Chapter 6 of 6 · Cisco CCNP 350-401 ENCOR
Automation and Artificial Intelligence
Python, JSON, YANG, Catalyst Center and SD-WAN APIs, REST responses, EEM applets and orchestration tools.
- 7topics
- 36 minfast track
- 15%of the exam
Topics in this chapter
Take them in order, or jump to the one you need.
- 1Reading Basic Python ScriptsInterpret basic Python in network automation: variables, lists, dictionaries, loops, conditions, functions, errors, JSON handling…5 min
- 2Constructing Valid JSONLearn the rules of valid JSON for network automation: objects, arrays, strings, numbers, booleans, null, nesting, common errors…5 min
- 3YANG Data ModelingLearn the principles and benefits of YANG data models: modules, containers, lists and leaves, IETF, OpenConfig and native models…5 min
- 4Catalyst Center and SD-WAN Manager APIsDescribe the REST APIs of Cisco Catalyst Center and SD-WAN Manager: authentication, the Intent API, the dataservice path, tokens…5 min
- 5REST Response Codes and PayloadsInterpret HTTP status codes and JSON payloads from Catalyst Center and RESTCONF: 2xx, 4xx and 5xx codes, error bodies, task…5 min
- 6Embedded Event Manager AppletsBuild Embedded Event Manager applets on IOS XE: syslog and timer events, CLI actions, manual runs, and the commands that verify…6 min
- 7Agent and Agentless Orchestration ToolsCompare agent based and agentless tools such as Ansible, Puppet, Chef and Salt, with push and pull models, declarative design and…5 min
About this chapter
What this chapter covers
Automation is about using software to configure, monitor and fix the network, instead of typing commands on each device.
The chapter starts with the languages and formats that automation uses, which are Python, JSON and the YANG modeling language. It then looks at the APIs of two Cisco controllers and how to read their replies. It finishes with automation that runs on the device itself, and with the tools that manage many devices at once.
The chapter follows the Automation and Artificial Intelligence domain of the CCNP 350-401 ENCOR outline. It has seven outline topics, and each has its own page. The artificial intelligence side of the domain appears mainly through the Catalyst Center page in the Network Assurance chapter.
How the topics fit together
The pages build from the data format up to the tools.
- Python is the language of most scripts, and JSON is the usual data format.
- YANG describes the structure of the data that devices expose.
- Controller APIs let a script work with a whole network at once.
- Response codes and payloads tell the script whether a call worked.
- EEM applets automate on a single device.
- Orchestration tools apply the same intent to many devices.
The NETCONF and RESTCONF pages in the Network Assurance chapter belong with this one, since they carry the YANG data described here.
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 examples.
- What to remember for the exam: the facts to memorise.
- Common mistakes: the classic traps.
- Check yourself: three questions to test your understanding.
Read the code examples line by line and predict the output before you check it. Type the Python and JSON samples into an editor and run them. For the API pages, learn the paths, headers and keys, since exam questions often ask you to read a short sample.
Ready for more practice?
The full Cisco CCNP 350-401 ENCOR question bank has 854 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.