DCAUI v1.0 - Implementing Automation for Cisco Data Center Solutions

After taking this course, you should be able to:

• Review Cisco ACI fundamental concepts and GUI workflows, and create the case for implementing automation
• Introduce the Cisco ACI REST API, the tools already available on the Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC), and understand basic API interaction using Postman
• Understand the functionality provided by the Python ACI libraries and write scripts that apply configuration and verify state on the Cisco ACI fabric
• Understand Cisco ACI Ansible modules, build playbooks that apply Infrastructure-as-Code concepts to Cisco ACI tenant configuration, and generate a health report using Ansible
• Understand Cisco ACI Apps Center integration and the benefits of integrating Kubernetes infrastructure with Cisco ACI
• Understand the API types and capabilities available on the Cisco Nexus product family
• Understand Day 0 operations and how Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP), PowerOn Auto Provisioning (POAP), and enhanced Pre-boot eXecution Environment (iPXE) fulfil these goals with their respective tooling
• Understand functionality provided by the on-box tooling on the Cisco Nexus series switches and implement simple solutions to improve daily operation
• Use Python and Ansible to leverage the NX-API to implement and verify configuration state using modern workflows
• Understand the paradigm shift of Model-Driven Telemetry and explore a fully set up pipeline for data collection and analysis
• Understand the Cisco UCS developer tools and implement management workflows leveraging Cisco UCS APIs, Python, and Ansible modules
• Leverage Cisco UCS Director APIs to manage infrastructure using Postman and Python scripts
• Review Cisco Data Center Network Manager (DCNM) product capabilities and understand how its API can be beneficial to automating the Cisco Data Center
• Understand the advantages of using Cisco Intersight and how to implement automation tasks using its REST APIs via Python and Ansible

• Describing the Cisco ACI Policy Model
• Describing the Cisco APIC REST API
• Using Python to Interact with the ACI REST API
• Using Ansible to Automate Cisco ACI
• Describing Cisco ACI Apps Center and Kubernetes Integration
• Introducing Cisco NX-OS Programmability
• Describing Day-Zero Provisioning with Cisco NX-OS
• Implementing On-Box Programmability and Automation with Cisco NX-OS
• Implementing Off-Box Programmability and Automation with Cisco NX-OS
• Understanding Model-Driven Telemetry
• Automating Cisco UCS Using Developer Tools
• Implementing Workflows Using Cisco UCS Director
• Describing Cisco DCNM
• Describing Cisco Intersight

Lab outline

• Use the Cisco APIC Web GUI
• Discover the Cisco APIC REST API
• Use Postman with the APIC REST API
• Use Python with the Cisco APIC REST API
• Configure and Verify Cisco ACI Using Acitoolkit
• Use Cobra and Arya to Recreate a Tenant
• Manage Configuration Using Ansible
• Set Up a New Tenant the NetDevOps Way
• Create an Infrastructure Health Report
• Install an Application from the App Center on the Cisco APIC
• Power on Auto Provisioning on the Cisco Nexus 9000
• Use Bash and Guest-Shell on Cisco NX-OS
• Use Python to Enhance CLI Commands
• Trigger a Python Script Using Cisco Embedded Event Manager (EEM)
• Docker Containers on NX-OS
• Configure and Verify Using NX-API and Python
• Configure and Verify Using NETCONF/YANG
• Use Ansible with NX-OS
• Streaming Telemetry
• Connect, Query, and Modify Cisco UCS Manager Objects Using Cisco UCS PowerTool
• Discovery 21: Connect, Query, and Modify Cisco UCS Integrated Management Controller (IMC) Objects Using Cisco IMC PowerTool
• Utilize the Cisco UCS Python Software Development Kit (SDK)
• Utilize the Cisco IMC Python SDK
• Implement Ansible Playbooks to Modify and Verify the Configuration of the Cisco UCS Manager

This course is designed for network and software engineers who hold the following job roles:

• Network engineer
• Systems engineer
• Wireless engineer
• Consulting systems engineer
• Technical solutions architect
• Network administrator
• Wireless design engineer
• Network manager
• Site reliability engineer
• Deployment engineer
• Sales engineer
• Account manager

Before taking this course, you should have the following knowledge and skills:

• Basic programming language concepts
• Basic understanding of virtualization and VMware
• Ability to use Linux and Command Line Interface (CLI) tools, such as Secure Shell (SSH) and bash
• CCNP level Data Center knowledge
• A foundational understanding of Cisco ACI

The following Cisco courses can help you gain the knowledge you need to prepare for this course:

• Implementing and Administering Cisco Solutions (CCNA)
• Introducing Automation for Cisco Solutions (CSAU)
• Implementing and Operating Cisco Data Center Core Technologies (DCCOR)
• Programming Use Cases for Cisco Digital Network Architecture (DNAPUC)
• Introducing Cisco Network Programmability (NPICNP)