Programming for Network Engineers (PRNE)

How you'll benefit

This training will help you:

• Explain the need for network engineers to learn how to program
• Explain how programming relates to the journey into network automation and programmability
• Create useful and practical scripts to retrieve data and configure network devices
• Create, apply, and troubleshoot simple network automation scripts
• Gain hands-on experience with Python programming

Who should enroll

• Network administrators
• Network engineers with little or no programming or python experience
• Network managers
• Systems engineers

Technology areas

• Network programming
• Python
• Network engineering

Objectives

After taking this training, you should be able to:

• Create a Python script
• Describe data types commonly used in Python coding
• Describe Python strings and their use cases
• Describe Python loops, conditionals, operators, and their purposes and use cases
• Describe Python classes, methods, functions, namespaces, and scopes
• Describe the options for Python data manipulation and storage
• Describe Python modules and packages, their uses, and their benefits
• Explain how to manipulate user input in Python
• Describe error and exception management in Python
• Describe Python code debugging methods

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this training. However, the knowledge and skills you are recommended to have before attending this training are:

• Familiarity with Cisco IOS®-XE software or other Cisco network device configuration and operation skills
• Basic network management knowledge
• Cisco CCNA® certification or equivalent knowledge

These skills can be found in the following Cisco Learning Offerings:

• Implementing and Administering Cisco Solution (CCNA)
  

Outline

• Introducing Programmability and Python for Network Engineers
• Scripting with Python
• Examining Python Data Types
• Manipulating Strings
• Describing Conditionals, Loops, and Operators
• Exploring Classes, Methods, Functions, Namespaces, and Scopes
• Exploring Data Storage Options
• Exploring Python Modules and Packages
• Gathering and Validating User Input
• Analyzing Exceptions and Error Management
• Examining Debugging Methods

Lab outline

• Execute Your First Python Program
• Use the Python Interactive Shell
• Explore Foundation Python Data Types
• Explore Complex Python Data Types
• Use Standard String Operations
• Use Basic Pattern Matching
• Reformat MAC Addresses
• Use the if-else Construct
• Use for Loops
• Use while Loops
• Create and Use Functions
• Create and Use Classes
• Use the Python main() Construct
• Traverse the File Structure
• Read Data in Comma-Separated Values (CSV) Format
• Read, Store, and Retrieve Data in XML Format
• Read, Store, and Retrieve Date in JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) Format
• Read, Store, and Retrieve Data in a Raw or Unstructured Format
• Import Modules from the Python Standard Library
• Import External Libraries
• Create a Python Module
• Prompt the User for Input
• Use Command-Line Arguments
• Manage Exceptions with the try-except Structure
• Manage Exceptions with the try-except-finally Structure
• Use Assertions
• Use Simple Debugging Methods
• Use the Python Debugger
• Code a Practical Debugging Script