Introducing Automation for Cisco Solutions

Engineers looking to gain a broad overview of the skills required to become a next-generation engineer with the ability to program and automate the networks of the future

After completing this course you should be able to:

• Articulate the role network automation and programmability play in the context of end-to-end network management and operations
• Interpret and troubleshoot Python scripts with fundamental programming constructs built for network automation use cases
• Describe how DevOps principles, tools, and pipelines can be applied to network operations
• Understand the role of network automation development environments and associated technologies such as Python virtual environments, Vagrant, and Docker
• Understand and construct HTTP-based API calls to network devices
• Articulate the differences among and common use cases for XML, JSON, YAML, and protobuf
• Construct and interpret Python scripts using the Python requests module to automate devices that have HTTP-based APIs
• Understand the role YANG plays in network automation
• Understand that a number of tools exist to simplify working with YANG models
• Describe the functionality of RESTCONF and NETCONF and the differences between them
• Construct Ansible playbooks to configure network devices and retrieve operational state data from them
• Build Jinja2 templates and YAML data structures to generate desired state configurations
• Describe the functionality of available Cisco Ansible modules and integrations
• Comprehend the breadth and depth of APIs across Cisco technologies and the value APIs provide to enhanced network automations

Examining Network Management and Operations

• Traditional Network Management
• Network Automation and Programmability
• Network Automation Use Cases
• Multidomain Network Automation

Exploring Software Development Methodologies

• Impact of Software
• Waterfall Development Process
• Agile Methodology

Using Python for Network Automation

• Python Fundamentals
• Network Libraries
• Python Package Management
• Netmiko
• Inside Python Modules

Describing NetDevOps: DevOps for Networking

• Development and Operations
• Exploring DevOps Tools
• Git Fundamentals
• Git Branches
• Merge Conflicts
• Continuous Integration

Managing Automation Development Environments

• Need for Reproducible Development Environments
• Python Virtual Environments
• Vagrant
• Docker

Introducing HTTP Network APIs

• API Overview
• HTTP-Based APIs
• RESTful APIs vs Non-RESTful APIs
• HTTP-Based Authentication
• Postman
• Streaming Telemetry

Reviewing Data Formats and Data Encoding

• JavaScript Object Notation
• Extensible Markup Language
• gRPC and Protobuf
• YAML Data Serialization Standard

Using Python Requests to Automate HTTP-Based APIs

• Python Requests Overview
• HTTP Authentication

Exploring YANG

• Introduction to YANG
• Types of YANG Models

Using YANG Tools

• YANG Tool Types
• Pyang
• YANG Explorer

Automating Model-Driven APIs with Python

• NETCONF Overview
• Python ncclient
• RESTCONF Overview

Introducing Ansible for Network Automation

• Configuration Management Tools
• Introduction to Ansibile
• Ansible Inventory File
• Use the Cisco IOS Core Configuration Module
• Ansible Documentation
• Gather Cisco IOS Device Facts
• Use the Cisco IOS Core Command Module

Templating Configurations with Jinja2

• Jinja2 Overview
• Basic YAML
• Configuartion Templating with Ansible

Labs

• Use Network Automation Scripts
• Enforce Python Fundamentals on the Interactive Interpreter
• Automate Networks with Netmiko
• Troubleshoot Python Scripts
• Use the Git Version-Control System
• Collaborate on an Internal Project
• Manage Merge Conflicts
• Build Reproduceable Automation Environments
• Use HTTP-Based APIs with Postman
• Explore YAML and JSON Data
• Consume HTTP-Based APIs with Python Requests
• Explore YANG Tools
• Explore NETCONF with Python
• Explore RESTCONF with Python
• Configure Network Devices with Ansible
• Collect Network Data with Ansible
• Build and Deploy Configurations with Ansible
• Explore Ansible Documentation

Attendees should meet the following prerequisites:

• Routing and switching including Open Shortest Path First (OSPF), Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), and basic configuration features such as interfaces, Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), and static routes
• Fundamentals of Python data structures and programming constructs such as loops, conditionals, and classes, or the equivalent of 3–6 months of experience writing Python scripts
• Basic Linux commands for navigating the file system and executing scripts
• Knowledge of working with text editors

• CCNA - Implementing and Administering Cisco Solutions
• DNAPUC - Programming Use Cases for Cisco Digital Network Architecture

Recommended as preparation for the following exams:

• 300-635 - Automating Cisco Data Center Solutions (DCAUTO)

The knowledge required to take this exam is spread across two courses. Students will also need to take the DCAUI - Implementing Automation for Cisco Data Center Solutions course.

• CLAUI - Implementing Automation for Cisco Collaboration Solutions
• DCAUI - Implementing Automation for Cisco Data Center Solutions
• ENAUI - Implementing Automation for Cisco Enterprise Solutions
• SAUI - Implementing Automation for Cisco Security Solutions
• SPAUI - Implementing Automation for Cisco Service Provider Solutions