Chapter 3 of 6 · Cisco CCNA 200-901 DEVASC
Cisco Platforms and Development
SDKs, Meraki, Catalyst Center, ACI, Webex, security APIs, device APIs, YANG and DevNet resources.
- 8topics
- 39 minfast track
- 3diagrams and exhibits
- 15%of the exam
Topics in this chapter
Take them in order, or jump to the one you need.
- 1Using a Cisco Python SDKLearn what an SDK is, why it beats raw REST calls, and how to read SDK documentation and write Python scripts that use the Meraki…5 min
- 2Cisco Network Management Platforms and APIsLearn what Meraki, Catalyst Center, ACI, Catalyst SD-WAN and NSO do, how each is managed through its API, and how to pick the…Diagram5 min
- 3Cisco Compute and Collaboration Platforms and APIsLearn what UCS Manager, Intersight, Webex, Webex devices and Unified Communications Manager do, and how their APIs including…5 min
- 4Cisco Security Platforms and APIsLearn what Cisco XDR, Firepower and FMC, Secure Connect, Secure Endpoint, ISE and Secure Malware Analytics do and how their APIs…Diagram5 min
- 5Device Level APIs for IOS XE and NX-OSLearn the programmable interfaces on Cisco IOS XE and NX-OS devices, including NETCONF, RESTCONF, gNMI, NX-API CLI and NX-API…5 min
- 6Model Driven Programmability: YANG, NETCONF and RESTCONFLearn how YANG models, NETCONF and RESTCONF work together for model driven programmability on Cisco devices, with datastores…Diagram5 min
- 7Choosing the Right DevNet ResourceLearn what Cisco DevNet offers, including Sandbox, Code Exchange, Learning Labs, API documentation, support and forums, and which…4 min
- 8Coding Tasks with Platform APIsWrite Python against API reference docs to list devices on Meraki, Catalyst Center, ACI, SD-WAN and NSO, manage Webex spaces, and…5 min
About this chapter
What this chapter covers
This chapter applies your API skills to the real Cisco products that the exam names.
You learn what each platform manages, how its API authenticates, and what a typical request and reply look like. It also covers the interfaces that run on a single device, and the DevNet resources that help you learn and test.
The chapter is broad. The goal is not to memorise every endpoint but to recognise each platform and read its documentation.
How the topics fit together
Cisco platforms sit at different layers, and your code can reach each of them through an API or an SDK.
The first page shows how an SDK saves you from building raw requests. The next three pages tour the platforms by domain: network management, compute and collaboration, and security.
The device level page then drops to the individual switch or router. It shows the interfaces on IOS XE and NX-OS. The model driven page explains YANG, NETCONF and RESTCONF, which underpin much of that device level work.
The DevNet page tells you where to practise, find code and get help. The last page brings it together with coding tasks that list devices, manage Webex spaces and list clients.
Many products have been renamed. Catalyst Center was DNA Center, and Secure Endpoint was AMP for Endpoints. Learn both names.
How to use these pages
Each topic page has the same shape, so you can skim for what you need.
- What it is: the idea in plain words.
- How it works: the mechanism, with diagrams and short code examples.
- What to remember for the exam: the facts to memorise.
- Common mistakes: the classic traps.
- Check yourself: three questions to test your understanding.
The platform pages work well as a matching exercise. Cover the right hand column of each comparison table and name the platform from its description. The code samples show the shape of each call, so always check the current API documentation for exact paths and fields before you rely on them.
Ready for more practice?
The full Cisco CCNA 200-901 DEVASC question bank has 808 questions, with timed practice exams and an explanation for every answer.
This study guide is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Cisco. Vendor names, certification names and exam codes are trademarks of their respective owners and are used for identification only.