DevNet Associate

Course Content

Software Development and Design

• Comparing data formats (XML, JSON, and YAML)
• Describing parsing of common data format (XML, JSON, and YAML) to Python data structures
• Describing the concepts of test-driven development
• Comparing software development methods (agile, lean, and waterfall)
• Explaining the benefits of organizing code into methods / functions, classes, and modules
• Identifying the advantages of common design patterns (MVC and Observer)
• Explaining the advantages of version control
• Utilizing common version control operations with Git
• Clone
• Add/remove
• Commit
• Push / pull
• Branch
• Merge and handling conflicts
• diff

Understanding and Using APIs

• Constructing a REST API request to accomplish a task given API documentation
• Describing common usage patterns related to webhooks
• Identifying the constraints when consuming APIs
• Explaining common HTTP response codes associated with REST APIs
• Troubleshooting a problem given the HTTP response code, request and API documentation
• Identifying the parts of an HTTP response (response code, headers, body)
• Utilizing common API authentication mechanisms: basic, custom token, and API keys
• Comparing common API styles (REST, RPC, synchronous, and asynchronous)
• Constructing a Python script that calls a REST API using the requests library

Cisco Platforms and Development

• Constructing a Python script that uses a Cisco SDK given SDK documentation
• Describing the capabilities of Cisco network management platforms and APIs (Meraki, Cisco DNA Center, ACI, Cisco SD-WAN, and NSO)
• Describing the capabilities of Cisco compute management platforms and APIs (UCS Manager, UCS Director, and Intersight)
• 4 Describing the capabilities of Cisco collaboration platforms and APIs (Webex Teams, Webex devices, Cisco Unified Communication Manager including AXL and UDS interfaces, and Finesse)
• Describing the capabilities of Cisco security platforms and APIs (Firepower, Umbrella, AMP, ISE, and ThreatGrid)
• Describing the device level APIs and dynamic interfaces for IOS XE and NX-OS
• Identifying the appropriate DevNet resource for a given scenario (Sandbox, Code Exchange, support, forums, Learning Labs, and API documentation)
• Applying concepts of model driven programmability (YANG, RESTCONF, and NETCONF) in a Cisco environment
• Constructing code to perform a specific operation based on a set of requirements and given API reference documentation such as these:
• Obtain a list of network devices by using Meraki, Cisco DNA Center, ACI, Cisco SD-WAN, or NSO
• Manage spaces, participants, and messages in Webex Teams
• 9.c Obtain a list of clients / hosts seen on a network using Meraki or Cisco DNA Center

Application Deployment and Security

• Describing benefits of edge computing
• Identifying attributes of different application deployment models (private cloud, public cloud, hybrid cloud, and edge)
• Identifying the attributes of these application deployment types
• Virtual machines
• Bare metal
• Containers
• Describing components for a CI/CD pipeline in application deployments
• Constructing a Python unit test
• Interpreting contents of a Dockerfile
• Utilizing Docker images in local developer environment
• Identifying application security issues related to secret protection, encryption (storage and transport), and data handling
• Explaining how firewall, DNS, load balancers, and reverse proxy in application deployment
• Describing top OWASP threats (such as XSS, SQL injections, and CSRF)
• Utilizing Bash commands (file management, directory navigation, and environmental variables)
• Identifying the principles of DevOps practices

Infrastructure and Automation

• Describing the value of model driven programmability for infrastructure automation
• Comparing controller-level to device-level management
• Describing the use and roles of network simulation and test tools (such as VIRL and pyATS)
• Describing the components and benefits of CI/CD pipeline in infrastructure automation
• Describing principles of infrastructure as code
• Describing the capabilities of automation tools such as Ansible, Puppet, Chef, and Cisco NSO
• Identifying the workflow being automated by a Python script that uses Cisco APIs including ACI, Meraki, Cisco DNA Center, or RESTCONF
• Identifying the workflow being automated by an Ansible playbook (management packages, user management related to services, basic service configuration, and start/stop)
• Identifying the workflow being automated by a bash script (such as file management, app install, user management, directory navigation)
• Interpreting the results of a RESTCONF or NETCONF query
• Interpreting basic YANG models
• Interpreting a unified diff
• Describing the principles and benefits of a code review process
• Interpreting sequence diagram that includes API calls

Network Fundamentals

• Describing the purpose and usage of MAC addresses and VLANs
• Describing the purpose and usage of IP addresses, routes, subnet mask / prefix, and gateways
• Describing the function of common networking components (such as switches, routers, firewalls, and load balancers)
• Interpreting a basic network topology diagram with elements such as switches, routers, firewalls, load balancers, and port values
• Describing the function of management, data, and control planes in a network device
• Describing the functionality of these IP Services: DHCP, DNS, NAT, SNMP, NTP
• Recognizing common protocol port values (such as, SSH, Telnet, HTTP, HTTPS, and NETCONF)
• Identifying cause of application connectivity issues (NAT problem, Transport Port blocked, proxy, and VPN)
• Explaining the impacts of network constraints on applications