, and familiarity with variables, functions, and imports.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Inventory
- The inventory consists of hosts, groups, and defaults.checked 30 Sep 2026
- License
- Nornir is distributed under the Apache-2.0 license.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Plugin architecture
- Nornir supports inventory plugins, transform functions, connection plugins, runners, and processors.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Project stewardship
- OpsMill states that it stewards, funds, and maintains Nornir while keeping it community-led and open source.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Python requirement
- The current PyPI package requires Python >=3.10 and provides classifiers through Python 3.14.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Support
- Official support channels include GitHub issues and discussions, the OpsMill Discord #nornir channel, and a monitored Network to Code Slack channel.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Task model
- A task is reusable code for a single host that takes a Task and returns a Result.checked 30 Sep 2026
- What it does
- Nornir is a pure Python automation framework intended to be used directly from Python.checked 30 Sep 2026
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