Course Description
Introducing Automation for Cisco Solutions (CSAU)
The Introducing Automation for Cisco Solutions (CSAU) v1.0 course gives you a broad overview of network automation skills. Through a combination of lecture and hands-on labs, you will learn the fundamentals of automation such as working on model-driven programmability solutions with Representational State Transfer Configuration Protocol (RESTCONF) and Network Configuration Protocol (NETCONF) protocols.
The Introducing Automation for Cisco Solutions (CSAU) course also covers data formats and types, including Extensible Markup Language (XML), JavaScript Object Notation (JSON), Yaml Ain’t Markup Language (YAML), and Yet Another Next Generation (YANG), and their value in network automation, along with DevOps tools such as Ansible and Git. This course does not lead directly to a certification exam, but it does cover foundational knowledge that can help you prepare for several professional-level automation courses and exams.
Learning Objectives
- 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
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
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
Course Information
Length: 2 day
Format: Lecture and Lab
Delivery Method: Virtual / Onsite
Max. Capacity: 16
Schedule
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Who Should Attend
Automation architect, Automation engineer, Consulting systems engineer, DevOps engineer, Network administrator, Network architect, Network consulting engineer, Network design engineer, Network engineer, Network operator, Network reliability engineer, Sales engineer, Site reliability engineer, Systems engineer, Technical solutions architect
