AUTOCOR - Designing, Deploying and Managing Network Automation Systems

Course Description 

The Designing, Deploying and Managing Network Automation Systems (AUTOCOR) training prepares you for a professional role as a network automation engineer. It focuses on designing and implementing automation systems, from writing Python scripts and Ansible playbooks, and applying Terraform for network automation, to building complex CI/CD pipelines that integrate multiple tools. The training also shows how to leverage AI for network automation by building Large Language Model (LLM)-powered network agents and by using MCP servers. Additionally, the training focuses on operational aspects of managing a modern, automated network and explores secure coding practices, collecting logs, containerization, and model-driven telemetry. Overall, the training focuses on practical implementation that directly prepares you to design, deploy, and operate automated networks.

This training prepares you for the 350-901 AUTOCOR v2.0 exam. If passed, you earn the Cisco Certified Specialist - Automation Core certification and satisfy the core exam requirement for the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Automation and Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Automation certifications. This training also earns you 32 Continuing Education (CE) credits toward recertification.

How You'll Benefit

This training will help you:
Explore industry-standard automation tools, including Python, Ansible, and Terraform, to design and implement robust Infrastructure as Code (IaC) solutions
Integrate Generative AI and LLMs into network workflows by building intelligent agents and utilizing MCP servers for advanced automation
Construct automated CI/CD pipelines using GitLab, Cisco Modeling Labs (CML), and pyATS to streamline network testing, validation, and deployment
Enhance network operations and security through the application of model-driven telemetry, secure coding practices, and containerized environments using Docker Compose
Prepare for the 350-901 AUTOCOR v2.0 exam
Earn 32 CE credits toward recertification

Who Should Enroll

Individuals seeking the CCNP Automation certification
Network Automation Engineers
Network Engineers with coding experience
DevOps Engineers working with network infrastructure
System Engineers
Network Site Reliability Engineers (SREs)

What to Expect in the Exam

Designing, Deploying and Managing Network Automation Systems (350-901 AUTOCOR) v2.0 is a 120-minute exam associated with the Cisco Certified Specialist - Automation Core certification and satisfies the core exam requirement for the CCNP Automation and CCIE Automation certifications.

The exam tests your knowledge of network automation systems development and design, including:
Infrastructure as code
Operations
AI in automation

Course Objectives

Evaluate various network automation tools and approaches
Use Python for CLI-based network automation
Integrate REST APIs in network automation workflows
Automate device configuration using RESTCONF requests based on YANG data models
Create network automation solutions with Ansible

Create network automation solutions with Terraform
Implement the Infrastructure as Code approach for network management
Use Git to track network changes
Design and build GitLab CI pipelines for network automation
Integrate CML topologies in automated workflows
Create network validation tools with pyATS and include them in automated workflows
Configure model-driven telemetry streams to collect real-time operational data from Cisco devices
Diagnose common automation failures using well-structured logs from Python, Ansible, and RESTCONF integrations
Harden network automation code by validating inputs, protecting credentials, and sanitizing outputs
Build and run multi-service Docker Compose environments for network automation
Generate, sign, and install certificates to secure web interfaces and APIs used by network automation tools
Describe the role, value, and risks of generative AI in network automation script creation
Create AI agents for network automation
Integrate LLMs with external capabilities using MCP servers

Course Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this training. However, the knowledge and skills you are recommended to have before attending this training are:
Hands-on experience with a programming language (specifically Python)
Experience with common network designs and configurations
Understanding of the utilization of APIs
Awareness of network device APIs such as NETCONF and RESTCONF
Understanding of the basics of version control with Git
Familiarity with platforms like GitLab and GitHub
Comfort with the Linux shell, SSH, files, and virtual environments
Exposure to Docker/containerization
Basic knowledge of AI and LLMs

These skills can be found in the following Cisco Learning Offerings:
Automating Networks Using Cisco Platforms (CCNAAUTO)
Intermediate Python for Network Engineers (IPYNE)

Course Outline

Network Automation Toolkits
Network Task Automation with Python
REST APIs in Network Automation
Network Automation with Ansible
Network Automation with Terraform
Infrastructure as Code Implementation
Network Change Tracking with Git
Configuration Change Deployment with CI Pipelines
Cisco Modeling Labs Integration for Test Network Environments
Network State Validation with pyATS
Model-Driven Telemetry for Network Monitoring
Network Automation Solution Troubleshooting
Secure Coding Practices for Network Automation
Network Automation Environment Containerization with Docker Compose
Trusted TLS Certificates Deployment for Secure Communication
Generative AI for Network Automation
AI Agents for Network Automation
LLM and MCP Server Integration

Lab Outline

Use Python to Automate Common Network Tasks
Explore REST API Documentation
Automate API Calls with Python Requests
Construct and Send RESTCONF Requests
Automate the Device Configuration with RESTCONF
Create a Network Automation Solution with Ansible
Automate Network Infrastructure with Terraform
Manage Router Interfaces as Code
Start Tracking Your Network State with GitLab
Build a GitLab CI Pipeline for Network Configuration
Create a Testing Network Environment with Cisco Modeling Labs
Build a Python Script to Launch Test Topologies in Cisco Modeling Labs
Integrate Cisco Modeling Labs Topologies into CI Pipeline
Create a Configuration Validation Tool with pyATS
Integrate pyATS Testing into Automated Pipelines
Set Up MDT on a Cisco Router Using YANG Suite
Troubleshoot an Automation Script
Harden an Automation Script
Containerize Automation Components
Add a Trusted Certificate to Cisco ISE
Set Up Local LLM with Ollama
Build a Network Automation Tool with Python and Ollama
Build and Launch a FastMCP Server