What is Netmiko?

Netmiko is a connection-handling library specifically designed to simplify the process of establishing SSH connections to various network devices. This library streamlines automation tasks by providing a higher-level interface for interacting with devices such as routers and switches over SSH. It abstracts the complexity of dealing with SSH connections and command execution, allowing developers to focus more on automation scripts rather than the underlying connectivity challenges.

By using Netmiko, network engineers and developers can write scripts that easily connect to devices, send commands, and retrieve output without getting bogged down in the details of SSH session management. It supports a wide range of devices and operating systems, making it a versatile choice for network automation tasks.

The other options presented do not accurately describe what Netmiko is. For instance, a database management system for network devices does not represent the functionality of Netmiko, as it is not a database tool. A framework for web development addresses a different domain entirely and does not pertain to network device interactions. Similarly, while network performance monitoring is crucial in networking, it is not the primary purpose of Netmiko, which focuses on SSH connectivity rather than monitoring performance metrics.